Medication side effects on women: Why you should speak up

Imagine taking medication to treat a certain condition, only to find yourself acting in ways you never thought possible, impulsive decisions, risky behaviors, and having urges that are completely foreign to who you are. This is the reality for some women who have been prescribed dopamine agonist drugs for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move.

For the longest time, many women experiencing RLS were prescribed these medications without proper warning of their potential repercussions from their doctors. Yes, most felt relief from the medication, but it came at a price they never anticipated.

When the side effects of the medication go beyond the body

Dopamine is frequently referred to as a “happy hormone” due to its functions of controlling pleasure and rewards in the brain. The drugs given for RLS would help with movement disorders by acting like dopamine. However, some women were faced with unanticipated side effects, which included self-destructive behaviors that were impulsive and uncontrollable.

A woman known as Claire, who did not previously engage in this behavior, would find herself going out at night in provocative clothing and seeking sexual relations with strangers. Another woman named Sarah went from being disinterested in sex to selling her used underwear and engaging in risky online behaviors.

While a few others engaged in enormous amounts of gambling, shopping sprees, and other mindless activities that put them in severe financial distress.

The most scary part is that many of these women did not make the connection between these changes to their medication immediately. Many had to go through the feeling of shame, thinking something was wrong with them, while others struggled for years in secret before realizing the drug was the root cause.

Why women need to speak up more

Women are almost twice as likely as men to have RLS, which also means they are more susceptible to these medication side effects. Although studies linking these kinds of medications with impulsive behaviors have been done as early as the year 2000, proper warnings were not placed in patient information brochures until years later. And even to date, the disclaimers still lack specificity. They just slapped an “increased libido” rather than bluntly stating that the drug could lead to destructive, life-changing behaviors.

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A situation that has put many women in the position of having to deal with the consequences of decisions they did not have any real power over. Some ended up losing their relationships, while others went into debt, and many more of them felt profound guilt over actions they did not intend to take.

Sadly, this gap in responsibility and cover-up begs the question of how many people need to suffer before something is done.

This is why it is crucial to raise your voice especially if you are on medications and you start to feel or act some type of way. Once you start noticing behaviors that don’t feel impulsive, reckless, or fundamentally opposite behaviors to what you are used to, make sure you reach out to your doctor without delay.

Taking charge of your health

The risks of women’s healthcare have been neglected historically by medical research and drug warnings, leaving many unaware of the full risks they face. But it should not be that way with your body and brain. 

It is important that you ask for as many details as possible about new medications. For your own benefit, do not settle for just the general information.

What you should be asking about more are the most uncommon side effects, if there are any. You are the center of all health discussions and rest assured that the more knowledge you get, the better choices you will make.

It is also your responsibility to closely monitor your body and mind after taking a new drug. Most side effects become apparent after some time, so be alert even if everything seems fine at the start. 

If your impulses or various parts of your behavior shift, it is best to understand that everything comes with some form of change and take note of it. If things are not looking fine and out of your control, do not hesitate to get in contact with your physician and have an open conversation.

Most importantly, trust yourself. If you feel altered in any fashion that does not represent who you really are, you must not take it. 

Help is always out there, but in this particular case do not forget you have to trust yourself more than anyone else. The fight against dismissal starts here, push for answers, seek a second opinion, and never let anyone forget how you feel.