Risky Drugs

The BBC Radio 4 investigative programme 'Impulsive' shocked listeners across the world. Aired at the beginning of the year, 'Impulsive' revealed the devastating effects that the readily prescribed Parkinson's drugs, dopamine agonists, were having on their users, including causing hypersexuality and compulsive gambling, among other extremes. We've actually covered this topic before on Movers & Shakers, but the Radio 4 show brought the discussion back to light, so this week we're readdressing the risks associated with these drugs and what is being done to tackle them. The presenter of 'Impulsive', BBC Investigations correspondent Noel Titheradge, joined us, alongside one of the show's interviewees, and the co-founder of the Dopamine Agonist Action Group, Freddie Waite, to explain their journey to uncovering this 'shadow world'.

Find out more about the Dopamine Agonist Action Group at www.impulsive.world

Each week, Rory Cellan-Jones guides us between the laughs and moans in the pub. To read Rory's summary of this week's episode, click here.

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Guest Biographies

Noel Titheradge

Noel Titheradge is a senior investigative journalist for BBC News based in London. He focuses on uncovering failings in institutional care, abuses of power and social injustices. He is the presenter of BBC Radio 4's 'Shadow World, Impulsive'. [source: the Orwell Foundation]

Freddie Waite

Freddie Waite is the co-founder of the Dopamine Agonist Action Group and also featured on the Radio 4 investigative programme 'Impulsive', talking about the hidden psychiatric side effects that dopamine-agonist drugs had on his dad.

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