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You might have noticed that a common television ad for restless leg syndrome (RLS) now includes an unusual side effect: gambling. That’s right, if you suffer from Parkinson’s or RLS and suddenly find yourself in Vegas losing money you might be able to blame the drug you take. As of August 4, GlaxoSmithKline added “gambling, sexual or intense urges” to its list of side effects in its television ad for its drug Requip. The company says the warning has been disclosed in its print ads since July 2005 but this week’s change to its television ad was in response to an FDA request three months ago. The FDA did not respond to requests as to why it asked for the change. But two research studies published in the Archives of Neurology since 2005 identify gambling addictions as one of the possible side effects of taking Requip or its competitor Mirapex made by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Mirapex’s television advertising campaign already mentions gambling as a possible side effect.

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