An Illinois man recently filed a lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, alleging its drug caused a serious Abilify gambling problem.

According to the lawsuit, his Abilify gambling problem has caused serious monetary problems as well as mental anguish. This Abilify gambling problem lawsuit and other claims like it allege that the pharmaceutical company failed to adequately warn consumers and the medical community about this risk.

The plaintiff, Geopetto R., says he began taking Abilify at the direction of his doctor in 2013, and continued this usage regularly until 2016.

According to the lawsuit, Geopetto began suffering from an Abilify gambling problem caused by the medication, incurring gambling debts and loss of earnings. The lawsuit alleges that not only has this medication caused monetary losses from the gambling addiction, but has also resulted in disability, mental injury, and loss of capacity for the enjoyment of life. The Abilify lawsuit alleges that these side effects are ongoing or even permanent, and will continue in the future.

Geopetto filed his lawsuit against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, the drug’s manufacturers, on Dec. 4, 2017. The Abilify gambling problem complaint was filed on multiple counts, including strict liability, breach of express and implied warranties, negligence, and fraudulent concealment, among others.

Background of Abilify and Side Effects

Abilify, also sold under the generic name aripiprazole, is a popular antipsychotic medication manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals. Abilify is used to treat a number of mental disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. As a more widely used antipsychotic, Abilify brings in nearly $8 billion annually in sales.

Despite the undeniable popularity of the drug, more and more patients are coming forward with reports of significant Abilify side effects. Patients claim that Abilify can cause dramatic impulse control problems, inducing a serious gambling problem, or even sex addiction and compulsive shopping.

Abilify patients have reportedly been forced into deep debt because of their Abilify gambling proble. These complications may not cause physical harm, but they can certainly ruin lives—that of the user as well as the lives of their family members.

Of course, any addiction is a challenge, and an Abilify gambling problem can be a hard hole to climb back out of. On top of sometimes substantial financial losses, undergoing treatment for gambling addiction is also a significant expense.

Filing an Abilify Gambling Problem Lawsuit

Some patients, like Geopetto, are choosing to file lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb. Lawsuits claim that patients were not given adequate warning about the risk of suffering from an Abilify gambling problem, and that had they known of this possibility, they would have chosen a safer alternative.

If you or someone you love has suffered or is suffering from an Abilify gambling problem or other compulsive behaviors after using Abilify, you may able to join an Abilify lawsuit investigation.

The Abilify Gambling Problem Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-00859-MCR-GRJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Pensacola Division of the Northern District of Florida.