$70K for Brit Who Sued Doctors Over Drug That Caused Problem Gambling 

A British man — who sued the UK’s National Health Service after he was prescribed a drug that he said caused him to spiral into gambling addiction — has this week settled for £70,000 in compensation. 

Philip Stevens, 66, was prescribed Ropinirole in 2015 to treat his multiple sclerosis. However, he has since claimed that his doctor did not warn him about the potential side effects – which include loss of impulse control and obsessive behaviors. 

Stevens stayed on Ropinirole for years, during which time he says his gambling went from a lifelong occasional hobby to a serious, everyday addiction. He also reported spending thousands of pounds on expensive clothes and three-day long fishing trips, while he had previously only dabbled in those activities. 

In October 2021, a scheduled appointment with a neurologist made him aware of Ropinirole’s side effects, and he put two and two together. 

However, the lawsuit also claimed that the NHS did not prepare Stevens properly for withdrawing from the drug, which caused him extreme distress. 

The NHS settled out of court with Stevens this week. He was represented by lawyers Leigh Day, who have handled similar cases in the past. 

“I am pleased that we were able to secure this settlement for Philip. It is shocking that it took so long for a medical professional to flag the potential side effects and withdrawal symptoms from taking Ropinirole,” said Angharad Vaughan, a medical lawyer for Leigh Day, speaking to The Independent newspaper. 

The Drugs & Gambling 

As a Multiple Sclerosis sufferer, one of Steven’s more severe symptoms was restless leg syndrome. As the compulsive twitching is linked to dopamine regulation, his doctor prescribed him Ropinirole.

However, Stevens’ claims the doctor did not adequately warn him about the possible side effects.

The decreased impulse control soon manifested itself in his daily life. Before taking Ropinirole, Stevens says he was a casual gambler. He would bet on the horses a couple times a month at most, and sometimes attend major race meets. 

He chose his bets carefully and did his research, and had been doing so responsibly for 30 years. 

But after he started taking Ropinirole, Stevens said his gambling ramped up considerably. He recalled waking up at all hours of the night to place bets on horse races he had no idea about via his phone. Eventually, he started betting on sports, which he had never done before in decades of casual gambling. 

The impulse control inhibiting side effects also came through in other ways. Previously a hobby fisherman, Stevens said the drug caused him to obsess over expensive fishing gear and apparel. He recalled spending thousands on outfits and taking three-day trips, where previously he would have gone fishing once or twice a year. 

After four years, an NHS neurologist spoke to Stevens to check up on his conditions. The new doctor explained some of the possible side effects and asked about compulsive behaviors.

Stevens admitted the gambling, and he was then told he should stop taking the Ropinirole. 

The Lawsuit 

Stevens filed the claim in July 2024. It named his specific doctor and the UK’s state health care provider, the National Health Service, as defendants.

Stevens also says that he suffered extensive psychiatric problems after coming off the drug, which he was not informed of on the dangers beforehand. That included giving him hallucinations and suicidal thoughts.

The three parties agreed to a £70,000 settlement, although Stevens’ doctor did not admit liability. Stevens says he has stopped gambling and is feeling better, but the experience has left him permanently changed. 

“I am not the same person as I was pre-Ropinirole. The withdrawal symptoms, along with the shame of my compulsive behavior, has mentally drained me and left me very withdrawn,” Stevens said, in a press release from Leigh Day.

“On a positive level, my marriage has survived and I am beginning to look forward more than backwards, and maybe one day I will believe that what happened to me was not my fault.”