Abilify® (aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic drug used to treat disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. Abilify was developed by Japanese drugmaker Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and marketed in the U.S. through a partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb. The drug was developed as a treatment for schizophrenia and gained initial The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval for this use in 2002. A few years later, Abilify was FDA-approved to treat bipolar disorder. In 2007, the FDA approved Abilify as an add-on to other medications to treat major depressive disorder.
ABILIFY SIDE EFFECTS
SUICIDAL THINKING & BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS & YOUNG ADULTS
STROKE IN ELDERLY PEOPLE THAT CAN LEAD TO DEATH
UNUSUAL URGES
NEUROLEPTIC MALIGNANT SYNDROME (NMS)
UNCONTROLLED BODY MOVEMENTS (TARDIVE DYSKINESIA)
HIGH BLOOD SUGAR
INCREASED CHOLESTEROL & TRIGLYCERIDES IN THE BLOOD
DECREASED BLOOD PRESSURE
LOW WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT
PROBLEMS WITH CONTROL OF BODY TEMPERATURE THAT COULD LEAD TO DEHYDRATION
ABILIFY + COMPULSIVE BEHAVIORS
Abilify, used to treat major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, is the top-selling antipsychotic medication in the United States. But due to how the drug affects the brain, patients may develop a problem with impulse control that causes them to gamble uncontrollably. European and Canadian health officials found the association between Abilify and compulsive gambling strong enough to warrant updated product labeling to warn about this risk. Despite this, drug makers Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals have chosen not to include a similar warning on Abilify sold in the U.S. Compulsive gambling can lead to psychological distress, health problems, financial harm, and social consequences. An Abilify compulsive gambling lawsuit could provide compensation for these losses.
HOW DOES ABILIFY CAUSE COMPULSIVE GAMBLING?
It's not perfectly understood how Abilify might cause compulsive behaviors such as uncontrollable gambling, but the connection between drugs like Abilify and reward seeking such as gambling are well-documented in scientific literature. Abilify is a type of drug known as a "dopamine agonist" that imitates the effects of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that plays a key role in controlling the brain's award and pleasure centers. It also plays an important role in addiction. Abilify, some researchers believe, affects the brain's dopamine system in two ways: creating urges towards reward and impairing decision-making. Thus, the drug might both hyper-stimulate the brain's reward system and reduce cognitive control (in other words, press the accelerator while disarming the brakes).
ADDITIONAL ABILIFY LITIGATION
TYPE 2 DIABETES CLAIM: Five women sued Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Otsuka American Pharmaceutical in 2014 and 2015, alleging Abilify caused type 2 diabetes in children and that the companies failed to warn physicians who prescribed the drug for off-label use of that risk. Those suits, however, were dismissed. They were all filed in New York, and the defendants successfully argued that they would be unable to get out-of-state witnesses to testify.
KICKBACK ALLEGATIONS: A U.S. judge tossed federal-court claims that Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical paid kickbacks to persuade doctors to prescribe Abilify. Two whistleblowers brought the lawsuit in 2011, pointing to promotions to pediatric psychiatrists as evidence of off-label marketing. Judge William Bertelsman said in his ruling that there was a lack of specific evidence to support the kickback claims. He did, however, permit the whistleblowers to pursue claims that Bristol-Myers fired them to retaliate for their off-label accusations.
ILLEGAL PROMOTION OF ABILIFY: It is not illegal for doctors to prescribe a medication for an unapproved use, but it is illegal for drug companies to encourage doctors to do it. Bristol-Myers Squibb has paid two multimillion-dollar settlements to resolve allegations that it did just that.
ABILIFY SETTLEMENT
Until recently, Abilify's prescribing information did not mention gambling as a possible side effect—despite the fact that scientific literature has linked the drug to compulsive gambling since at least 2010. The FDA, citing hundreds of adverse event reports, ordered new Abilify warnings for compulsive gambling, shopping, eating, and sex in May 2016. Meanwhile, Abilify patients who suffered financial and personal losses as a result of gambling, shopping, or sex addictions (or other compulsive behaviors) have filed lawsuits against drug maker Bristol-Myer Squibb. A lawsuit can provide compensation for these Abilify-related damages:
GAMBLING LOSSES, LOSS OF FINANCIAL STABILITY, & OTHER ECONOMIC LOSSES
NEUROPSYCHIATRIC INJURY
A SPOUSE'S LOSS OF CONSORTIUM
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT INJURIES RELATED TO ABILIFY?
If you or a loved one have been affected by the drug Abilify, we encourage you to consult with our team as soon as possible. With our extensive knowledge and expertise, you can rest assured that should you choose to work with us, you will have legal representation that you can trust. All initial consultations are free, and we don't charge any up-front fees for representation. We handle all fees on a contingency basis, meaning that unless we're successful, you don't have to pay us. Please contact Fulmer Sill at (405)510.0077 for a free consultation.