A Mississippi man recently filed an Abilify side effects lawsuit against pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, alleging the drug caused serious compulsive behavior problems.

According to the Abilify side effects lawsuit, the plaintiff, Robert M, began taking Abilify in 2011. He continued to take the drug regularly until sometime in 2015. Unfortunately, Robert began experiencing major compulsive behavior problems while taking Abilify. The lawsuit claims that, as a direct result of ingesting Abilify over the course of these several years, Robert suffered from mental anguish, bodily injury, and significant economic losses due to these compulsive behaviors.

The Abilify side effects lawsuit was filed on Sept. 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida. It was filed on multiple counts, including breach of express and implied warranties, negligence, fraudulent concealment, and loss of consortium, among several others.

Abilify Background

Abilify (also known by its generic name, aripiprazole) is a popular antipsychotic from Bristol-Myers Squibb. Abilify is used for the treatment of mental disorders like schizophrenia and depression. Its popularity is clear. Though it has only been on the market for a few years, Abilify already brings in billions of dollars annually.

However, Abilify has actually been tied to significant Abilify side effects–namely, serious impulse control problems. This side effect can manifest itself in compulsive behaviors like shopping addiction and gambling problems. These side effects are not only a problem for a person’s day-to-day life, but also for the lives of their family members, including in financial matters.

Of course, any drug will come with certain side effects, but patients claim that Abilify may pose a more lasting problem with major compulsion issues.

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine noted a link between the use of dopamine receptors agonist medications like Abilify and impulse control problems like gambling, sex addiction, and compulsive shopping. All of these compulsions can become extreme, which can put a patient and their family at severe financial risk, as well as cause mental and emotional turmoil. Indeed, compulsive gambling and shopping can be so severe that people who suffer from it are driven to gamble or shop even when they do not have the financial capacity to do so, which can land patients in extremely steep debt. This may not cause physical harm but can ruin lives.

One of the major problems with compulsive gambling and other impulse problems is that it is extremely difficult to stop and return to normal life without getting professional help. And even when patients do manage to recover from the mental effects of compulsive behaviors, they may still be left with severe financial consequences.

Filing an Abilify Side Effects Lawsuit

Abilify and similar drugs are currently being investigated in the United States to determine Abilify dangers. Similar drugs, other dopamine receptor agonists, have been targeted in other lawsuits. If you or someone you know has been impacted by impulse control behaviors like compulsive shopping after taking Abilify or a similar antipsychotic drug, you may be eligible to file an Abilify side effects lawsuit.

Robert M.’s Abilify Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-00664-MCR-GRJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division.