I love the democratic system of our country, and I appreciate the press' contribution to the democratic process. Over the last few months, there have been a number of articles about compulsive behaviors in people who take agonists to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Some of the articles cater to entertainment. However, for the few people who experience compulsive behavior, this is a serious problem. The press should address the serious side of the issue so people with Parkinson’s know about it.
Denise Gellene's column in the LA Times, 'From Blessing to Curse?', certainly contains dramatic tones, much like other articles. However, it integrates some science and balance. It even cites some statistics on the incidence of the "compulsiveness" side effect as a minor counterbalance.
The column does not properly tout the benefits of agonists to hundreds of thousands of people with Parkinson’s? I would love to see some figures comparing the number of people who benefit from an agonist to the number of people who suffer from moderate to severe compulsive behaviors.
Pharmaceutical companies do not deserve a pass. This is a serious issue. It is quite conceivable that science will progressively confirm the link between agonists and some compulsive behavior. Furthermore, agonist manufacturers should work with physicians and pharmacies to retard this side effect. Nevertheless, the story provides a skewed perspective by failing to quantify the benefits of agonists. The benefits of agonists outweigh the rare side effects.
