Abilify, an antipsychotic drug released in the fall of 2002, is used to treat bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and symptoms of depression in patients.

Despite its usefulness in treating these disorders, concerns have been raised about the product’s safety.

Specifically, research has shown a link between use of Abilify and pathological gambling behaviors. Other compulsive behaviors, such as hyper sexuality and compulsive shopping have also been associated with the use of this drug.

Abilify is a dopamine agonist, which means when it is used, it increases the amount of dopamine present in the brain.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for controlling both the reward and pleasure centers of the brain. It is thought that due to Abilify’s effects on dopamine that pathological compulsive behaviors may ensue.

Warnings About Abilify and Pathological Gambling

In 2012, the European Medicines Agency, a regulatory agency similar to the FDA, issued a warning to the medical community and the public at large that there was a link between the use of Abilify and pathological gambling problems.

A few years later in November 2015, medical regulators in Canada issued a similar warning that there is a link between Abilify and pathological gambling as well as a link between the use of the drug and hyper sexuality behaviors.

It wasn’t until May of this year that the FDA announced a warning label change to Abilify. The FDA stated that the label must warn users of the possibilities of developing “compulsive or uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop, and have sex.”

As can be imagined, using Abilify and pathological gambling problems that ensue can wreak havoc on a person’s personal and financial situations.

Users of Abilify and their loved ones state that their partner’s compulsive gambling behaviors have led to financial losses in the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars and caused significant stress in their relationships.

Lawsuits over Abilify and Pathological Gambling

A number of lawsuits have been filed against Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, the makers of Abilify, alleging that personal injury ensued as a result of taking the prescription drug.

The plaintiffs state that the manufacturers new or should’ve known that it causes increased risks of pathological get gambling and other compulsive behaviors resulting from the drug’s use.

Plaintiffs in the lawsuits say that in addition to the large financial losses they received from gambling itself, they also suffered loss of financial stability as well as other losses related to mental, physical, and emotional losses related to the use of the drug.

Often times, the lawsuits point out that the manufacturers knew about the link between Abilify and gimp pathological gambling problems at least as early as 2012, when the initial warning about the drug was issued in Europe.

They allege that manufacturers put profits over people when they fail to fully disclose warnings related to the use of their drugs.

If you have taken Abilify and subsequently developed problems related to Abilify and pathological gambling, binge eating, compulsive shopping or hypersexuality, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers.

A lawyer can review your case at no charge and can help you determine your legal options.