Bristol Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals are facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of Abilify lawsuits filed by patients alleging gambling problems.

One of the most recent Abilify lawsuits was filed by a woman from Alabama, alleging she developed serious gambling problems soon after starting her prescription. Plaintiff Christa W. alleges she developed serious gambling problems after taking the antipsychotic which was prescribed to her for typical treatment purposes.

Abilify is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is typically prescribed to adult patients suffering from extreme mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but can also help alleviate Tourette’s syndrome and depression.

Abilify works by balancing the dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain to produce better mood balance. Otsuka and Bristol Myers Squibb marketed Abilify to be a safe and reliable treatment medication for patients, who may respond well to the drug’s unique treatment mechanism.

With these benefits in mind, Christa’ says her physician prescribed her Abilify, and her treatment regimen began on Jan. 1, 2010. According to the Abilify lawsuit, Christa stayed on the medication for years but allegedly developed behavioral issues like serious gambling problems.

Christa reportedly had no history of gambling or other compulsive control problems before starting her Abilify prescription, which ended on Jan. 30, 2017. During the course of her prescription, Christa alleges she suffered serious financial damages due to the compulsive gambling problems she developed and continues to suffer the mental and emotional stress of this long term issue.

Christa opted to file legal action against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals after discovering other patients developed similar gambling problems.

Overview of Abilify Gambling Problems

Abilify was approved by the FDA in 2002, and became a popular treatment choice for patients suffering psychotic disorders ever since. Along with its successor Rexulti, Abilify’s treatment mechanism focused on achieving mood balance by manipulating the brain’s dopamine levels.

Dopamine is the brain chemical responsible for pleasure and reward sensations, which encourages whatever behavior the patient is doing at the time. However, this has allegedly caused patients to develop serious compulsive behavioral issues like gambling problems, because the patients unconsciously want the feeling of elation to last.

According to a recent study by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), drugs that manipulate dopamine levels can cause “severe impulse control disorders” in some patients. Even though Abilify is only a partial dopamine receptor agonist, researchers found Abilify may cause similar compulsive behavioral problems based on at least 37 injury reports.

Furthermore, ISMP researchers noted that no dopamine receptor agonist medications with FDA approval have black box warnings describing potential compulsive behavior development.

Even though these complications can be potentially devastating to patients, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb allegedly failed to warn the general public. Christa states she would not have agreed to take Abilify if she had known she could develop serious gambling problems.

Christa’s Abilify lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2734, where it will stand alongside other claims from patients alleging they developed issues like serious gambling problems.

This Abilify Gambling Problems Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-01428-MCR-GRJ, in the U.S. District Court of Northern Florida, Pensacola Division.