Abilify, a well known and widely used antidepressant, has been associated with strange and alarming side effects. Abilify compulsive behavior such as shopping addiction as well as compulsive gambling and compulsive sexual activity are known to be associated with the antidepressant.

Abilify, generically known as aripiprazole, is an atypical antipsychotic that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug administration in 2002. It was originally approved to treat schizophrenia in adults, but since then, its approval has been expanded to cover a variety of other conditions.

Abilfy is approved to treat bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, irritability associated with autistic disorder, and Tourette’s syndrome.  It is often prescribed off-label to treat other conditions such as insomnia, delusional disorders, and anxiety spectrum disorders.  Abilify works by balancing the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain in order to control symptoms.

Like most medications, Abilify comes with the possibility of some minor side effects. Some of these side effects include nausea, headache, dizziness and drooling.  However, Abilify has also been linked to some disturbing side effects. Abilify compulsive behavior is a possible side effect that is of great concern to patients and doctors alike.

Some users of Abilify have reported compulsive behaviors such as the inability to stop spending money while shopping, the inability to keep oneself from gambling, and hypersexuality. This Abilify compulsive behavior is often new behavior for the patient experiencing side effects and is something with which he or she has not previously had a problem.

This Abilify compulsive behavior has prompted labeling changes in Europe and Canada. In 2012, ten years after Abilify entered the U.S. market, the European Medicines Agency warned patients about the link between Abilify use and compulsive behaviors.

However, even with European labels changing to accommodate possible Abilify compulsive behavior risks, the labels in the United States did not reflect this information until 2016. Additionally, before the U.S. changed the warnings on boxes of Abilify, Canada included warnings about Abilify compulsive behavior including compulsive gambling and hypersexuality behaviors.

Patients have filed lawsuits against the makers of Abilify claiming that the drug company did not do enough to warn the public about Abilify compulsive behavior and other risks.

Plaintiffs allege that drug makers knew or should have know about the compulsive behavior tendencies and that they should have done more to warn doctors and patients. Additionally, plaintiffs claim that Abilify compulsive behavior may be due to Abilify’s classification as a dopamine agonist, a class of drugs that activates receptors in the brain that produce dopamine.

Dopamine controls the pleasure centers and reward centers of the brain. This may be the reason behind compulsive behaviors like gambling and shopping addiction. When the dopamine system is stimulated, patients are encouraged to keep doing things that bring a pleasurable high.

If you or someone you love has been affected by Abilify compulsive behavior such as compulsive gambling, compulsive shopping or compulsive sexual behavior, Abilify might be the reason. You may benefit from speaking with an attorney experienced in these matters.