Amanda Antell  |  October 17, 2017

Category: Legal News

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compulsive gambling Abilify craps tableBristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) from numerous claimants alleging Abilify and gambling damages.

One of the most recent claims comes from a North Carolina woman alleging serious Abilify and gambling financial damages. The claimant alleges that the Abilify and gambling complications came from the drug’s treatment mechanism, which she says lowered her inhibitions.

Plaintiff Brianna B. was prescribed Abilify to treat her mental condition, and had agreed to take the medication after discussing the option with her physician and reviewing the companies’ marketing materials.

According to the Abilify lawsuit, Brianna took Abilify from 2013 to 2015, during which the Abilify and gambling damages occurred.

Due to Brianna’s Abilify prescription, she allegedly developed a compulsive gambling and spending habit that eventually resulted in over $75,000 in losses. Brianna also allegedly suffered psychological injuries including emotional distress due to the Abilify and gambling damages.

Brianna opted to file legal action against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals after discovering Abilify’s link to compulsive behaviors like gambling and shopping.

Overview of Abilify Gambling Correlation

Abilify is a popular antipsychotic medication, prescribed to treat depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and Tourette syndrome and to ultimately help patients live a normal life. Abilify works by balancing the level of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, improving overall thinking and mood.

Dopamine is the brain chemical responsible for pleasure and reward sensations, making patients want to continue with the medication. However it is this treatment mechanism which has allegedly resulted in numerous allegations of Abilify gambling and other compulsive behaviors.

Both European and Canadian health officials have required Bristol-Myers and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals to add risks of pathological gambling to Abilify’s warning label after receiving numerous injury reports and reviewing different studies.

One of these studies was reported by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, which found that dopamine receptor agonists like Abilify can potentially cause “severe impulse control disorders.”

This because stimulating dopamine releases feelings of pleasure, which encourages the patient to keep doing activities like gambling or shopping. ISMP researchers also noted that similar dopamine manipulation drugs have black box warnings about severe impulse control, with the ISMP calling for further research into the alleged correlation.

The alleged link between Abilify and gambling have been mentioned in at least 37 reports, and has also been seen in different case studies. At all times relevant, Brianna says she used the medication according to prescription instructions and physician advice.

In addition, the companies allegedly failed to disclose vital drug safety information and did not provide any relevant studies. Brianna states she never would have agreed to take Abilify if she had known its alleged link to compulsive gambling and shopping behaviors.

Brianna’s Abilify gambling lawsuit is being filed in MDL No. 2734, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging Abilify and gambling damages. By joining the MDL, Brianna’s claim will avoid long wait times and will not run into certain issues like conflicting rulings from different judges.

This Abilify Gambling Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-00702-MCR-GRJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division.

In general, Abilify lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Abilify lawsuit or Abilify class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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Join a Free Abilify Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one were injured from Abilify side effects such as a gambling addiction, shopping addiction or other compulsive behavior, you may have a legal claim. See if you qualify to pursue compensation and join a free Abilify lawsuit investigation by submitting your information for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

Please Note: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client, if you qualify, or getting you dropped as a client.

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