The New Jersey Supreme Court has agreed to centralize a number of lawsuits against Abilify manufacturers Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals in multicounty litigation.

These lawsuits allege that Abilify, a medication approved to treat disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar 1, and major depressive disorder, can cause serious compulsive behavior side effects. According to this litigation, the manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the risk of “uncontrollable compulsive behaviors” linked with Abilify. The lawsuits against Abilify also include claims of product liability and fraud against the drug’s manufacturers.

So what does the centralization of these lawsuits against Abilify do? Essentially, centralizing into multicounty litigation helps conserve court resources, as well as help prevent potentially contradictory discovery rulings from different judges.

Plaintiffs included in these lawsuits against Abilify are from all across the country, from New York to California.

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 for anxiety and other mental disorders like schizophrenia and depression. Abilify now brings in billions of dollars annually.

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 manufacturers Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka.

Abilify Side Effects

While any medication will come with certain mild side effects like nausea or rashes, patients claim that the dangers of 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 for anxiety and other mental disorders, and compulsive behavior problems like gambling, sex addiction, and compulsive shopping. These impulsive control problems not only affect an Abilify patient’s day-to-day life but can also cause major problems for them financially.

Compulsive gambling and shopping addictions can be so severe that people may land in extremely steep debt. For those suffering from these problems, it can be very difficult to recover and return to normal life. On top of this, even when patients do manage to recover from the mental effects of Abilify and compulsive behavior, they may still be left with severe financial and familial consequences.

Filing Lawsuits Against Abilify Manufacturers

More and more lawsuits are being filed over side effects after treatment with Abilify for anxiety or other problems. Abilify and similar drugs are currently being investigated in the United States to determine their dangers. Similar drugs, others belonging to the dopamine receptor agonist class, have been targeted in other lawsuits.

If you or someone you love has taken Abilify for anxiety and been negatively affected by Abilify gambling loss or suffered from other compulsive behaviors after using the antipsychotic, 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 Abilify compulsive behaviors, it can help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by some of these problems, and compensate for the necessary treatment.