ABILIFY AND COMPULSIVE GAMBLING
Abilify (aripiprazole) is used to treat depression, schizophrenia or bipolar disorders. Millions of people have taken said prescription drug. However, none of them were warned that the drug was exposing them to possible uncontrollable compulsive behaviors, including COMPULSIVE GAMBLING.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning for patients and doctors that says Abilify and other versions of the drug sold under the brand names Aristada and Abilify Maintena can cause patients to develop uncontrollable, compulsive urges to gamble. As a result of this unwanted side effect, many people have seen their lives ruined by related financial difficulties, health issues, failed marriages, and other serious problems.
The popular antipsychotic medication manufactured by Japan-based Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and marketed by New York-based Bristol-Myers Squibb has become one of the nation’s top-selling drugs, with more than 1.6 million Abilify prescriptions written in 2015 alone and billions of dollars in annual sales. Bristol-Myers paid a $515 million settlement to the U.S. government in 2007 over the company’s marketing practices, including its marketing of Abilify for treatments not approved by the FDA.
The FDA’s recent warning about compulsive gambling and the other problems associated with Abilify followed reports of more than 180 cases where patients showed an association between using the drug and impulse-control problems, with pathological gambling being the most prevalent. The drug’s label was changed to include the potential for causing gambling problems, but the label does not address the additional issues identified by the FDA after the label change.
Jose Orihuela, Attorney at Law is investigating cases where patients took Abilify and suffered any of the adverse side effects mentioned in the FDA warning, including cases where victims may have lost a significant amount of money through uncontrollable gambling.
If you or a loved one have taken Abilify and suffered adverse side effects, you need to consult with a medical professional and contact a proven legal team with experience in cases involving pharmaceutical drugs. Orihuela & Associates offers a unique blend of compassion, empathy, and zealousness, and is committed to achieving nothing less for their clients than the fullest remedies available under law. If you would like more information about how we might be able to help you with your Abilify case, please contact us for more information.