An Illinois man has filed a lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb alleging he suffered devastating Abilify side effects as a result of using their drug.

Plaintiff Douglas M. began taking Abilify around March 2015 and as a result, he claims, began compulsive gambling.

When he ceased use of the drug, the compulsive gambling stopped.

He therefore claims that one of the Abilify side effects he experienced was compulsive gambling.

Douglas adds that he was not aware of the gambling and Abilify side effects link until 2016 when he stopped using the drug.

Because of the compulsive gambling that he says is one of the Abilify side effects, Douglas has suffered the following losses: monetary losses in excess of $100,000, loss of financial stability and other mental, physical and economic losses.

He also claims that the fact that Abilify caused compulsive gambling had an injurious impact on his brain and thus constitutes a physical injury.

His Abilify side effects lawsuit claims that he has suffered and will continue to suffer neuropsychiatric and physical injury, emotional distress, harm and economic loss.

The plaintiff believes that the defendants wrongfully and unjustly profited at the expense of patient safety and failed to inform the American public and the medical community about Abilify side effects despite opportunities and a duty to do so.

Abilify Side Effects Include Compulsive Behaviors

Abilfy was first introduced to the American market in 2002 after Otsuka Pharmaceutical, also named as a defendant in this lawsuit, discovered it for use as an atypical anti-psychotic.

However, 10 years later in the fall of 2012, the European Medicines Agency issued a warning to its patients and the medical community that there was a connection between using Abilify and pathological and compulsive gambling.

Canada warned the medical community and the public in November 2015, noting a link between Abilify and gambling as well as hypersexuality behaviors.

The U.S. was late to issue any warning about compulsive Abilify side effects and did not mention the risk of compulsive behaviors, including compulsive gambling, until January 2016.

Then in May 2016, the Food and Drug Administration issued another warning about Abilify: “FDA is warning that compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop and have sex have been reported with the use of the antipsychotic drug aripiprazole.”

The FDA also said, “These uncontrollable urges were reported to have stopped when the medicine was discontinued or the dose was reduced. These impulse control problems are rare, but they may result in harm to the patient and others if not recognized.”

Abilify may contribute to pathological behaviors including compulsive gambling because it acts as a dopamine agonist in the brain. Dopamine is important in controlling the reward and pleasure centers in the brain.

The Abilify Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 16-cv-10028 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.