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

Philip Stevens, 66, from Hampshire, developed an impulse control disorder (ICD) after being prescribed Ropinirole in 2017. The drug, commonly used for Parkinson's disease and restless legs syndrome, transformed his occasional betting habit into an uncontrollable gambling addiction. He also developed compulsive shopping behaviors, spending thousands on clothing.

While the NHS lists ICD as a potential side effect of Ropinirole and advises patients to report symptoms like uncontrollable gambling, shopping, or heightened sex drive, Stevens claims he received no warnings about these risks.

The medication drastically altered his behavior:

• Waking up at night to place random bets
• Gambling regardless of winning potential
• Extending fishing trips to three days weekly
• Lost interest in previously enjoyable activities

When a neurologist identified the connection between Ropinirole and Stevens' compulsive behavior in October 2021, he was instructed to stop taking the medication immediately. However, the withdrawal process proved severe, causing:

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

This isn't the first such case. Similar settlements have been reached in the UK, and over 635 gambling-related lawsuits have been filed in the U.S. regarding comparable medications, particularly the antidepressant aripiprazole (Abilify).

"I am not the same person as I was, pre-Ropinirole," Stevens told The Independent, describing how his former interests now bring only guilt and discomfort.

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