Gambler wins £70,000 payout from GP

A man has received a £70,000 settlement from his GP after claiming that medication prescribed for his restless leg syndrome (RLS) caused his gambling addiction to spiral out of control.

Philip Stevens, 66, from Ringwood, Hampshire, was prescribed Ropinirole, a medication that affects dopamine levels, after being diagnosed with RLS in 2017. His legal team, Leigh Day solicitors, argued that his GP failed to warn him about potential side effects, including an impulse control disorder that can lead to compulsive gambling or shopping.

Stevens, who had to stop working in 2015 due to worsening multiple sclerosis, had enjoyed occasional visits to the races but had always been careful with his betting. However, after taking the medication, his gambling became uncontrollable. He began gambling excessively, using his smartphone at all hours of the day and night. According to his legal team, over the four years Stevens took Ropinirole, he spent thousands of pounds on online gambling, and his behavior became more reckless. He no longer cared about winning and could not control his urges.

Alongside gambling, Stevens developed other compulsive behaviors. He began buying clothes excessively, hiding them from his wife, and developed an obsession with fishing. He started going on long fishing trips and buying more gear than he needed.

In October 2021, after consulting with a neurologist, Stevens stopped taking the medication, but he wasn’t given guidance on how to taper off gradually. As a result, he suffered withdrawal symptoms, including exhaustion, paranoia, and hallucinations, leading him to question his relationship with his children. His mental health deteriorated, and in 2022, he was referred to a mental health crisis team.

“I’m not the same person I was before taking Ropinirole,” Stevens said. “The withdrawal and the shame of my behavior have drained me mentally. Maybe one day I will believe that this wasn’t my fault.”

Solicitor Angharad Vaughan expressed concern over the failure to address the risks associated with Ropinirole, saying, “It’s shocking that it took so long for a medical professional to raise the issue of side effects and withdrawal symptoms.”

She added, “We hope this case serves as a wake-up call for the medical community to better inform patients about the potential risks.”