Requip and OCD - a Serious Side Effect
One of the side effects of dopamine agonists, the kind of Parkinson's medicine I'm on (Requip), is that they cause excessive gambling. Some people have lost their whole nest eggs before their families realized what was happening.
Well, I don't gamble, as a matter of religious beliefs, so I don't have to worry about that particular problem, but the underlying symptom is something I'm beginning to show signs of. Gambling in and of itself is not the real issue, but compulsive behavior, or OCD. It shows up in some Requip users as compulsive shopping, instead of gambling.
With me, I'm having a harder and harder time pulling myself away from the computer. Those of you who have come to know me online know just how much time I spend here, and would probably agree it's too much, and you don't know the half of it.
Now that I've admitted it out loud, so to speak, I'm going to have to discipline myself and put some limits on my computer time. I'm not sure exactly how to do that yet and still take care of our online business, my blogs, and the BLOG VILLAGE TopList, plus keep up with a few key sites I'm involved in, but I'm going to have to try. I know I check my email way too often, and check the forums too frequently, so that's some place to start.
Have any of you dealt with OCD? Is this something I can do on my own, or do I need to let my doctor know I'm showing compulsive behaviour? I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say about this.
Well, I don't gamble, as a matter of religious beliefs, so I don't have to worry about that particular problem, but the underlying symptom is something I'm beginning to show signs of. Gambling in and of itself is not the real issue, but compulsive behavior, or OCD. It shows up in some Requip users as compulsive shopping, instead of gambling.
With me, I'm having a harder and harder time pulling myself away from the computer. Those of you who have come to know me online know just how much time I spend here, and would probably agree it's too much, and you don't know the half of it.
Now that I've admitted it out loud, so to speak, I'm going to have to discipline myself and put some limits on my computer time. I'm not sure exactly how to do that yet and still take care of our online business, my blogs, and the BLOG VILLAGE TopList, plus keep up with a few key sites I'm involved in, but I'm going to have to try. I know I check my email way too often, and check the forums too frequently, so that's some place to start.
Have any of you dealt with OCD? Is this something I can do on my own, or do I need to let my doctor know I'm showing compulsive behaviour? I'd be interested in hearing what you have to say about this.
Labels: computer addict, dopamine agonist, gambling, OCD, Requip
posted by Dirty Butter @ 6:23 AM
2 Comments:
At 11/20/2006 10:17 AM ,
Sheila said...
OCD, I think I have a touch. How interesting that the medicine has that side effect. Much is being written about computer use and I have been thinking that my computer time is too much at times. I think that if the people in your live are not telling you that it is a problem, then maybe it is just something to be aware of and watch, Rosemary. Think of it this way, you are passionate about this pursuit and you are accomplishing something valuable. You are telling a story with this blog and allowing others to find broader audiences with the Blog Village project.
If you are exercising, socializing and doing the other stuff of life, I think you are ok. But, I have let the housework slide ever since we let our cleaning guys go and I must get off the computer and attend to it. But just one more thought. Ha.
At 11/20/2006 2:42 PM ,
Dirty Butter said...
I guess all of us who post consistently could be accused of being at least a little bit of a compulsive computer addict, Sheila. But my hubby does agree that I'm spending way too much time on it, so it's definitely time to find ways to cut back.
But just one more thought? Oh, I'm the world's worst procrastinator.
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