Weird question for our medically savvy DU'ers. Is there actually a prescription

[niyad]

Last edited Sun Mar 10, 2024, 10:21 AM - Edit history (1)

pain killer that has the bizarre side effect of causing the user to buy/collect things in multiples? Is hoarding a recognized side effect of any prescription drug? I ask, because a person I know was telling me about this with reference to her late ex-husband, and one of her nurses was confirming it. It sounded nuts to me, and I tried looking it up. . Is this one of the latest from whack world? Has anybody else heard of this weirdness?

Thanks in advance.

Once again, my sister and brother DU'ers confirm that you are the best and brightest, most knowledgable people! I ask what must have seemed a totally nutso, clueless question, and you have the answers! I seriously thought the story was from tinfoil hat land. .I am most grateful.

[Marthe48]

1. We didn't need pills around here

We went overboard on thrifting and auctions and can't blame anything except liking a good bargain!

Seriously, I can't think of a legal medicine that would lower your inhibitions. Maybe alcohol

[niyad]

3. Completely understandable. I have several friends who are devoted

thrifters. It is very entertaining accompanying them!

[marble falls]

2. A molecule here and a molecule there, pretty soon some synapses start opening and closing ...

... a common enough side effect of certain anti-psychotics.

[niyad]

5. Thank you. That would make more sense than analgesics.

[hlthe2b]

4. Chicken and egg phenomenon... which came first?

Easy to suggest a treated compulsive disorder was the result of the medication but I know of zero evidence.

[niyad]

7. As I heard it, the drug was an analgesic, but this makes sense, especially

as I am recalling his medical history. Thank you.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. I think it's a mental illness that insists on short term petty pleasure

as opposed to long term gain. Gotta have trinkets. Some have donuts and coffee, some prefer alcohol, some just have nostalgia and reminders.

[niyad]

9. This was way beyond that. .things like 17 chain saws, 50 guitars (he did

not play), and more.

[underpants]

8. I can't find anything other than stories about people hoarding their drugs

for future use.

[niyad]

10. Yes. Basically all I found when I tried looking it up was about getting

multiple opiods.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Parkinson's medication can cause compulsive behavior

They increase dopamine, which plays a role in pleasure, satisfaction and motivation. It can cause compulsive gambling also.

[niyad]

13. Ah, thank you.

[MrsCoffee]

12. Dopamine Dysregulation Syndrome

https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/maladaptive-use-of-ld-cd-tablets-as-painkillers-causing-dopamine-dysregulation-syndrome-in-4-patients-of-advanced-parkinsons-disease/

I did find this article that talks about a drug being used as a pain killer that caused such behaviors.

[niyad]

15. Oh my word! Truly eye-opening article, and I thank you so much. The

behaviours described read very much like the behaviours that I had heard that this person exhibited. And, as a side note, it also explains some of the behaviours of a friend who died several years from Parkinson's.

Again, thank you.

[MrsCoffee]

16. You're welcome.

I’m sorry about your friend.

[Sympthsical]

19. Came here to say this

And yep, it's a hazard in Parkinson's.

I used to work with Parkinson's patients in adult services some time back, and that compulsion symptom manifested sometimes in the oddest ways. Almost always with people who were popping CD/LD in ways no recommended by their neurologist. The article notes dystonic pain, but also some did use the drugs like uppers/downers. "I just need a little boost . . ."

And it was some crazy shit. I knew of one case where a patient wanted some bars installed around the house, because of balance issues. Easy request. IIRC, the center for independent living helped out. Fast forward about a year or so, I went in to review the case, and the whole house was like wall to wall bars. Think of someone with way, way, way too many face piercings. But it's home decor. Was he fashioning a prison? I have no idea.

I spoke with a caregiver, and they said he kept having people coming in and doing these installs when no one was around. They didn't know where it was all coming from.

A lot of the time, the compulsion I saw was with food - fear they may die of starvation. Just had to hoard food all the time, constantly. But the bar thing was truly bizarre.

[GreenWave]

14. You put a pile of bananas around chimps

and they will beat the crap out of each other to hoard them. I say it is instinct.

[littlemissmartypants]

17. I adore and am in total awe of the DU Braintrust.

Combine that with the prevalence of empathy here and it's unmatched anywhere in the world, imo.

❤️

[Elessar Zappa]

18. When I was addicted to pain pills,

it made me a reckless spender. So I guess hoarding due to drugs is a possibility.