Abilify (aripiprazole) is popular antipyschotic drug prescribed to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and other extreme mental conditions.

However, consumers have reported serious Abilify side effects incurring major financial damages from addictive behaviors, such as compulsive shopping and gambling addiction.

About Abilify

Abilify is manufactured by Otuska Pharmaceutical Co. and was approved by the FDA in 2002, to originally treat schizophrenia but has since been approved for other mental disorders.

Marketed jointly with Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abilify quickly became one of the most popular drugs on the market and continues to grow each year.

The drug works by balancing certain brain chemicals, ultimately balancing mood and mental stability.

More specifically, Abilify balances the levels of dopamine and serotonin receptors in the brain, resulting in ideal brain function.

Overview of Abilify Side Effects

Reported Abilify side effects include: involuntary muscles movements, overeating, and hypersexuality, with patients complaining their lives were negatively impacted by the uncontrollable behaviors.

Recent research has also linked Abilify to these behaviors, with compulsive shopping and gambling addiction being some of the most commonly mentioned side effects.

One of these recent studies come from the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), which observed a little over two million foreign and domestic patients taking dopamine receptor agonist drugs like Abilify.

This study lasted from 2003 to 2012, with the Abilify side effects gathered from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System.

Researchers ultimately identified 37 reports of compulsive behaviors like shopping and gambling addiction.

Specific case studies have also shown these problems as Abilify side effects, with patients complaining they did not have problems with gambling or compulsive shopping before taking the drug.

Once patients ceased taking Abilify, patients reported these compulsive behaviors had also stopped. This has caused patients and doctors to believe that Abilify inhibits brain activity which controls compulsive behavior.

Since Abilify works by balancing the levens of dopamine receptors in the brain this affects for pleasure and reward sensations. Scientists believe that by interfering with the natural process of dopamine levels, the brain’s impulse control becomes inhibited.

Researchers have called for further research on this correlation to be conducted, and patients should be wary of compulsive behaviors resulting from Abilify side effects.

Abilify patients who experience compulsive behaviors should consult their physician for early intervention.

According to the ISMP researchers, no FDA approved dopamine receptor agonist drug currently mentions compulsive behaviors like shopping or gambling on the drug warning labels.

Abilify patients who have suffered financial damage from uncontrollable spending may possibly file legal action for damages.

Potential claimants should contact a specialized lawyer to determine if they have a potential Abilify lawsuit.