Impulsive: 7. Missed connections

Impulsive: 7. Missed connections

From Shadow World by BBC Radio 4

February 13, 2026 · 14 min · Season 7 · Episode 7

About this episode

The episode explores the connection between gambling problems and medication side effects, highlighting personal stories and the lack of clear warnings from health professionals.

Lucy’s stumbled on a connection between her gambling problem and her medication. But her mental health team says they don’t know what she’s talking about. Freddie’s reached breaking point. And, one day, he notices his dad’s medication leaflet on the kitchen table, sparking a full-blown crisis. It’s been known for more than two decades that drugs affecting dopamine levels in the brain have potential side effects including impulse control disorders like hypersexuality, or compulsive shopping or gambling. Warnings have been added to patient information leaflets - but many of the people who’ve contacted BBC investigations correspondent Noel Titheradge about their experiences say the risks weren’t made clear. Why weren’t they warned about the potential side effects of these medications before it was too late? Details of organisations offering help and support with some of the issues raised are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. If you have any concerns about medication you’re taking, speak to your doctor. Presenter: Noel Titheradge Producer: Lucy Burns Editor: Matt Willis A BBC News Long Form Audio production

People in this episode

Host: Noel Titheradge

Topics covered

  • gambling
  • mental health
  • medication
  • impulse control disorders
  • patient information
  • support organizations

Keywords

  • gambling
  • medication
  • dopamine
  • impulse control
  • mental health
  • side effects
  • support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: BBC, BBC Radio 4

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