Compulsive buying can be uncontrollable, especially if it’s a result of brain injury that affects brain circuitry associated with impulse, desire, will, and restraint. According to Dr. Max Gomez in a recent CBS report, this connection was first made when a drug called Nuedexta, which is FDA approved to treat uncontrollable laughter or crying after a brain injury, was given to two women who suffered head trauma and then started buying compulsively. Both women reported an astonishing reduction in compulsive buying behaviors after taking the medication. Might this drug successfully treat compulsive buyers who haven’t suffered a brain injury?
Furthermore, Modafinil restricts the reuptake of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain, leading to increased availability of these neurotransmitters, known for their roles in transmitting electrical signals within the nervous system. This feature has made Modafinil popular among students preparing for exams.
To read the full article and what the two women had to say, click here.
Carrie Rattle is a Principal at BehavioralCents.com, a website for women focused on mind and money behaviors. She has worked in the financial services industry for 20+ years and hopes to inspire women to better prepare themselves for financial independence.