Philip Stevens, 66, from Ringwood, Hampshire in the UK, has received a £70,000 ($88,000) settlement after a medication prescribed for restless leg syndrome caused life-altering compulsive behaviours.
Shropshire reports on Friday that the settlement, agreed upon without liability being admitted by his GP, highlights serious concerns about the lack of proper warnings regarding the potential side effects of certain medications.
Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1995, Stevens’ health worsened in 2015, forcing him to retire.
In 2017, he was prescribed Ropinirole—a dopamine agonist—to treat a tremor in his left leg that disrupted his sleep.
However, his GP did not inform him about the drug’s potential side effects, which include impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling and shopping, according to NHS guidance.
Before and After
According to The Independent also on Friday, before taking Ropinirole, Stevens enjoyed occasional, calculated bets at horse races.
Yet, after starting the medication, his gambling spiraled out of control.
“I started betting on anything I could and even woke up in the middle of the night to place bets,” he recounted.
Over four years, he spent thousands of pounds on gambling websites, often disregarding any chance of winning.
The compulsive behaviours extended beyond gambling.
The sextagenarian began shopping obsessively for clothes, hiding purchases from his wife, and undertaking frequent three-day fishing trips, accumulating vast amounts of fishing equipment.
“Things I once enjoyed became obsessions,” he said.
In October 2021, during a review, a neurologist questioned him about side effects and advised him to stop taking Ropinirole immediately.
However, no guidance was provided on how to taper off the drug safely, leading to withdrawal symptoms including paranoia, hallucinations, and exhaustion.
At one point, he asked his children to take DNA tests, convinced they weren’t his.
The emotional toll led him to the local mental health crisis team in 2022.
Despite overcoming the compulsions, Stevens says the shame and withdrawal symptoms have left him mentally drained.
“I am not the same person as I was pre-Ropinirole,” he shared. “But my marriage has survived, and I am starting to look forward rather than back.”
Legal Action
Angharad Vaughan, the medical negligence solicitor representing Mr. Stevens, criticized the delayed recognition of the drug’s side effects.
“It is shocking that it took so long for a medical professional to flag these issues,” she said.
Leigh Day solicitors, who handled the case, hope this settlement prompts greater transparency from medical professionals about the risks associated with medications like Ropinirole.
The agencies report that NHS warns that dopamine agonists can cause impulse control disorders, advising patients to seek help if they experience compulsive gambling, shopping, or binge eating.
Yet, cases like Stevens’ underscore the importance of proactive patient education to prevent such devastating consequences.
For Stevens, the settlement represents a step towards rebuilding his life. “Maybe one day I will believe that what happened to me wasn’t my fault,” he concluded.
[Punch]