Bristol Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of product liability claims alleging Abilify causes compulsive behavior, like gambling and spending.

One of the most recent Abilify lawsuits comes from a Florida man, alleging he sustained massive financial damages due to the drug’s treatment mechanism causing Abilify compulsive spending.

Plaintiff Randy B. claims he developed Abilify compulsive spending soon after starting his medication, and that he did not have such habits before starting the antipsychotic.

Randy also states that at no point during or after his prescription did Bristol Myers or Otsuka warn him or his physician against Abilify compulsive behaviors, making the companies liable for his financial damages.

According to the Abilify lawsuit, Randy had been prescribed the antipsychotic for typical treatment purposes in November 2003. Like many patients, Randy had been recommended Abilify by his physician for mood balancing purposes and had relied on the marketing statements provided in advertisements from Otsuka and Bristol Myers.

Due to its unique treatment mechanism, Abilify is considered an atypical psychotic; it is typically prescribed when other medications have failed. Abilify works by balancing the dopamine levels in the brain, which is the brain chemical for pleasure and reward sensations.

By manipulating dopamine levels, Abilify triggers happy feelings of elation and ideal mood balance in patients. However numerous injury complaints allege this treatment mechanism has been causing Abilify compulsive spending and other addictive behaviors like gambling and hypersexuality.

This reaction is due to the dopamine manipulation triggering an elation high, which the patient wants to extend as long as possible. This was also allegedly the case with Randy, who incurred over $75,000 in damages due to Abilify compulsive spending.

Randy had stayed on his Abilify prescription for quite some time but had been taken off the medication in May 2015, with his physicians learning of Abilify’s alleged link to gambling and other compulsive behaviors.

Overview of Abilify Compulsive Behavior Problems

According to a recent study conducted by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), medications that activate dopamine receptors could create “severe impulse control disorders” in some patients.

While Abilify was not a part of the study, being a partial dopamine receptor meant researchers found the same safety concerns in at least 37 Abilify compulsive spending reports.

Furthermore, ISMP researchers pointed out that “none of the dopamine receptor agonist drugs approved by the FDA have boxed warnings about the potential for the development of severe impulse control disorders as part of their prescribing information. Our data, and data from prior studies, show the need for these prominent warnings.”

Even though Abilify compulsive spending could financially ruin patients, Otsuka and Bristol Myers allegedly failed to warn patients against this possibility. Randy states he would never have agreed to take the medication if he had known the risk of Abilify compulsive spending.

Randy’s Abilify lawsuit is being filed in MDL No. 2734, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar injuries.

The Abilify Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00149-MCR-GRJ, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Florida, Pensacola Division.