Compulsive gambling drug?

Is there a drug that can turn you into a compulsive gambler? A group of Canadian Parkinson’s patients says yes, and have filed a class action lawsuit against the drugmaker.

From newswire.ca:

A national Class Action lawsuit has been launched
claiming that people with Parkinson’s disease developed a gambling addiction
as a result of their use of the drug Mirapex. The plaintiffs, who are
represented by the Toronto law firm of Thomson, Rogers, seek millions of
dollars in compensation from the drug’s Canadian manufacturer, Boehringer
Ingelheim (Canada) Ltd., and two American corporations.
The representative claimant, Mr. Gerard Schick from Midland, Ontario,
alleges that he began gambling compulsively after starting to take Mirapex and
lost more than $100,000. Some 100 or more Canadians are believed to have
suffered a similar experience. Recent medical reports have linked the drug to
compulsive behaviour including compulsive gambling. An American class action
is already underway.

Gambling Addiction Leads To National Class Action Lawsuit

You can read the complaint here. They are asking for a cool $3 mil for each plaintiff as well as $50 mil in punitive damages.

In addition to the Canadian company, Boehringer Ingelheim, the suit names US drug giant Pfizer as a defendant. Should be an interesting case.