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Mirapex Gambling Victim Waited Too Long to Act

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Houston, TXHe may have shot himself in the foot by not initiating his Mirapex gambling lawsuit sooner than he did. However, even though Nabil Gazal was barred from pursuing his action due to the statute of limitations, there seems little doubt that the lifelong gambler's habit may have worsened due to the effects of Mirapex.

Pramipexole dihydrochloride (Mirapex) is prescribed for the treatment of Parkinson's. However, one of the Mirapex side effects that has proven troubling for many people is the link to compulsive behavior. Patients have reported compulsive shopping, gambling and even sexual behaviors while on a Mirapex regimen for Parkinson's.

In the case of Gazal, he was started on Mirapex in 2002 after a formal diagnosis of Parkinson's by doctors who prescribed Mirapex to treat his symptoms. This was five years after Mirapex was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1997, but three years before the first reports of Mirapex and compulsive gambling surfaced in 2005.

By then, according to the September 24th edition of Health Law Week, Gazal had noticed a change in his gambling habits. During his first year on Mirapex, Gazal claims his losses increased 10 to 15 percent—and while he made no mention of this during a 2003 visit to the Baylor College of Medicine's Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, where he was originally diagnosed, he did report an increase in compulsiveness and increased gambling upon a return visit to the clinic in 2005.

Gazal reported to doctors that he could not "leave the table." He was subsequently put on a lower dose at the conclusion of his visit, on April 8, 2005.

Three months later, on July 11th, the Mayo Clinic would publish its study suggesting a link between Mirapex and compulsive gambling. According to court documents, Gazal reportedly became aware of the Mirapex link to compulsive gambling in late 2005.

However, rather than bring a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Mirapex, Gazal reportedly corresponded with two casinos in a bid for their support to deny his entrance to the facilities, due to the fear his gambling habit had worsened. "[Due] to negative side effects from my serious medication," Gazal is reported to have written, "I am unable to be in control of my gambling, which has resulted in huge losses in the past few years."

It appears certain that Gazal was suffering from Mirapex compulsive behavior. However, the plaintiff waited until June 2009 to bring an action in Texas state court against Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc., Pfizer Inc., Pharmacia Corp., and Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. LLC, claiming over $20 million in gambling losses. Following the dismissal of a non-diverse defendant, the case was removed to federal court before the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation transferred the action to a Minnesota district court as part of the Mirapex Products Liability Multidistrict Litigation.

It was there that the defendants moved for summary judgment, arguing that the plaintiff's case was time-barred. The US District Court for the District of Minnesota agreed, given the application of Texas law to Gazal's case requiring that personal injury lawsuits commence no longer than two years following the date a cause of action accrues.

The plaintiff admitted that he first became aware of his gambling problem in 2002 and not later than 2003. Gazal also acknowledged that he became aware of a possible link between Mirapex and Mirapex compulsion

The Court noted that the plaintiff could have brought his action as early as 2005 and no later than 2006, rather than waiting until 2009. By then, the statute of limitations pre-empted his capacity to bring the matter to trial.

Anyone suffering from alleged Mirapex behaviors would thus be well served to consult a qualified Mirapex lawyer in a timely fashion.

READ ABOUT MIRAPEX COMPULSIVE GAMBLING LAWSUITS

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READER COMMENTS

Posted by

on
Mirapex is VERY DANGEROUS....I'm in crazy debt, my mouth literally isn't working right, I've taken shocking risks and can't stop myself. I don't even know who I am anymore. I'm in treatment but borderline suicidal over the shame and horror of what I've done to my husband and family. I was given high doses of pramipexole by my psychiatrist for treatment resistant depression. It took about 3 months for it to build up in my system and I was no longer depressed but completely OCD. I've been off it for 2 months...and I'm still not back to normal. I can't pay the debt from the compulsive spending and my husband can never trust me again. Mirapex is very dangerous... please tell a friend. I hope my family recovers from this. Anyone have advice or suggestions for me? I can't afford what this drug has done to me. Help!

Posted by

on
DIAGNOSED IN 2009 FOR PARKINSONS SINCE THEN FAMILY DOCTOR HAS BEEN PERSCRIBING ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF MEDS ADJUSTING DOSES ETC..AND I JUST ASKED FOR A REFERAL TO A NEUOLOGIST AND PAID CASH FOR BLOOD TESTS AT ANOTHER PRIVATE HEALTH PLACE THOUGHT HE HAD LYME BUT HE HAS LARGE AMOUNTS OF MOLD IN HIS BLOOD SOMETHING THE DOCTOR SHOULD OF DONE LONG AGO RIGHT NOW TAKING PRIMAPAXEL /LEVADOPA CARBADOPA AND MY FATHER HAS CUMPOLISEVE BEHAVIOR NOW LIKE SHOPING SPREE BUYING UNESSARY STUFF OFR MORE THAN HE NEEDS AND COME TO FIND OUT RECENTLY HE LIKE SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE SAVINGS ON HOOKERS LOCAL STREET WHORES BRING THEM TO HIS HOUSE TO WHERE THEY TOOK ANYTHING OF VALUE IN ABOUT A YEARS TIME AND NOW SINCE I HAVE MOVED BACK HOME TO LOOK OUT FOR HIM HE IS GAMBLING ONLINE WITH HIS SS CHECKS ABOUT 20 - 30 MINUTES AFTER DOSING HE BECOMES OUT OFCONTROL WITH MOVEMENTS AND CANT WALK OR TALK FOR COUPLE HOURS I HAVE ALERTED HIS DOCTOR AND HE HAD HIS ASSITANT CALL THE NEXT DAY TOLD ME OVER THE PHONE TO DOSE HIME LIKE HE WAS BEFORE THE LAST VISIT WHICH MY DAD PAYS FOR OUT OF POCKET SELF PAY I TOTALLY BELIEVE AND HAVE PROFF HIS FAMILY DOCTOR IS NOW TRYING TO PUSH HIM OFF TO COVER HIS ASS EVEN WENT AS FAR AS CALLING ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES WHO CAME TO THE HOUSE PRETENDING TO BE A NURSE TO HELP ME SAFE PROOF THE HOUSE AND STUFF BUT ON THE DOCTORS REFEREL IT STATES HE CALLED TO HAVE HIM PLACED INTO A NURSING HOME ANYWAYS I CAN EXPLAIN BETTER IN PERSON BUT THIS DOCTOR NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN AS TO NOT HURT OTHER PATIENTS HE IS NOT QUALIFIED TO BE GIVING SUCH MIND ALTERING DRUGS OUT LIKE CANDY HE ALMOST KILLED MY DAD PLEASE HELP MY DAD . MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY A FEW YEARS AGO I THOUGHT THATS WHY HE MAY OF NEEDED COMPANY OR JUST LONELY BUT AFTER SOMEONE TOLD ME THE HAD A LOVED ONE WHO BECAME ADICTED TO SEX AND GAMBLING ALSO BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PD AROUND 2009 LIKE MY DAD SAME KIND OF MEDS BUT NOT AS MANY DIFFERENT ONES LIKE THEY BEEN TRYING ON MY DAD WITH OUT CLOSLY MONORTOING HIS BRAIN WITH MRI OR EVEN DOING BLLOD WORK THE EXCUSE I M GUESING WILL BE BECAUSE HE HAS NO INSURANCE HE IS SELF PAY ..ANYWAYS HIS DOCTOR NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN BUT MY DAD NEEDS HELP.HE IS DOING FINE IT SEMS NOW I HAVE SLOWING BEEN CUTTING HIS DOSES AND GOT HIM SOME POT AND PUT LINES OF TAPE ABOUT 2 FET APART ALL ABOUT THE HOUSE AND ITS CRAZY BUT HE CAN WALK NOW WITHOUT HIS CANE OR FALLING DOWN SINCE I HAVE PUT TAPE AND CUTTING DOSE WE DONT SE NEUOLOGIST UNTIL JAN 4TH 2018 PLEASE HELP.THANK YOU

Posted by

on
IT HAS RUINED MY LIFE...Having only found out about it not to long ago.. Can we do anything about it or is it too late?
I haven't been able to find an attorney to who handling this.

Posted by

on
What is the deadline to file a suit against Mirapex manufacturers in Ohio. I just found out about the side effects! I have a gambling addition that Zi never had before & shopping addition & had to file bankruptcy, Chapter 13. My drs. Electronics records go back to 2012 & it showed I was taking Mirapex then. That is the time all of this began! I just heard about the law suits from my Dr. Thank you. Patty Smith

Posted by

on
I have Ben on mirapex for about 8-10 years. About about 9 years ago I started gambling because my boyfriend hung out in local private clubs and I started seeing people playing tickets and gambling boards . I started gambling everyday and basically long story short list a business because of it. I have Ben on and off of the medication twice but I take it for RLS restless leg. I have Ben battling RLS for about 20 years. It runs in the family my mother has it and so does my brother . I have lost a business as I said and have about $100,000 of debt that is from gambling credit cards loans and it doesn't stop at that. I never gambled before in my life until I started taking mirapex and I have Ben reading studies on it and have found a lot of people just like me going ghrough the same situation! It is not fun and I tired of living my life being broke . I would like to know if there is a way to fight this besides changing medications. I have Ben on many different kinds a lot that have not worked . Mirapex does but I can't keep living the way I am n this situation. I'm not totally blaming mirapex for my problem but I do wonder if it triggered something in me. I have also n the past had a problem with compulsive eating! Can you please give me some advice and also is this fight able with a lawyer ?

Posted by

on
Live in Oklahoma - have been taking Pramipexole for about 5-6 years. Started gambling in 2013. Did not know there was a link between the RLS medicine and gambling. To make long story short I have lost over $500,000 in the past couple of years. Don't know what to do as I need the medicine badly. Have put out feelers to attorneys here, but nothing yet. would appreciate any info passed along

Posted by

on
I have been taking pramioexole for restless leg sundrome for about 10 years and had not had any issues. About 3 years ago my RLS was getting worse and the lowest dose did not seem to be working so my physician upped the dosage. A year and a half ago my dosage was again upped. I have become a compulsive gambler. I just recently connected the higher dosage to the gambling issue...but don't know if I have a case. I am also experiencing severe depression, insomnia, mood swings, and suicidal thoughts. Do I have a case? Please help me. If I stop taking the medicine, I suffer from painful RLS. I have no where to turn.

Posted by

on
Deadlines to bring claims against a drug manufacturer differ from state to state. Here in Maine, the deadline could be as long as six years, or less in certain circumstances or for certain claims. Deadlines are typically shorter in other states. Check with an attorney in your state.

Posted by

on
I was diagnosed with Parkinson in 1992 and was on mirapex until this year when I told my Dr. that I was having problems with compulsive gambling and shopping and eating. Also I have had two blackout's while driving and totaled two cars. Is it to late for me to take legal action?

Posted by

on
I am a PCA and my clients sister was just killed on labor day weekend. She was struck by two different vehicles while walking on the high way at night. She was on the medication Pramipexole 0.5 MG. The doctor just upped her dosage not to long ago I guess by half more. She was on it for restless legs for about a year. She became impulsive with gambling. drinking and she thought people were talking to her when they weren't. She had suicidal tendencies and was acting strange for about 3 months her family says. I was just wondering if the medication could have caused this to happen. She was speaking to my client (her sister) at the time of the accident and the phone went dead. Would her husband have a chance at a lawsuit because of this terrible accident?

Posted by

on
start taking pramipexole (mirapex) 2010 until May 2013

I stopped taking it after I lost $1,000 (one thousand) in an hour at one of the small local sweepstakes
I lost a lot more but this time I was disgusted with my self and looked up side effects for this drug.
Compulsive gambling/shopping/ blacking out when alert
Could not go to church or anywhere I would sit down I would go to sleep COULD NOT STAY AWAKE Shortness of breath with little activity I have some kind of growth on my wrist and was growing another attached to it since I stopped this it has started to shrink

The restless legs are very miserable These side effects are kind of tough also

I had many of the other side effects also

Posted by

on
I have noticed a serious compulsion I didn't have before. I have RLS and take Mirapex ER. I felt I couldn't go without medication, so keep taking it. But I am going to have to do something about getting off of it due the compulsive gambling.

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