Mirapex is a pharmaceutical drug which is prescribed to treat restless leg syndrome (RLS) as well as the tremors which are associated with Parkinson’s disease. The trade name for Mirapex is pramipexole. It is the most commonly prescribed drug in its class.
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals and Pfizer Pharmaceuticals are the companies that manufacture and distribute the drug Mirapex. This company’s headquarters, respectively, are located in Germany and in New York.
Mirapex functions by mimicking the actions of dopamine in the system. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter which controls the pleasure and reward center of the brain.
Low dopamine levels have been linked to the condition restless leg syndrome. In addition, Parkinson’s disease causes a progressive decline of dopamine production in an individual’s brain.
Drugs like Mirapex are called dopamine agonist drugs. These drugs act in the place of dopamine to treat symptoms. The areas of the brain which the drug Mirapex stimulates are those areas which are associated with addictive behaviors.
Mirapex usage can cause some relative benign side effects, including:
- Nausea;
- Headache;
- Vomiting;
- Insomnia;
- Mild fever;
- Stomach pain; and
- Loss of appetite.
In a small number of cases, however, it has caused more unusual side effects. Mirapex dosage should be gradually increased, starting at 0.125mg, taken three times per day.
The dosage should not be increased more often than every 5 to 7 days. The dosage can be increased to 1.5 mg three times per day or more, if needed. Labeling for this medication indicates the possibility of side effects and issues discussed below and advises the patient to contact their physician if they show any signs of these issues.
What Injuries are Associated with Mirapex?
As noted above, there are some mild Mirapex side effects. There are, however, more serious side effects which have been reported. Some individuals reported sudden sleep attacks.
A small number of individuals have reported having psychiatric side effects in addition to the physical side effects reported. These psychiatric side effects include:
- Hallucinations;
- Sleepwalking; and
- Other behaviors associated with obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The most unusual side effect reported concerning obsessive-compulsive behavior is compulsive gambling. In 2005, a study suggested a link between using Mirapex and compulsive pleasure-seeking behaviors, including:
- Gambling;
- Eating;
- Shopping; and
- Sex.
A 2003 study that was published by researchers at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona found that there was an increased pathological gambling in individuals being treated with high does of dopamine agonist therapy, especially Mirapex. A lead author in a Mayo Clinic study conducted in 2005 echoed this result, stating that patients who develop Mirapx side effects including compulsive behaviors who stop using the drug, see very dramatic results and a significant reduction or ceasing of the compulsive behaviors.
In 2005, a study conducted by the Mayo Clinic also determined that 20% of patients taking Mirapex developed uncontrolled sleepiness. This included falling asleep while operating a vehicle.
In 2008, a study presented at the International Congress of Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders concluded that more than 13% of Parkinson’s patients who were taking dopamine agonist drugs suffered from at least one of the four severe behavioral addictions listed above. This study also determined that patients on these types of medications were almost 3 times more likely to have at least one impulse-control disorder as compared to patients who were receiving other treatments.
In 2012, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated a possible link between Mirapex and irreversible congestive heart failure. The FDA, however, never concluded that there was a link and advised patients to continue using the drug.
The FDA provided recommendations for individuals who were taking Mirapex to contact their health care provider if they experienced any symptoms of heart failure while taking the medication, including:
- Shortness of breath, during exercise or at rest;
- Swelling of the:
- Feet;
- Ankles;
- Legs; or
- Abdomen;
- Weakness and fatigue;
- A rapid or irregular heartbeat;
- Chest pain;
- A persistent cough or wheezing that includes pink or white blood-tinged phlegm.
Has Mirapex been Recalled?
Currently, Mirapex has not been recalled and is still available as a prescription medication. Certain batches of the medication were recalled in 2019, but that was for a contamination issue.
Can I Obtain a Legal Remedy if I’ve been Injured from Taking Mirapex?
There may be a legal remedy available if an individual has been injured from taking the drug Mirapex. There have been some Mirapex class action lawsuits which claimed that the manufacturer should compensate patients for their financial losses.
This is a unique legal issue because the majority of lawsuits against drug companies surround physical injury or illness associated with the medication. In these instances, however, individuals are seeking compensation for their financial losses suffered due to compulsive gambling.
It may be possible for a plaintiff to prevail in this type of case. Most product liability cases, however, require that the plaintiff show that the product had a defect and the defect caused some kind of harm. In the first case regarding this medication, a federal jury awarded a plaintiff who was a compulsive gambler $8.2 million dollars in a lawsuit against the manufacturer of Mirapex.
In most of the claims related to Mirapex side effects, the patients taking the medication had no prior histories of any obsessive or compulsive behaviors. The makers of the drug have, of course, denied any link between the medication and these behaviors.
It is important to note that, in many product liability cases, companies prefer to settle with plaintiffs outside of a courtroom. This allows the company to avoid any negative press which may be associated with the lawsuit or the information that is presented as evidence in the trial.
A personal injury settlement occurs when the parties to a personal injury case come to an agreement regarding the amount that should be paid to the plaintiff for damages. This process typically occurs outside of the court system and most often prior to trial or shortly after the trial begins.
A settlement typically begins with one party making a settlement offer to the other party. This may be done for many reasons, including:
- One party does not believe it can prevail;
- One party does not wish to lose the time and resources necessary to have a trial;
- One party wishes to avoid certain facts coming out at trial; and
- Many other reasons.
Once one party has made an offer, the other party may accept the offer, reject the offer, or enter into a negotiation regarding the amount. It is common for a personal injury lawsuit to end with a settlement agreement, which is formed once the parties come to terms regarding the various aspects of the settlement amount.
Should I Hire a Lawyer?
Yes, it is essential to have the assistance of a class action lawyer if you believe you may have been injured due to use of the drug Mirapex. These types of cases are extremely complex and require expert evidence and testimony.
In addition, this is a relatively new type of claim which has not been used frequently. An attorney is best equipped to handle these types of claims and know what evidence to present to the court.
Your attorney can review your situation, determine if you may have a claim, and represent you in court during all aspects of your lawsuit. If your claim becomes a class action claim, your attorney will ensure your rights are protected while attempting to obtain the best damages award available in your case.
