#29 When medicines change our behaviour – Michele Fusaroli

Medicines can affect our personality in positive ways, but they
may also lead to destructive behaviours that can damage our
relationships, finances, and overall quality of life. Michele
Fusaroli from the University of Bologna explains how to diagnose
and treat drug-induced impulse control disorders.


Tune in to find out:


Which medicines may cause impulsivity

What the ‘four knights’ of impulsivity are

How patient stories can help detect these conditions



Want to know more?


This review by Daniel Weintraub summarises twenty years of
research on impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s
disease.

In 2003, Driver-Dunckley and colleagues in the US published the
first case series linking pathological gambling to dopamine
agonists.

In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration warned about
impulse-control problems associated with the antipsychotic drug
aripiprazole.

Michele and colleagues in Italy have investigated the mechanisms
and burden of drug-induced impulsivity.

In their 2024 guidelines for managing impulsivity in Parkinson's
disease, an expert consensus group highlighted the pivotal role
of caregivers and of psychosocial interventions.

Finally, these are the Drug Safety Matters episodes cited in the
interview:


Catching black swans

When drugs damage the liver

Empowering patients as partners

Why we should listen to patients






Join the conversation on social mediaFollow us on
Facebook, LinkedIn, X, or Bluesky and share your thoughts about
the show with the hashtag #DrugSafetyMatters.

Got a story to share?We’re always looking for new
content and interesting people to interview. If you have a great
idea for a show, get in touch!

About UMCRead more about Uppsala Monitoring Centre
and how we work to advance medicines safety.