A Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) patient in the UK has received a £70,000 (US$89,000) settlement from the National Health Service (NHS) after developing severe gambling addiction from prescribed medication.

Philip Stevens, 66, from Hampshire, experienced uncontrollable gambling urges after being prescribed Ropinirole, a Parkinson's medication also used to treat restless legs syndrome in M.S. patients.

After starting the medication in 2017, Stevens developed an impulse control disorder (ICD), transforming his occasional horse racing bets into compulsive gambling behavior. He began placing bets at all hours, regardless of winning potential, and developed other compulsive behaviors including excessive shopping and three-day fishing trips.

Despite ICD being a known side effect of Ropinirole, Stevens claims he received no warnings about these potential risks. The NHS typically advises patients to contact healthcare providers if they experience uncontrollable gambling, shopping, or heightened sexual urges while taking the medication.

When a neurologist finally identified the connection in October 2021, Stevens was instructed to stop taking Ropinirole immediately. However, he experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, including:

• Extreme exhaustion
• Paranoia
• Hallucinations severe enough to prevent him from recognizing family members

This isn't the first case of its kind. In 2013, the NHS settled a similar case involving Ropinirole-induced gambling and shopping addiction. Additionally, in the U.S., over 635 gambling-related lawsuits have been filed regarding the antidepressant aripiprazole (Abilify) causing similar impulse control disorders.

Stevens reports that his previously enjoyable hobbies now bring only guilt, stating, "I am not the same person as I was, pre-Ropinirole."

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