It may sound like a good trial defense but more and more studies are showing that certain medications can lead to compulsive behaviours like gambling.
Casinos in louisiana map. Of course these side effects are the exception to the rule. Yet as increasing numbers of people with certain medical conditions begin to exhibit these behaviours when taking specific prescribed medications, and find that the same inexplicable compulsions disappear when discontinuing the meds, experts are facing mounting evidence that there may be something to it after all which is adding new chapters to the psychology of gambling.
Many factors can contribute to a gambling addiction, including desperation for money, the desire to experience thrills and highs, the social status associated with being a successful gambler, and the entertaining atmosphere of the mainstream gambling scene. Unfortunately, once a gambling addiction takes hold, breaking the cycle is difficult. Gambling addiction is caused by an impulse control problem in the brain. When a person develops an addiction to gambling, it can be in many different ways. A few of the most common activities that a.
Here we'll take a look at some of the leading compulsive behaviour inducing medications so that if you're on them and find yourself being drawn to excessive, compulsive gambling behaviours, then you can seek help.
Parkinson's Medications https://trueufiles496.weebly.com/wonder-woman-slots-online.html.
It is a well document fact that certain medications used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease have been associated with compulsive behaviours including impulsive and excessive shopping, gambling and sexual activities.
The reason for this is that the class of drugs in question, also known as dopamine antagonists, are designed to replace the loss of dopamine caused by structural breakdowns in areas of the brain that control the ability to move. The increased dopamine levels then affect other areas of the brain such as the dopamine-mediated neural system linked to the pleasure and reward behaviours and the associated emotions which then manifest in impulsive and compulsive actions.
Three popular and widely used Parkinson's drugs namely Mirapex, Levodopa and Carbidopa have been identified in potentially causing these types of compulsive behaviours in a small number of users.
Mirapex (Pramipexole) is thought to be the most widely used of these drugs, with in excess of $200 million sales in the US alone last year. It has been designed to reduce tremors and stiffness of movement that are the hallmark of Parkinson's disease and while the medication works wonders for the majority, for some users it is the beginning of a whole new nightmare.
Documented cases at the Mayo Clinic including a cases study of a 68 year old man who experienced losses in excess of $200,000 while gambling during a 6 month period while taking the drug and a 41 year old man who became obsessed with online gambling, losing $5000 in a short space of time. Both men insisted that they had never succumbed to such behaviours before taking the drug.
The same evidence is being presented in other parts of the world and doctors treating Parkinson's patients now routinely ask patients using the drug if they have suddenly taken up gambling or are shopping or having sex more than usual. Those experiences these side effects are immediately switched to different drugs or have their doses adjusted, often with dramatic effect in that the compulsions vanish immediately.
Restless Leg Syndrome Medications
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a medically documented neurological disorder that manifests as anything from an unpleasant to painful sensation in an individual's leg when at rest, often leading to sleep disruption and the ability to function due to it.
Interestingly, RLS is treated to drugs similar to those used to treat Parkinson's disease, also in the dopamine antagonist category.
Two of the drugs in question include Pramipexole and Ropinirole (sold as Requip). Again documented cases of compulsive gambling behaviour coupled with severe losses in excess of $100,000 have been documented. In these cases, users were people with no prior history of problem gambling behaviour.
Schizophrenia / Bipolar Medications
A number of medications are used in the treatment of psychiatric disorders like Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. Abilify (Aripiprazole) is one of the top-selling drugs in this category, and has been linked to compulsive behaviour side effects such as pathological gambling, hyper sexuality and binge eating. These behaviours are again attributed to interference with neurotransmitters in the brain affecting dopamine and serotonin which in turn affect mood and behaviour.
When dopamine is stimulated in response to a specific activity, people experience highs of emotion and pleasure which in normal cases ensure that survival functions like eating are sustained. In people with mental disorders, these systems are often over or under stimulated.
It is believed that Abilify may over-stimulate dopamine reward receptors thus triggering compulsive behaviours.
Several case studies have been made into the link between this drug and excessive gambling behaviours and one study showed that seven out of eight patients who had no prior history of problem gambling behaviour lost control of their gambling habits when using it. After reducing the doses significantly or terminating use, control was regained.
Anti-depressants
Medical experts have also found a surprising link between the commonly used anti-depressant Effexor and addiction to gambling. While no conclusive studies have been conducted, numerous patients have reported compulsive urges to gamble after starting the medication.
Again Effexor affects the serotonin/dopamine centres of the brain, and this could be behind why some of these patients experience compulsive gambling as a side effect.
Those who have either direct or indirect experience with problem gambling may be questioning what triggers gambling addiction? It is often difficult for those affected to comprehend why they have developed a problem while others have not. What makes one person more susceptible to gambling than another? Why can some people gamble in moderation while for others it becomes an obsession that ultimately destroys their life?
Unfortunately, there is no way to answer these questions with any degree of certainty. There is no single cause of addiction in every person, and what triggers gambling addiction in one individual may not trigger it in another.
While there is no exact cause of addiction for everyone, there are certain risk factors that can make the likelihood of the problem developing that much higher.
Causes of Gambling Addiction
Root Causes Of Gambling Addiction
Real gambling games. Just like every other type of addiction, there are certain risk factors for problem gambling. Below are a few examples:
- Family History of Addiction – Having a family history of addiction, particularly gambling addiction, can increase the likelihood that you will be affected too. Being brought up in a home where gambling was the norm may increase your risk of having a problem when you are older.
- Early Exposure – Early exposure to gambling is also known to be a risk factor. The younger you are when you start gambling, the more likely you are to have a problem. The reason for this is the fact that younger people are more prone to impulsivity.
- Mental Health Problems – Mental health problems could also lead to an increased risk of addiction in some people. There are many individuals who use gambling as a way to relieve feelings of depression or anxiety, for example. Gambling is considered a high-risk activity and certain mental health conditions result in a propensity for such. Those who suffer from bipolar disorder, for example, would be prone to manic behaviour where they might become addicted to the adrenaline rush and euphoria associated with gambling.
- Emotional Trauma – Suffering traumatic experiences raises the risk for addiction, with those who have suffered more trauma being more likely to develop addiction.
In addition to the above, there are certain situations that could make someone more susceptible to a gambling addiction. Best roulette player. For example, those who experience a big win when they first start gambling might quickly become hooked and may believe themselves to be ‘lucky'. This can lead to false expectations of gambling developing in that individual; there are even those who convince themselves they are going to become millionaires from gambling.
Causes Of Gaming Addiction
Having financial problems can also contribute to problem gambling. It can be hard to understand how someone with money problems might consider risking more money to gamble, but the hope of having a big win to solve all their financial issues can lead some people to gamble.
Promises of big wins and free bets when a certain amount is deposited from betting companies can also lure people into believing they can solve their problems by gambling. More often than not, these individuals then find it difficult to stop.
How to Recognise Problem Gambling?
It is often difficult to recognise a gambling problem in a loved one because quite often there are no outward signs that there is an issue. Australian online pokies. It is usually only when the person ends up in dire financial straits that things tend to come to a head.
Before the advent of the internet, gamblers would have had to venture out of their home, for the most part, to gamble. It would have meant heading to a local betting shop, race-track, bingo hall, or casino to feed their habit. These days, it is possible to gamble at any time of the day or night from the comfort of your own home. It is even possible to be sitting in the same room as someone else and feed your habit without this other person even being aware.
Online gambling sites and the fact that almost everyone has access to a smartphone or other mobile device these days has made gambling the ‘hidden' addiction, and spotting it is even more difficult than ever before. Unlike addictions to substances such as alcohol or drugs, there are no physical symptoms that would indicate a problem.
To recognise a gambling addiction, it is important to be on the lookout for changes in behaviour. If a loved one seems to be running out of money constantly and there appears to be no obvious reason why, it could be that he or she has a gambling problem.
You may also notice that your loved one is losing interest in activities or hobbies that he or she once enjoyed. In addition, the person might prefer being alone rather than spending time with other family members and friends. This might be because it allows him or her to gamble in secret. Adobe reader win 10 download.
As we have alluded to a couple of times in the above paragraphs, it is hard to recognise a gambling addiction and often those affected cannot even see how serious their situation has become. If you are worried about someone you love, you can speak to one of our advisors for confidential advice.
Do You Have a Gambling Problem?
A gambling addiction usually develops over time. While some people can get hooked almost immediately, for others it takes more time. In the early days, you may have been able to gamble casually. Maybe you bought a lottery ticket every now and then or placed a bet on the horses occasionally.
The next stage is regular gambling, but at this stage, you may still have had a measure of control over your gambling and it does not interfere with home and work life. However, as your gambling habit progresses, you may start to experience issues at home or at work. As soon as you became preoccupied with gambling, everything else in life might have been shifted into second place. This can cause a massive strain on relationships.
If your gambling becomes an obsession and you lose all control over it, then you are almost certainly addicted. Pathological gambling causes an uncontrollable urge to gamble and the affected individual is powerless to resist. Even when you know that gambling is going to cause problems in your life, you will have no way of controlling it. You may be using gambling as a way to relieve stress and other problems. Nevertheless, the more you gamble, the worse your problems are likely to become. You may suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety and depression and could resort to substance abuse in a bid to self-medicate.
Do You Need Help for Your Addiction?
It is difficult to pinpoint exactly what triggers gambling addiction or to determine at which point a gambling habit becomes an addiction, but one thing is certain – without treatment, it is a problem that will only get worse.
If you are struggling with a gambling habit that you cannot control, it is important that you get help as soon as possible. Treatment for gambling addiction usually involves a lot of counselling and therapy. It is important to identify the cause of the addictive behaviour in the first instance, and this usually takes place with talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy.
You will have a choice in the type of treatment programme that you can access, but if your addiction is severe, you might prefer a residential programme where you will be removed from everyday life. In this situation, you will spend several weeks in an inpatient clinic where you have no access to any temptations. You will be away from all means of gambling and it will be like a detox.
During this time, you will have a number of individual counselling or group therapy sessions, designed to help you learn how to live without gambling. You will learn the reasons you gamble and the negative thought processes that have affected your thinking and judgement thus far.
For more information on how to access such a programme, please contact us here at Recovery Lighthouse. We offer excellent programmes with fully trained counsellors who have experience in treating all types of addictions.
Our clinic is decorated to a high standard and has state-of-the-art facilities; we are also regulated by the Care Quality Commission. To speak to one of our friendly advisors about the type of care we provide, please call our helpline today. Alternatively, you can leave your contact details on our website and we will contact you as soon as possible.
