Mismanagement of treatment claims
Dopamine agonist medications – such as ropinirole, pramipexole, and aripiprazole (Abilify) – are used to treat a range of conditions, including Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), Parkinson’s disease, and serious mental health conditions.
Dopamine agonists can cause serious and devastating side effects, most of which patients would not think relate to oral medication at all.
At Switalskis we have supported individuals and families who have experienced life-changing harm due to the side effects of dopamine agonist medication . We often see cases where GP’s fail to measure serum ferritin before prescribing dopamine agonists, fail to warn patients of the side effects when prescribing them, fail to regularly monitor patients on such medication and fail to appropriately respond when such side effects appear.
At Switalskis, we’re helping people recognise the link between their medication and behaviours they never expected – including gambling, hypersexuality, binge eating and overspending. These cases are more common than many people think. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Call us on 0800 1380 458 or get in touch through the website to talk about your circumstances, and take the first step towards justice.
“I thought I was losing my mind. I didn’t connect the gambling to the medication. When I stopped taking it, the urges disappeared. It was a huge relief – and a huge shock.” – Susan
Susan was prescribed a dopamine agonist for Restless Legs Syndrome. Over time, she developed a gambling addiction that led to serious financial loss and emotional distress. She’d never been warned that this was a possible side effect and when she started gambling, she did not know why. She kept this to herself for as long as she could as she was embarrassed of her behaviour and didn’t know why she was doing it.
We helped Susan bring a claim against her GP. The compensation she received helped her pay off debt, access counselling, and begin to rebuild her life. Read in full here.
There are established guidelines for prescribing dopamine agonists – including the need to:
When these steps aren’t followed, and patients aren’t properly informed or supported, the consequences can be life-changing.
You may be able to bring a claim if your GP failed to follow these steps and you’ve experienced harm as a result.
Start a mismanagement of treatment claim today by calling Switalskis on 0800 138 0458 .
Many people only realise the connection between their behaviours and their medication after they have suffered significant financial losses. It is often a partner, carer or family member who first notices something isn’t right and encourages them to speak up about it.
With sight of GP records, financial records and expert support, we can build a strong case on your behalf.
We’re here to help you take the first step – and we’ll support you all the way through.
We understand how distressing it can be to realise that a medication meant to help has caused lasting harm. If you get in touch with us, we’ll listen to your experience with care and without judgement. Our experienced team will look into your medical records, prescription history and any other evidence that can help build a clear picture of what went wrong.
We’ve supported individuals and families across the country through similar claims. Our aim is to make the process as straightforward as possible, help you access the right support, and secure the compensation you deserve. We’re here to stand by your side – and help you move forward with confidence.
The claims process is never exactly the same from one claim to the next, although it will generally follow the same basic steps. This may be a fast process, especially if the negligent party decides to accept liability and settle. On the other hand, it may take several years if there is a long period of negotiation to reach a fair compensation settlement. Here is how the process works:
Reach out to Switalskis for a free, no-obligation initial consultation. During this meeting, we’ll listen to your story, understand your concerns and explain whether we think you have a strong case. If you decide to proceed, we can then discuss the next steps and the available funding options.
We’ll gather all the relevant information we need to build your case. This will include applying for your medical records, including your GP records. We’ll ask you for photographs, receipts and any other documents that may support your claim. We’ll take detailed witness statements to tell your version of events. We may arrange for you to be assessed by an independent medical expert to provide an unbiased view of your injuries and future prognosis. The aim will be to prove the negligence was responsible for your injury and consider the potential value of the claim.
Once we have supportive evidence, we’ll send a letter of claim to the doctor and/or hospital involved. This will outline details of the claim and state allegations regarding the negligence treatment.
The defendant will then have four months to investigate the allegations made against them and respond to the letter of claim. Their response will include whether the defendant accepts they are at fault. If they do not accept fault, they will state this in a denial of liability. We’ll advise you of the next steps at this stage.
If the defendant or practice has admitted fault, negotiations can start. Our mismanagement of treatment solicitors will negotiate on your behalf, using our expertise and experience to secure the highest possible compensation amount for you. This stage will include discussion about how much compensation you may receive. This will be calculated to cover the pain and suffering caused by mismanagement of your treatment, as well as any financial losses or expenses you’ve experienced as a result.
Most claims will be settled through negotiation, without needing to go to court. In the rare instances where the case does go to trial, you can trust us to represent you throughout the process.
The team at Switalskis will stay in touch throughout your case to make sure you always understand where your case is up to and the progress that we’re making. In that way, you can rest assured that we’re always fighting to move your case forward and secure you the compensation you’re owed.
Dopamine agonists are commonly prescribed to treat Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), mental health conditions and Parkinson’s disease. They work by mimicking dopamine in the brain to reduce symptoms. However, they are known to carry serious side effects – including impulsive and harmful behaviours like gambling, excessive spending, and hypersexuality.
These side effects aren’t always explained clearly to patients, and therefore patients do not always realise these behaviours are directly linked to the medication.
If your GP or healthcare provider failed to warn you about the known risks of dopamine agonist medication – particularly compulsive behaviours – this could be classed as medical negligence. You may be able to bring a claim if you suffered harm as a result, especially if you were not given alternative treatment options or followed up properly.
Augmentation is the worsening of RLS symptoms, which can include onset earlier in the day, increased intensity or symptoms moving to other parts of the body (for example the arms). Dopamine agonist medications may overstimulate the brain and cause a change in the dopamine receptors or dopamine levels. This leads to an overall decrease in activity in natural dopamine levels and results in an increased need for the medication. This means that a patient would require a higher dose of medication to treat the symptoms of RLS. Therefore, over time the treatment may actually be worsening the disease.
If augmentation is suspected and there are no exacerbating factors, the causative drug should be stopped. We often see that this is not done and instead, the dose is increased.
Many people don’t realise the link between their behaviour and the medication they’ve been prescribed. If you developed unusual behaviours – such as gambling, compulsive eating, shopping or sexual activity – after starting dopamine agonists like pramipexole , ropinirole , or aripiprazole , there may be a connection. If the behaviour stopped or reduced when the medication was withdrawn, this may support a legal claim.
Yes – if your GP prescribed dopamine agonists without first checking your iron levels (serum ferritin) or discussing alternative treatment options, this may be a breach of national clinical guidelines. In many cases, an iron deficiency can cause RLS and this can be treated by an iron supplement, without the need for dopamine agonists. Therefore, your serum ferritin should always be measured before prescribing dopamine agonist medication.
Most of the evidence in these cases is financial – for example, gambling losses, debt, or unusual spending. We can gather bank statements, medical records and expert reports to help demonstrate how the medication affected your behaviour.
Not all of these cases are strictly financial. We recognise the emotional harm that is often associated with such behaviours and we can obtain compensation to reflect this. Many patients have put themselves in physical danger as a result of hypersexuality and did not realise at the time why they felt such an impulse to do so.
Yes – if a loved one is unable to bring a claim themselves due incapacity, you may be able to act on their behalf. We regularly work with family members and carers who have witnessed the impact of mismanaged treatment and want to help their loved ones.
In most cases, you have three years from the date of knowledge. This is when the patient knew or suspected that they may have suffered harm due to negligence.
However, this can vary – especially in cases involving mental capacity or where the claimant is a child – so it’s important to speak to us as soon as possible. We’ll advise you clearly on the time limits applicable to your claim.
The amount of compensation varies depending on your individual situation. It can include financial losses (such as gambling debts), treatment costs, emotional distress and the wider impact on your life. We’ll work with you to assess what a fair outcome looks like – and fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
We’ll listen to your story, investigate what went wrong, and guide you through the legal process. We work with expert witnesses and financial professionals to build a strong case and secure the best outcome. Our team understands how sensitive and personal these cases are – we’ll support you every step of the way.
Contact us today and let's start your journey towards recovery together. Call us today on 0800 1380 458, or get in touch via our form.
When making a medical negligence claim, your choice of legal team makes a big difference. Securing the right support can make the process easier, and greatly improve your chances of success. At Switalskis, we make the following commitments to help make sure we provide the best possible service for all our clients:
We prioritise communication and make sure everything is as clear and simple to understand as possible. Medical terminology and legal jargon can both be tough, but our solicitors want to make sure you always understand the progress of your case fully. That way, you’ll be empowered to make the best decisions for you.
To us, you’re not just a client. Mismanaged treatment can be devastating to deal with, and we know that you might be in a difficult place when you come to us for help. We’re here not only to provide vital legal advice - we’ll also offer any emotional support you need to work through your recovery and come out on the other side.
Our team has a wealth of expertise in clinical negligence cases. Thanks to the years we have spent fighting for compensation for people in similar situations to you, we know what it takes to build a successful case. We recognise the telltale signs of failures in care and can help you to prove the full extent of how a mismanaged treatment plan affected your life.
Medical negligence compensation isn’t just about money. It’s about seeking justice for what happened to you and holding those who were responsible to account. We’ll always make sure that your voice is heard and your rights upheld throughout the process.
With Switalskis, you don’t just have a legal team of dedicated experts. You have an ally who will stand by your side throughout your fight for justice, and always take whatever steps are necessary to give you the best chances of success.
Treatment should be your journey towards recovery, but when this process is mismanaged, you can end up feeling worse than when you started. Doctors have a responsibility to provide appropriate treatment and if they have failed, you’re owed compensation to set things right.
To start the process of making a mismanagement of treatment claim, contact Switalskis today. Call us on 0800 1380 458 or get in touch through the website for a free initial chat about your situation.