FOI release

Yellow Card

Some or all of the information requested may not have been provided because we required clarification from the requester.

Case reference FOI2026/00703

Received 1 July 2026

Published 17 August 2026

Request

I am making this request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. This request concerns dopamine agonist medicines, including but not limited to pramipexole, ropinirole, rotigotine, bromocriptine, cabergoline and apomorphine. Please provide the following recorded information: 1. The total number of UK Yellow Card reports received for each dopamine agonist since 1 January 2005 that include reports of: * impulse control disorder; * pathological gambling; * compulsive gambling; * hypersexuality; * compulsive sexual behaviour; * compulsive shopping or spending; * compulsive eating or binge eating; * punding or repetitive compulsive behaviours; * dopamine agonist withdrawal syndrome (DAWS); * suicide, suicidal ideation or suicide attempts where a dopamine agonist was recorded as a suspected medicine. 1. Any internal reviews, safety assessments, benefit-risk assessments or expert reports produced since 2005 concerning these adverse effects. 2. Copies of any meeting minutes, briefing papers or decision papers discussing whether additional warnings or prescribing restrictions should be introduced for dopamine agonists. 3. Copies of correspondence between the MHRA and pharmaceutical manufacturers concerning impulse control disorders or behavioural adverse effects associated with dopamine agonists. 4. Copies of correspondence between the MHRA and: * NHS England; * NICE; * the Commission on Human Medicines; * other UK health departments, 1. concerning the risks of impulse control disorders associated with dopamine agonists. 2. Copies of any communications issued to healthcare professionals, GP practices, pharmacists or NHS organisations concerning these risks, including any Drug Safety Updates or equivalent communications not already publicly available. 3. Any recorded information explaining why current prescribing advice does or does not recommend enhanced monitoring for patients considered potentially more vulnerable to impulse control disorders. 4. Any recorded information held regarding whether neurodevelopmental conditions, including ADHD or autism, have been considered as potential factors influencing susceptibility to dopamine agonist-induced impulse control disorders. 5. The dates on which the MHRA first became aware of evidence linking dopamine agonists with impulse control disorders, and the dates on which significant regulatory actions or safety communications were subsequently issued. 6. Any equality impact assessments, patient safety assessments or regulatory reviews concerning whether existing patient information sufficiently communicates the risk of impulse control disorders. If any part of this request exceeds the appropriate cost limit, please treat each numbered item separately and provide advice and assistance under section 16 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 so that the request may be refined.

Response

See attached

Documents

• FOI2026_00703 (redacted).pdf (2.5 MB)

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