
Scientists have reported that a drug prescribed to treat the symptoms of
Parkinson's disease caused one woman to experience unwanted, spontaneous
orgasms.
The 42-year-old woman used Rasagiline, a drug usually depended by people
with Parkinson's, for seven days when she began feeling hyperarousal and an
increased libido. According to Live Science, she was then admitted to a private
hospital after she began experiencing between three and five orgasms per day,
each of which would last up to 20 seconds.
Her case was presented by a team who attended her from the department of neurology at Necmettin Erbakan University in Konya, Turkey. According to sources, it is the first time such an adverse effect of the drug has been reported. The usual side effects of the drug are flulike symptoms, depression, stomach problems, and joint pain.
Researchers said that her unusual reaction might have been triggered by an increase in dopamine caused by taking rasagline. Dopamine can help regulate feelings of pleasure, and Parkinson's has been associated to the loss of neurons that secrete dopamine.
Barry Komisaruk, a well-known professor at Rutgers University in New Jersey said other drugs, such as some anti-depressants, that activate dopamine can stimulate a sexual response. He said dopamine is also released during orgasm.
The case will be published the journal Parkinsonism and Related Disorders.
Source: Medindia