Mirapex

The Trade Name for Pramipexole

Mirapex (also sold under the product names Sifrol and Mirapexin) is a prescription drug primarily used to treat Parkinson's disease and restless leg syndrome (RLS). For patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, it is often used in conjunction with levodopa (L-DOPA). Parkinson's disease involves the degeneration of certain transmitters in the body that release a substance called dopamine, which helps regulate body movement. Pramipexole has been shown to stimulate malfunctioning and under-functioning dopamine receptors, improving a person's ability to control body movements.

Mirapex also has been considered for the treatment of sexual dysfunction, clinical depression, and fibromyalgia, and has shown promise for the treatment of bipolar disorder.

Potential Side Effects of Pramipexole

The use of pramipexole is associated with a wide range of secondary effects, including:

• Significantly decreased appetite and attendant weight loss
• Twisting, twitching, jerking, or other abnormal and uncontrolled body movements
• Intense hallucinations involving seeing, smelling, tasting, hearing, or touching things that are not there
• Severe headaches, including migraines
• Swelling in arms, legs, and extremities
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sleep problems, including fatigue and insomnia
• Fainting, dizziness, or lightheadedness, particularly when standing up

Pramipexole also has been linked to certain behavioral disorders, such as:

• Compulsive gambling
• Hypersexuality
• Overeating
• Prolonged, compulsive, and obsessive actions (known as "punding"):
  • collecting large quantities of an item and sorting them according to size
  • taking complex machines apart and reassembling them
  • building or making large quantities of a single item