Judge Jennifer Davies of Victoria’s Federal Court delayed the settlement approval between Pfizer and patients who developed gambling, sex and shopping addictions as a side effect of drugs for Parkinson’s disease.

Around 172 patients took Pfizer’s drugs Cabaser and Dostinex to treat quivers associated with Parkinson’s disease or restless legs syndrome between 1996 and 2010 and have linked these drugs to risk-taking behaviors and addictions.

Patients claimed to have gambled using their entire life savings, after taking the drugs despite not having pre-existing gambling problems.

The claimants also argued that Pfizer was careless in selling the drugs to health care professionals and patients, as it does not provide sufficient warnings despite knowledge of the potential side effects.