Hypersexuality with antiparkinsonian therapy

Clin Neuropharmacol. 1989 Oct;12(5):375-83. doi: 10.1097/00002826-198910000-00002.

Abstract

Thirteen parkinsonian patients drawn from two large parkinsonism clinics experienced hypersexuality as a consequence of anti-parkinsonian therapy. The cases include only those whose sexual behavior on treatment became a concern to the patient's family or a social agency. The majority of patients were men and had a relatively early onset of parkinsonian symptomatology. There was no relation between functional improvement and increased sexuality. Most patients showed some element of dose dependency between antiparkinsonian drugs and the hypersexual behavior. Prior sexual profile included from no sexual outlet to hypersexuality. Neither the prior history of psychiatric illness nor brain damage predisposed to such response on treatment, and in most patients, it was not a part of hypomania or a more diffuse psychiatric disturbance. We propose that hypersexuality on antiparkinsonian drugs is consequent to inhibition of prolactin secretion.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Amantadine / adverse effects
  • Amantadine / therapeutic use
  • Dopamine Agents / adverse effects*
  • Dopamine Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / adverse effects*
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Phenethylamines / adverse effects*
  • Selegiline / adverse effects*
  • Selegiline / therapeutic use
  • Sex Factors
  • Sexual Behavior / drug effects*

Substances

  • Dopamine Agents
  • Phenethylamines
  • Selegiline
  • Levodopa
  • Amantadine