Drugs causing sexual incontinence?

I suspect they will be used in defence cases. But disinhibition doesn't remove your sense of right and wrong so I doubt they will get away with it.

Lots of people have developed severe shopping addictions which have led them to debt, fraud, divorce and even suicide as a result of these drugs. That made me think of Nicols Sturgeon's husband, who repeatedly bought the same things and hid them away.

The most important thing is how few warnings were issued.

Of course people can have disinhibition ordinarily but this is about a radical change of behaviour once certain drugs are consumed. There has generally been little or no warning or monitoring of this aspect. And it is a devastating change in behaviours

Perhaps, people can have disinhibitions for completely organic reasons as well.

We offer tech help at the library I work, and it's actually quite common for people to come in looking for help with their "girlfriends/boyfriends" who are in fact scammers. We generally try to tell them this tactfully, but many won't listen at all. And are angry when we won't help them send money.

Hasn't there been something about Parkinson's drugs and gambling?
These meds might have disinhibitory side effects, but it's also a useful excuse.

Thus is the journalist I spoke to, he’s doing a good job

Well done, that must have been a challenge! I might have heard you- I have no idea when I was listening!

You mentioned ‘serious’ as opposed to ‘common’. A radio programme this week suggested they really were common side effects. Something like 1 in 3 or 1 in 6 people struggling with impulse control on these drugs.

Maybe each type of impulse counted separately makes it look less common- binge eating and hypersexuality counted separately, for example, rather than both as impulse control issues.

The recent programme was about the lack of clear warnings given for several years after the issue was identified, during which time people’s lives were wrecked- a child assaulted, a family’s financial security destroyed and left in debt.

I don’t think this is a feminist issue as much as medical malpractice. And as is often the way, women and children are among those most impacted by the consequences, perhaps.

@Missproportionate I was interviewed on The World at One on Friday 13th as an introduction to Impulsive being released. It was a bit scary but it’s something I feel strongly about.

"It will be used as an excuse"

In the trail "I raped someone because of the drugs" "Are you on those drugs?" "No".

The rough sex defence cannot be proved because it is one word against the other. It is a dreadful defence, but proving for or against it is hard because there's no evidence.
But the drugs can easily be proved via a blood test or just looking at their prescriptions. So it's not going to be a common excuse.

Seems like an argument not to investigate the dangers of these drugs and be more responsible when prescribing.

you should listen to the4 'Shadow world' podcast on the BBC Iplayer. It's got some women's experiences too:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0n05xnm

and @Davros my thoughts are with you. My DF and DM were living with us in Covid and my DF had Parkinson's. He was put on one of the drugs that has these warnings, after already being put on Ropinirole previoudsl and experiencing quite pronounced behaviours. The second similar drug also caused libido extremes, to the point that we all noticed it, and he had no inhibitions to talk about his feelings. I think it pretty much traumatised my Dm and she doesn't talk about it.
It compounded an already upsetting time when he was rapidly descending into hallucinatory Lewy Body Dementia.

From the linked article:

Many of the cases we have now learned of involve the exploitation of women and children. These include a man who was convicted of child sexual offences after abusing a child

It's totally irresponsible to prescribe these to men who live with / have access to children without at the very least warning everyone involved of the risks. Or how about, not at all if there are DC in the house and this is a credible risk.

It's well established I think that many - if not most - people have underlying urges or even conscious opinions that they suppress because they know they are wrong/hurt others/ are socially unacceptable. Whilst it would be ideal if the thoughts didn't exist, it doesn't have to be a major problem as long as their brains continue to keep them in check.

It's not just sexual and it's not just men either. When I worked with female dementia patients it was very common for them to display not just sexual disinhibition but also start expressing very racist views towards non-white carers that their family had never heard before. Very distressing all round.

Free will is not what you think it is.

For example:

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that reproduces in cats and can be spread through their faeces, contaminated soil, or undercooked meat. When it infects humans, a condition called toxoplasmosis, it often goes unnoticed, but studies suggest it may subtly alter behaviour. Infected individuals have been linked to increased risk-taking, slower reaction times, and changes in personality traits like reduced fear or caution. This mirrors its effect in rodents, which become less afraid of cats, making them easier prey and helping the parasite complete its life cycle.

Edit:

Oh and roughly 30% to 50% of the global population is thought to carry Toxoplasma gondii, though rates vary widely by region:
• UK & USA: ~10–20%
• Central & South America, parts of Europe and Africa: up to 60–80%

Update! I emailed the journalist and they replied immediately. They are going to ring me next week. Thanks so much for the kind words

I’m so sorry Davros. That’s a really shitty situation you’ve had to cope with. I hope you can find a way towards recovery.

Thanks so much @BadSkiingMum that’s very kind of you. It’s kind-of gone away because DH died last year which isn’t an ideal solution. I’ve got a lot to say about it but I can’t bring myself to drag it up. That article has got an email address to contact the author/researcher so I might contact them.

I am so sorry @Davros and didn't want to leave your message hanging unanswered.

Would you consider talking to your GP as a first step?

I experienced this first hand when DH was on Parkinson’s medication. I’m traumatised, I can’t bear to think about it, never mind speak about it. I haven’t even managed to read this short thread but I know I should but I need to work up to it.