Risky Drugs

Risky Drugs

From Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson's by Podot

June 6, 2026 · 40 min · Season 8 · Episode 4

About this episode

This episode discusses the risks associated with dopamine agonists, featuring insights from the BBC Radio 4 programme 'Impulsive'.

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 Movers & Shakers is brought to you in partnership with Cure Parkinson's . Presented by Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn and Jeremy Paxman. Produced and edited by Nick Hilton for Podot. Associate Producer: Lulu…

People in this episode

Hosts: Rory Cellan-Jones, Gillian Lacey-Solymar, Mark Mardell, Paul Mayhew-Archer, Sir Nicholas Mostyn, Jeremy Paxman

Guests: Noel Titheradge, Freddie Waite

Topics covered

  • Parkinson's drugs
  • dopamine agonists
  • compulsive behavior
  • investigative journalism
  • health risks

Keywords

  • Parkinson's
  • dopamine agonists
  • hypersexuality
  • compulsive gambling
  • health risks

Sponsors

Cure Parkinson's

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Dopamine Agonist Action Group, BBC Radio 4

Books & works: Impulsive

More episodes of Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson's

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Movers and Shakers: a podcast about life with Parkinson's podcast page.