After developing an impulse control disorder following a prescription of the drug Pramipexole, a woman from Essex received £170,000 in compensation.
Eighteen months after starting Pramipexole, a woman who we will refer to as Beth, developed an addiction to online gambling and gaming. She spent increasing amounts of time and money on the mobile game Candy Crush, spending £3.99 per transaction multiple times a day.
In January 2018, her gambling and gaming addiction escalated after receiving an Oculus Virtual Reality (VR) headset. She began playing virtual slot machines at a Las Vegas-style casino, purchasing in-game packages costing between £0.79 and £44.99 per transaction.
Over the six years on Pramipexole, Beth spent thousands on online gambling and gaming. Her addiction became compulsive, leading her to exhaust her savings, borrow from friends, and release equity from her home to support her habit. As her debts accumulated, she felt she was losing control of her life.
During this period, Beth also began shopping compulsively, both online and in stores. She often went on shopping sprees, buying items she didn’t need, including clothes that were not her size and that she never wore. She recalls feeling addicted to the thrill of purchasing, with little regard for what she was buying.
Beth developed restless leg symptoms in January 2008, experiencing an overwhelming urge to move her legs that kept her from sleeping. On 10 January 2008, after consulting with her GP (General Practitioner) about the issue, she was diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). She was prescribed Ropinirole, a dopamine agonist medication, which provided immediate relief from the symptoms. Dopamine agonist medications are chemically similar to dopamine and can “mimic the effects of dopamine” as they activate dopamine receptors.
Beth took Ropinirole daily for approximately six years. By April 2014, the medication was causing severe nausea, and she frequently vomited. The drug significantly affected her daily life and prevented her from leaving the house. Her late husband took over all household responsibilities as she was too unwell.
On 9 April 2014, Beth returned to her GP due to the ongoing issues with Ropinirole. When she attempted to stop taking it, her RLS symptoms returned. She was then prescribed Pramipexole, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s Disease, but was not informed of the potential side effects, such as impulse control disorder.
Initially, Beth found Pramipexole effective for managing her RLS, and the nausea subsided. However, following the death of her husband on 16 October 2014, her restless leg symptoms began to worsen. On 17 February 2015, she saw her GP regarding her RLS, and her Pramipexole dosage was increased to double the recommended daily dosage. Once again, no risks or side effects, such as uncontrollable gambling or shopping signs of an impulse control disorder were discussed.
By September 2021, Beth reached a crisis point and self-referred to the National Problem Gambling Clinic.
On 18 March 2022, as part of her treatment, Beth had an assessment with a consultant psychiatrist at the National Problem Gambling Clinic. This was the first time she was made aware of the risk of impulse control disorder linked to Pramipexole, which had been causing her gambling and spending issues for the past six years. She was advised to stop taking Pramipexole immediately.
Beth informed her GP surgery about this advice and requested an alternative medication for her restless leg symptoms. Due to the high dosage of Pramipexole she had been taking, it took a few months for her pathological gambling and spending to completely stop. By the end of May 2022, she was no longer gambling or compulsively spending large sums, and, for the first time in six years, she felt in control of her life again.
Beth was represented by Leigh Day clinical negligence solicitor Angharad Vaughan in her claim against her GPs and GP surgery, which settled for £170,000 in October 2024. It was admitted that Beth’s GP surgery had failed to arrange formal annual reviews of her medication and that Beth’s GPs had failed to act on the fact that Beth was exceeding the maximum recommended dosage of Pramipexole and failed to refer her for specialist neurology review.
Medical negligence solicitor and partner, Angharad Vaughan said:
“Sadly, during the period Beth was treated with Pramipexole, there were several missed opportunities for Beth to have been warned about the potential side effects of Pramipexole. Had she been made aware, she would have been forewarned and would have made the link between her change in behaviour and her medication. She would have been able to take steps to prevent sinking into debt due to uncontrolled gambling, gaming and spending.
“I sincerely hope that this case will help to raise awareness about how medications like Pramipexole and Ropinirole can lead to impulse control disorders. Patients should not be prescribed these drugs without being warned of the potential side effects.
“I am glad that we were able achieve this settlement for Beth and I hope that it will help to ease her financial losses.”
