Medication's Dark Side: £600k Stolen, Lives Lost to Suicide

Andrew Taylor, a solicitor, plundered more than £600,000 from 13 elderly clients, many of whom had dementia or resided in care homes. He transferred these funds to his own accounts between 2011 and July 2013, spending the money on adult webcams, sex workers, and antiques. One victim was left unable to afford her funeral due to the theft.

Taylor's actions were later attributed in court to Pramipexole, a Parkinson's medication known to cause compulsive behaviors. Following his arrest in July 2013, Taylor ceased taking the medication. Tragically, his son, Harry, who had schizophrenia and struggled with his father's arrest, died by suicide shortly after being released from a mental health facility.

Taylor was jailed for four years in 2015 for fraud. Despite the court acknowledging the likely influence of his medication on his compulsive behavior, it was deemed insufficient mitigation. After his release and during the Covid-19 lockdowns, Taylor reportedly struggled immensely, with his family stating his life was "completely dismantled" by the drug's effects. He died by suicide in October 2020.

His ex-wife, Frances, has spoken out about the devastating impact of dopamine agonist drugs, which can lead to impulse control disorders like addiction and compulsive spending. These disorders and their consequences, including lost savings and mental health impacts, are often not captured in official adverse drug reporting systems when suicides are involved, as was the case with Taylor and his son.