A group of people suffering Parkinson’s disease are suing two Australian drug companies over medication which allegedly caused gambling and pornography addiction, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Friday.
More than 100 people in the group have launched legal action against drug companies Pfizer Australia, over its drug Cabaser, and Aspen Pharmacare, over its drug Permax. The drugs are used to treat tremors associated with Parkinson's disease.
The Federal Court in Melbourne will Friday hear claims that the group of people who took the drugs sustained losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars and were involved in family breakdowns after developing compulsive gambling allegedly linked to drugs they took between 1997 and last year. Some also claim they developed compulsive sexual behavior such as looking at pornography on the internet.
Cabaser and Permax are classed as ''dopamine agonists'' drugs which mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain. Scientists believe the drugs produce a “rush” which can cause risk-taking behavior and addictions.
The drug companies have not filed a response because they have not yet been served with the writ.
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