NHS Pays £70,000 to Man Who Developed Gambling Addiction After Parkinson’s Drug Use
the National Health Service (NHS) has awarded £70,000 to a man who developed an uncontrollable gambling addiction after being prescribed a common Parkinson’s disease medication, The Self-reliant has learned.
Philip Stevens, a 66-year-old resident of Hampshire, filed a lawsuit against his general practitioner after being prescribed Ropinirole for restless legs syndrome. The drug, which is also used to treat Parkinson’s, led to the development of an impulse control disorder, causing Stevens to spend thousands of pounds on gambling websites and luxury items.
The NHS acknowledges impulse control disorder as a potential side effect of Ropinirole. Patients are advised to seek medical attention if they experience symptoms such as binge eating, compulsive gambling, excessive shopping, or an unusually high sex drive.
from Horse Racing Enthusiast to compulsive Gambler
Stevens, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995, saw his health decline in 2015, forcing him to stop working. In 2017, his GP prescribed Ropinirole for restless legs syndrome, but Stevens claims he was not warned about the potential side effects of the medication.
Before taking the drug, Stevens had been an avid horse racing fan, occasionally placing bets but always maintaining control. However, shortly after starting Ropinirole, he began exhibiting compulsive behaviors, gambling more frequently and eventually losing control.
“The things that I once enjoyed that became obsessions, such as fishing and horse racing, are now joyless as, with each one, I was driven by the compulsion to do it, not the enjoyment.”
Philip Stevens
Stevens recalled regularly gambling using betting apps on his phone, often waking up in the middle of the night to place bets. Over the course of four years, he spent thousands on gambling websites, eventually losing interest in winning altogether.
Along with gambling, Stevens began compulsively shopping for expensive clothes and accessories, spending thousands of pounds.He also found himself compelled to go on three-day-long fishing trips every week, driven by the impulse control disorder.
NHS Settlement and Public Awareness
The NHS’s settlement of £70,000 reflects the severity of Stevens’ condition and the impact of the drug’s side effects. This case underscores the importance of patient education and informed consent when prescribing medications with known risks.
Stevens’ experience serves as a cautionary tale for both healthcare providers and patients. As the use of Ropinirole and similar drugs continues,it is crucial for doctors to discuss potential side effects thoroughly with patients to prevent similar outcomes.
For Stevens, the settlement marks the end of a long battle. However, his story highlights the need for greater awareness and vigilance when it comes to the potential risks associated with commonly prescribed medications.
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Man Recounts Harrowing Experience with Parkinson’s Drug Side Effects and Withdrawal
A man from the United Kingdom is speaking out about the devastating impact a commonly prescribed Parkinson’s disease medication had on his life, shedding light on the potential dangers of Ropinirole and the lack of awareness surrounding its side effects.
Philip Stevens, who was prescribed Ropinirole to manage his Parkinson’s symptoms, found himself grappling with compulsive behaviors, including gambling and excessive shopping, after taking the drug. “I am not the same person as I was pre-Ropinirole,” Stevens saeid, reflecting on the profound changes the medication brought to his life.
In October 2021, during a routine appointment with his neurologist, Stevens was asked about his well-being and whether he had experienced any unusual behaviors. When he mentioned his gambling habit, the doctor advised him to stop taking ropinirole immediately. However, the challenges did not end there.
Stevens recalled calling his GP surgery to inform them he was halting the medication, but no guidance was provided about potential withdrawal symptoms. According to the NHS, abruptly stopping Ropinirole can lead to severe withdrawal effects, including mood swings, fatigue, sweating, and pain.
While Stevens’ compulsive gambling and shopping subsided within two days of stopping the drug, he was then hit with a wave of withdrawal symptoms that lasted for five months. These included extreme exhaustion, paranoia, and hallucinations so intense that he failed to recognize his own home, wife, or children. At one point, he even questioned his children’s paternity, asking them to undergo DNA tests.
“Along with the shame of my compulsive behaviour, [it] has mentally drained me and left me very withdrawn,” Stevens said. Despite the trauma, he expressed gratitude for his family’s support, noting, “On a positive level, my marriage has survived, and I am beginning to look forward more than backwards, and maybe one day I will believe that what happened to me was not my fault.”
Stevens’ case is not isolated. In 2023, law firm Leigh Day, which represented him, also settled a similar claim involving a 51-year-old woman who developed impulse control issues after taking Ropinirole. The woman accumulated £40,000 in debt due to excessive shopping and gambling.Additionally, the firm resolved another case involving Pramipexole, another drug used to treat Parkinson’s and restless legs syndrome, which led to compulsive gambling in another patient.
Angharad vaughan,a medical negligence solicitor and partner at Leigh Day,commented on the settlements,saying,“I am pleased that we were able to secure this settlement for Philip. It is indeed shocking that it took so long for a medical professional to flag the potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms from taking Ropinirole.” she added, “We hope that critically 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.”
Stevens’ story serves as a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with medications like Ropinirole and the importance of thorough patient education about side effects and withdrawal protocols. As the medical community continues to grapple with these issues, cases like Stevens’ underscore the need for greater vigilance and transparency in prescribing practices.
Image: Philip Stevens speaking at a press conference about his experience with Ropinirole.
