Compensation for drug linked to addiction

Parkinson's disease sufferers who developed gambling, eating and sexual addictions after taking Pfizer medications could share in millions of dollars in compensation, after a Victorian court approved the deal.

Patients who used Cabaser, to treat tremors associated with Parkinson's disease or restless legs syndrome, or Dostinex, for increased prolactin levels, claimed to have gambled away entire life savings after taking the drug despite not having pre-existing gambling problems.

Others reported suffering from various forms of obsessive behaviour not normal to them including compulsive eating, spending, hyper sexuality, repetitive tasks or a combination of all of them.

The Federal Court approved the settlement on confidential terms on Thursday after a four year court battle.

The settlement came ahead of class action proceedings, on behalf of 172 users of the drug, set to begin early this year.