Medications used to treat "video game addiction".

As a physician, I see patients who develop dry eyes because they resist blinking when playing games and using the computer. Video game addiction is a strong behavioral addiction that the addict resists blinking, eating, using the restroom, and taking care of personal hygiene, and sometimes may lead to death due to poor nutrition and associated health problems. This is demonstrated in the story of the Korean man that died after his marathon gaming session.

One of my colleagues shared with me that her eight-year-old child does the "potty wiggle" while playing video games, fighting the urge to use the toilet. Eric Hollander, MD of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine states that Internet and video game addiction can be associated with physical symptoms and withdrawals. Dr. Hollander sometimes prescribes antidepressants, mood stabilizers like Lithium, and opiate blockers like Naltrexone for people suffering from video game addiction.

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