A man from Hampshire shared how a medicine to treat Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) caused him to develop an unstoppable urge to gamble, leading to major financial troubles. Phil Stevens, 66, said that while he used ropinirole, he spent all his savings and had to sell a rental house he owned as part of his retirement plans.
Dopamine Agonist Use Raises Concerns as Man Develops Impulse Control Disorder
Ropinirole, a drug that mimics dopamine, is often given to UK patients for brain disorders like Parkinson’s and RLS. While side effect information is in drug leaflets and on the web, Stevens claims no one told him about the chance of getting an impulse control problem. He thinks if someone had, he would not have taken the drug, reported BBC News.
During his four years on ropinirole, Stevens found himself going to online betting sites late at night. His wild spending did not stop at gambling — he also bought big items without thinking twice. For example, he spent £6,500 on fishing gear. At the time, he saw nothing wrong with these financial choices.
His family did not know the medicine could cause side effects. They thought his behavior changed because of his multiple sclerosis (MS), a condition he also has. When he tried to join an MS drug study, a doctor told him to stop taking ropinirole right away. He looked into the medicine and found out other people had the same problems with behaviors they could not control.
Calls for Better GP Training Grow After Man Sues Over Ropinirole’s Hidden Risks
Stevens decided to sue his doctor. He got £70,000 in the end, but no liability was admitted. His lawyer, Angharad Vaughan from Leigh Day, said cases like his have been settled before. Similar lawsuits go back to at least 2015. She thinks if more people know about this, it might help keep patients safer.
Julie Gould, who speaks for the UK charity RLS UK, wants GPs to get better training on how to treat RLS. She thinks doctors should give dopamine agonists only in very serious cases, like when someone is near the end of their life. This would help cut down on the chance of bad side effects.
Medical professionals recognize the concerns. Dr. Michael Mulholland, vice chair of the Royal College of GPs, verified that RLS would be part of the updated GP curriculum in 2025.
At the same time, GlaxoSmithKline, which makes ropinirole under the brand name Requip, insists that the drug has undergone thorough testing, with millions of patients treated since its launch in 1996.
The company stresses that the prescribing information lists possible side effects. Looking back on his struggle, Stevens encouraged patients to ask detailed questions before taking prescribed drugs. He stressed how important it is to make a well-informed choice, admitting that while he cannot tell others not to use ropinirole, knowing the possible risks is essential.