We are no longer accepting further cases for this lawsuit.
If you or a loved one were prescribed Abilify and suffered from compulsive gambling or other addictive behaviors, you may be entitled to compensation.
Abilify (aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic medication commonly prescribed to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In May 2016, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) published a safety announcement warning that taking the drug could cause impulse-control problems, including, but not limited to, pathological gambling and compulsive eating, shopping and sexual behaviors. Beyond the unwanted behavior itself, impulse-control problems can have severe effects on a person's job, health and relationships.
Lawsuits filed against the manufacturers of Abilify, Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Bristol-Myers Squibb, allege that the manufacturers failed to warn patients about the negative side effects of Abilify, exaggerated the benefits of Abilify and encouraged off-label use of the drug.
If you or a loved one suffered negative effects after using Abilify, the Kishish Law Group can help. Contact us now for a free and confidential case evaluation by using the contact form or by calling us at 1 (888) 402-5552.
FDA warns patients about Abilify side effects
The FDA initially approved Abilify in 2002 for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The drug has since been prescribed for a variety of mental disorders including depression, Tourette's disorder, irritability associated with autistic disorder, Alzheimer's disease, and dementia. Although there is limited information about how the drug works, Otsuka Pharmaceutical marketed the drug as " like a thermostat to restore balance." Abilify quickly became one of the top selling drugs in the U.S. with sales between April 2013 to March 2014 totaling nearly $6.9 billion.
But years after the introduction of Abilify, doctors began to report cases of pathological gambling in patients taking the drug. Julien Cohen and others reported in Current Drug Safety in 2011 three cases of Abilify users that experienced irresistible urges to gamble and subsequent losses of thousands of dollars. After discontinuing the drug, however, the patients' pathological gambling problems were completely resolved. Studies like these led the European Medicines Agency to update Abilify's labeling to indicate a risk for developing pathological gambling in 2012.
It took the FDA until May 2016 to publish a safety announcement warning patients of compulsive gambling, hypersexuality and other impulse-control behaviors associated with Abilify. But that announcement was too late for many Abilify users, including Patrick Parks of Delaware, Ohio and Brad Miley of Maple Grove, Minnesota, both who lost over $75,000 to pathological gambling behaviors they allege were caused by Abilify. Their lawsuits and others seek to hold the manufacturers of Abilify accountable for failing to disclose the extent of the side effects.
Abilify manufacturers settle marketing lawsuit for $19.5 million
A collection of Attorney Generals across the U.S. settled a lawsuit with Bristol-Myers Squibb over Abilify for $19.5 million. The lawsuits alleged that Bristol-Myers Squibb misrepresented the drug's ability to treat medical conditions beyond those that the FDA had approved the drug to treat, including dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The lawsuits further claimed that the manufacturers promoted this off-label use and targeted marketing to elderly patients and children. The settlement aims to restrict Bristol-Myers Squibb from making false claims about Abilify's effectiveness and safety.
Patients continue to file lawsuits to address the manufacturer's other marketing behaviors.
Abilify lawsuits consolidated in Florida
Many cases concerning Abilify and its alleged impact on compulsive gambling and other addictive behaviors have been consolidated and will be overseen by a district-court judge in Northern Florida. Many patients prescribed Abilify may not have been aware that the drug could have played a role in their compulsive behaviors.
Do I have an abilify lawsuit?
The Kishish Law Group is committed to seeking justice for you and your loved ones. We believe that you deserve fair compensation for your suffering and we will work tirelessly to achieve that goal. If you or a loved one suffered after use of Abilify, we want to know.
Please contact us using our contact form or call us at 1 (888) 402-5552.
DISCLAIMER: No attorney client relationship will exist between you and our firm until we enter into a signed Retainer/Services Agreement. Completion of this document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a Retainer/Services Agreement. The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions this website may be considered lawyer advertising. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Click here for more information.