While some patients and their loved ones have found the pharmaceutical drug Abilify to have been positively life-changing, others have found that it has caused even more problems than what it was intended to treat.

Abilify is an antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and symptoms of depression in affected patients. It was released in the fall of 2002.

As with any pharmaceutical or over-the-counter drug, side effects are common. Most side effects for many drugs include things like headache, fatigue, nausea, stomach problems, mild rash or other mild to moderate symptoms.

However, the severe side effects associated with Abilify include compulsive behaviors that can cause financial problems, relationship problems and more.

Compulsive Behaviors Associated with Abilify

Several compulsive behaviors in particular have been associated with the use of Abilify. These include pathological gambling, hypersexuality, binge eating and compulsive shopping.

Individuals affected by these compulsive behaviors while taking Abilify state that these behaviors were not a problem prior to the drug’s use.

After numerous reports to the FDA about the compulsive behaviors noted in Abilify patients, the FDA finally released information that the manufacturer had to provide a warning label change by May 2016. The label had to warn individuals taking the drug that they have an increased risk in developing “compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop, and have sex.”

While this is seen as a step in the positive direction, critics say that the European Medicines Agency, the regulatory body similar to the FDA, warned its citizens about the dangers associated with Abilify use back in 2012. Americans are left to wonder why warnings such as these for a number of pharmaceutical drugs are issued to citizens of other countries years before our public is warned.

Why Does Abilify Cause Compulsive Behaviors?

Abilify is known as a dopamine agonist. This means its method of action is to increase the amount of dopamine (a brain chemical, or neurotransmitter) in the brain.

Dopamine is responsible for controlling the pleasure and reward centers of the brain. When dopamine is increased, the anticipation is increased, and patients taking the drug engage in behaviors that are likely to increase these rewards. In particular, especially with Abilify, high levels of dopamine lead to reward-seeking behavior related to gambling, sex, food and shopping.

Filing a Lawsuit over Compulsive Behaviors Associates with Abilify

A number of lawsuits have been filed against Bristol-Myers, alleging that Abilify caused compulsive behaviors in the individual taking the drug. These lawsuits allege financial damage, relationship and family problems, work problems including termination and more.

In general, the allegations in these lawsuits center around the drug company’s failure to warn patients about the possibility of developing compulsive behaviors while taking the drug. Many note the disparity between these warnings issued in Europe for years prior to those issued in the United States.

Plaintiffs often file these lawsuits to send a strong message to the drug manufacturer in order to require that the companies remain transparent about all the potential risks and side effects associated with their drugs. Individuals with Abilify lawsuits also hope to recover financial losses associated with the compulsive behaviors, as well as any noneconomic damages caused by the use of the drug.

An experienced Abilify attorney is available to provide a case review of your situation for free and can help guide you in your legal options for pursuing compensation.