A 66-year-old man from Hampshire, UK, has been awarded a £70,000 settlement after a medication prescribed for restless leg syndrome led to life-altering compulsive behaviours.
Philip Stevens was prescribed Ropinirole, a dopamine agonist, in 2017 to treat a tremor in his left leg. However, his GP failed to inform him about the potential side effects of the medication, which include impulse control disorders such as compulsive gambling and shopping.
As a result, Stevens developed severe compulsive behaviours, including excessive gambling and shopping, which led to significant financial losses and emotional distress. It wasn’t until 2021, when a neurologist questioned him about side effects, that Stevens was advised to stop taking the medication.
The settlement, agreed upon without liability being admitted by his GP, highlights concerns about the lack of proper warnings regarding the potential side effects of certain medications. Stevens’ solicitor, Angharad Vaughan, criticized the delayed recognition of the drug’s side effects, stating that “it is shocking that it took so long for a medical professional to flag these issues.”
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