A Wisconsin resident recently filed a lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, alleging that their popular antipsychotic drug Abilify had serious complications–namely, an addiction that it made it difficult to stop gambling.

The plaintiff, Sarita F., says she began taking Abilify at the direction of her doctor in 2009 and continued this use until 2011. However, Sarita alleges that the use of Abilify led to a significant struggle with a compulsive behavior issue—a serious gambling addiction that the lawsuit refers to as “pathological.” According to the lawsuit, this inability to stop gambling is the direct result of ingesting Abilify.

The Abilify lawsuit claims that Sarita was not given adequate warning about the risks of Abilify, including gambling addiction, compulsive shopping, and sex addiction. Had she been warned, she claims, she would have chosen a safer alternative and avoided this issue.

Sarita filed her Abilify gambling lawsuit on July 26, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Pensacola Division of the Northern District of Florida. The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including strict liability, breach of express and implied warranties, negligence, and several others.

Background of Abilify

Abilify (also known by its generic name, aripiprazole) is an antipsychotic medication jointly manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb. Patients take Abilify to treat mental or mood disorders like schizophrenia and depression. Abilify has become increasingly popular, and now brings in billions of dollars each year.

However, even though the drug is widely used, reports and studies have linked Abilify with some serious side effects. Some patients have filed lawsuits against Abilify’s manufacturers, claiming that they were not given adequate warning about these risks.

Abilify Gambling Addiction Risk

While any medication will come with certain mild side effects like nausea or rashes, patients claim that the compulsive behavior risks linked with Abilify may outweigh the drug’s benefits.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine noted a link between the use of dopamine receptor agonists like Abilify, and compulsive behavior problems like gambling addiction, sex addiction, and compulsive shopping. These impulse control problems not only affect an Abilify patient’s day-to-day life but can also cause major problems for them financially.

Gambling addiction and other compulsive behavior problems can be so severe that people may land in extremely steep debt. For those suffering from these problems, it can be very difficult to stop gambling and recover. Even when patients do manage to stop gambling or other compulsive behavior caused by Abilify, they may still be left with severe financial and familial consequences.

Filing an Abilify Gambling Lawsuit

More and more lawsuits are being filed over side effects after treatment with Abilify. Abilify and similar drugs are currently being investigated in the United States to determine their dangers.

If you or someone you love has taken Abilify and been negatively affected by gambling addiction or suffered from other compulsive behaviors, you may able to join the growing pile of lawsuits against Abilify. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the mental anguish or suffering caused by compulsive behavior problems, or stop gambling addiction, it can help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by some of these problems, and compensate for the necessary treatment.

The Abilify Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-01569-RV-EMT, in the U.S. District Court for the Pensacola Division of the Northern District of Florida.