A phone call at the start of her workday drastically altered Frances' life, setting off a chain of events that would have far-reaching consequences.

The news that her husband, Andrew, a solicitor, had been taken into custody by police on allegations of defrauding clients sent shockwaves through their family, which included their two children.

The scene at Andrew's office, located in a village south of Manchester, resembled a crime scene from a television drama, with yellow tape cordoning off the area, staff members in a state of distress, and records being carefully packed away.

An investigation by police uncovered that Andrew had misappropriated hundreds of thousands of pounds from his clients, many of whom were elderly individuals with dementia, and had used the funds for adult webcam sites, sex workers, and antique purchases.

This incident occurred 12 years ago.

In the subsequent court proceedings, it was revealed that Andrew's impulsive behavior was linked to the medication he was taking for Parkinson's disease.

Thirteen of Andrew's clients were affected by his actions, with all but two being over the age of 80, and some suffering from poor health; collectively, they lost £600,000.

One of the victims, an 87-year-old woman residing in a care home, passed away shortly after the incident, and her estate lacked sufficient funds to cover her funeral expenses.

Reflecting on the experience, Frances expressed that people distanced themselves from their family, which she understood, while their daughter, Alice, noted that her father never forgave himself for his actions.

The consequences of Andrew's behavior ultimately proved tragic.

Although Andrew's case is extreme, it is not an isolated incident.

Over the past year, numerous families have come forward to share their experiences of how impulsive behaviors, triggered by dopamine agonist drugs, have devastated their lives.

These behaviors include the development of new sexual urges, such as addictions to pornography and sex workers, as well as compulsive shopping and gambling, resulting in significant financial losses.

Dopamine agonist drugs are a well-established treatment for conditions like Parkinson's disease and Restless Legs Syndrome, with 1.5 million prescriptions issued by GPs in England in the past year alone.

NHS guidelines advise individuals taking these medications to consult their doctor if they have any concerns.

According to a 2010 study involving over 3,000 participants, one in six Parkinson's patients taking dopamine agonist drugs experience impulse control disorders.

In response to the investigation, the chair of the MPs' Health Select Committee described the findings as "devastating" and has written to the UK drugs regulator to request a review of official warnings.

Many of the individuals interviewed reported having no history of impulsive behavior before taking the medication and failed to recognize the connection between their actions and the drugs.

They alleged that doctors failed to provide adequate warnings or monitor the effects of the medication.

The weekend following Andrew's arrest, he attempted to maintain a brave facade for his family, but he collapsed at home and was taken to the emergency room.

Andrew had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease a few years prior, and when his symptoms worsened, he was prescribed Pramipexole, which had a "miraculous" effect, according to Frances.

Pramipexole and similar drugs function by increasing dopamine activity, a chemical that regulates movement and drives feelings of reward and pleasure.

Andrew's Parkinson's tremor significantly decreased, and he was able to resume playing tennis, according to his family.

However, during his emergency room visit, a doctor inquired whether Frances was aware that Pramipexole could cause impulsive behaviors in some individuals.

Frances expressed that this revelation was a "terrible shock," as she had attended all of Andrew's appointments without being informed of this potential side effect.

The possible side effects of the medication, she stated, finally explained Andrew's compulsive shopping, although at that point, she was unaware of the full extent of his spending.

Prior to his diagnosis, Andrew had used webcam and sex-chat sites approximately once a week, but in the year following his prescription, he made nearly 500 payments to these sites.

He spent over £100,000 on a single website using his clients' funds and nearly £80,000 on sex workers in just four months; at the time of his arrest, his mobile phone contained the numbers of 90 different escorts.

Andrew, an avid history enthusiast, also developed a compulsion for buying antique pens, pottery, and cricket memorabilia, spending £85,000 on eBay in the six months leading up to the police raid.

According to Alice, her father became withdrawn and ashamed after his arrest, rarely leaving the house.

The family waited for over a year to hear from prosecutors, and ultimately, Andrew was charged with fraud.

Frances noted that their son, Harry, who struggled with mental health issues, found the aftermath of his father's arrest particularly challenging to cope with.

Harry's mental health deteriorated to the point where he was sectioned, and after returning home, he disappeared; his body was later discovered, and it was determined that he had taken his own life.

In 2015, Andrew pleaded guilty in court, and during sentencing, the judge stated that he had squandered his clients' money on "sexual excesses" and "absurd extravagances."

The judge believed that Andrew's behavior was caused by the medication but argued that, as a solicitor, he should have been able to recognize the effects of the drugs and sought help from his family, friends, or advisors.

Andrew was sentenced to four years in HM Prison Manchester.

During the investigation, all of Andrew's assets were frozen to recover some of the stolen funds.

The family was unable to pursue a clinical negligence case against Andrew's doctors due to legal rules that bar the recovery of damages related to serious criminal acts.

Frances and Andrew divorced while he was in prison, and upon his release, he moved into sheltered accommodation.

Two years after being jailed, Andrew was released from prison, marking a new chapter in his life.

Andrew's family reports that his time in prison, compounded by the Covid lockdowns, had a profound impact on him. After discontinuing his dopamine agonist medication, his Parkinson's symptoms worsened significantly.

According to Alice, Andrew's life was severely disrupted, with the Parkinson's diagnosis and medication playing a significant role in this deterioration.

In October 2020, Andrew took his own life, a tragic event that has had a lasting impact on those who knew him.

The UK's Yellow Card scheme, which tracks adverse drug reactions, does not include Andrew's death, nor that of his son Harry, in its public record.

The broader consequences of dopamine agonist drugs on families, including financial losses and other forms of collateral damage, are not accounted for in official records.

Many individuals affected by these drugs have found it challenging to seek justice due to the difficulties in pursuing class actions or clinical negligence cases in the UK.

It has been over two decades since the link between dopamine agonist drugs and impulsive behavior was first identified.

A BBC investigation revealed that GSK, the company that initially licensed these drugs for Parkinson's treatment in the UK, was aware of a connection between its medication and "deviant" sexual behavior as early as 2003.

Patient information leaflets were updated three years later to include warnings about increased libido and harmful behavior, but they do not provide information on the frequency of impulse control disorders.

Layla Moran, chair of the MPs' Health Select Committee, is advocating for more detailed warnings that specify the types of behaviors associated with impulse control disorders and their frequency.

Moran emphasizes that the impact of these side effects extends beyond the individual, affecting families and communities and creating new challenges.

Moran argues that patients need clear information about the risks of impulsive behavior, including its likelihood and potential consequences, in order to make informed decisions.

The MHRA's Yellow Card scheme has been criticized by Moran for being inadequate for reporting sensitive side effects.

The government has expressed concern about the findings, acknowledging the seriousness of the issue.

However, the MHRA has stated that it does not plan to revise the warnings, citing the individualized nature of these behaviors.

The agency has previously noted that many cases of impulse control disorders go unreported, making it challenging to determine their frequency.

GSK has defended its drug, citing extensive clinical trials and regulatory approvals, and stating that it has shared safety concerns with regulators.

Boehringer Ingelheim, the manufacturer of Pramipexole, the drug prescribed to Andrew, declined to comment.

In 2017, NICE introduced guidelines requiring doctors to inform Parkinson's patients and their families about the risks of impulsive behaviors and to monitor their development regularly.

Despite these guidelines, some patients have reported that they were not adequately warned about the risks, and many continue to experience impulsive behaviors.

Alice and Frances have relocated to a new area, but the pain of their experiences remains a significant challenge for them.

Frances reflects on the devastating impact of her experiences, including the loss of her home, community, and son.

She struggles to find the words to express the depth of her emotional pain.