Q: What is Mirapex?
A: Mirapex (pramipexole) is a prescription "dopamine agonist" medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. Mirapex may be used alone, or in combination with levodopa or other medicines that treat Parkinson's. Recently, physicians have also prescribed Mirapex to treat Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Mirapex is manufactured by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and is distributed by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mirapex was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997.

Q: What is Parkinson's disease?
A: Parkinson's disease is a motor system disorder that has four primary symptoms: tremor (trembling), rigidity, slowness of movement, and postural instability (imbalance). Parkinson's disease is caused by the loss of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine.

Q: What is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?
A: Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes unpleasant sensations, discomfort, and restlessness in the legs. RLS may be the result of dopamine level changes, but the exact cause is still unknown. Low doses of Mirapex seem to be effective in controlling RLS symptoms in some patients.

Q: Has there been any recent news about Mirapex?
A: There have been recent reports of Parkinson's disease and RLS patients experiencing out-of-control, compulsive urges while being treated with Mirapex or other dopamine agonist medicines. Among the behaviors that have been reported are cases of pathological gambling, hypersexuality (increased sexual thoughts, feelings, or behavior), and compulsive eating. Mirapex's prescribing information states that the incidence of compulsive behavior has been low, and that they are generally reversible upon dose reduction or treatment discontinuation. The suggested link between Mirapex use and compulsive behavior is still under examination.