Pfizer settles lawsuits tying sex and gambling addictions to dopamine meds
May 8, 2015 | By Eric Palmer

Pfizer ($PFE) is settling class-action litigation brought by patients who claimed the drugmaker did not adequately warn them of possible side effects of drugs they were taking to treat their Parkinson's disease or restless leg syndrome. While this kind of litigation is routine, the side effects were not. Instead patients said the drugs created addictions they didn't previously have, causing them to gamble away their life savings, or become obsessed with shopping or sex.

The confidential settlement with 172 patients, said to be for millions of dollars, was approved by a judge in federal court in Australia, the Financial Review reports, although payments were delayed until they are assessed by an independent review. Pfizer had agreed to the settlement late last year, ahead of a trial of the cases brought by people who took Pfizer's Cabaser and Dostinex between 1996 and 2010 to treat tremors associated with Parkinson's disease or RLS.

"Pfizer entered into settlement resolution discussions in order to avoid the cost of litigating this claim and to avoid a lengthy trial," a Pfizer spokesman told the publication. "Pfizer remains willing to litigate this matter in court if necessary."