A British man who developed compulsive gambling and shopping habits after being prescribed medication for restless leg syndrome has received a £70,000 ($88,000) settlement from his doctor, according to his legal representatives.
Philip Stevens, 66, from Hampshire, was prescribed Ropinirole—a dopamine antagonist medication—in 2017. However, he was not warned about potential side effects, including impulse control disorders.
Stevens, who had previously enjoyed attending horse races and placing careful bets, saw his gambling spiral out of control after starting the medication. He began making frequent bets on his smartphone, even waking up at night to gamble. His compulsive behaviour extended to excessive shopping, particularly for clothes and fishing equipment.
“Over the four years that Philip took Ropinirole, he spent thousands of pounds on online gambling websites,” a spokesperson for Leigh Day solicitors said. “His gambling became compulsive, and he was betting on anything he could and stopped caring about winning altogether,” she added.
Stevens eventually stopped taking the medication on the advice of a neurologist, at which point his compulsive behaviours ceased. However, he experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, including paranoia. This led him to ask his children to take DNA tests, as he had become convinced they were not his.
The settlement was reached without the doctor admitting liability. Lawyer Angharad Vaughan, who represented Stevens, said, “I hope important lessons will be learned from this case to ensure that, in future, patients receive all the information they need about the potential side effects of such drugs.”
The legal firm’s spokesperson emphasized that the lack of warnings and guidance about potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms had a profound impact on Stevens’ life during the four years he took the medication.
