Drug class action settled: report

Patients who lost hundreds of thousands of dollars gambling after being prescribed a drug to treat Parkinson's disease will reportedly receive compensation for its side-effects.

Other patients developed sex addictions after taking the drug Cabaser and will also share in what's expected to be millions of dollars in compensation, Fairfax Media reports.

Ahead of a class action to be heard in the Federal Court, drug company Pfizer has agreed to settle with 160 Australians who weren't warned about the risk-taking behaviours and addictions that are side effects of the medication.

Some of these patients gambled away their savings after being prescribed the drug, also used to combat restless legs syndrome, and sold assets to fund their addictions.

One man developed compulsive sexual behaviour and is now on the sex offenders register.