A man alleges the drug Abilify caused him to develop compulsive behaviors.

Plaintiff Anthony C. said he was prescribed Abilify in April 2011. Abilify (aripiprazole) is a medication used to treat mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Tourette’s disorder and some autistic problems. Abilify also has been prescribed as an adjunct treatment with an antidepressant.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. manufacture, promote and sell Abilify.

According to Anthony’s complaint, he “has incurred past and future noneconomic damages, including physical injury, and mental pain and suffering, disability, mental and physical impairment, loss of reputation and social stigma, and loss of enjoyment of life.”

The complaint continues by alleging he “has also incurred past and future economic damages including lost income, lost profits, loss of earning capacity, loss of use of property, and other damages to be determined through discovery and at trial.”

Abilify Reportedly Causes Compulsive Behaviors

Abilify allegedly increases the patient’s risk of uncontrollable compulsive behaviors. Patients allege they have developed irresistible urges to gamble, eat, have sex and shop after starting on Ablify. These warnings were added to Abilfy’s label in May 2016 upon direction from the FDA.

Abilify has been available by prescription in the U.S. since 2002. In the fall of 2012, the European Medicines Agency reportedly required the drug’s makers to warn patients and the medical community of Europe that Abilify could increase the risk of pathological gambling.

Medication regulators in Canada seemingly followed suit in the fall of 2015, but also added that there was not only an increased risk of pathological gambling, but also an increased risk of hypersexuality in Abilify patients.

Abilify’s U.S. label allegedly did not mention an increased risk of compulsive behaviors such as gambling until January 2016.

By delaying the notification in the U.S., the Abilify MDL alleges, the drug’s makers “made significantly more revenue from Abilify sales in the United States compared to Europe.”

The Abilify MDL indicates that the FDA received adverse event reports that linked the drug to compulsive behaviors.

“From 2005 to 2013, an FDA report showed that Abilify accounted for at least fifty-four reports of compulsive or impulsive behavior problems, including thirty reports of compulsive gambling, twelve reports of impulsive behavior, nine reports of hypersexuality, and three reports of compulsive shopping,” says the Abilify MDL.

Simply put, Abilify works by rebalancing dopamine and serotonin the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that largely controls the reward and pleasure centers in the brain and helps regulate emotional responses. According to Psychology Today, dopamine “enables us not only to see rewards, but to take action to move toward them.”

Plaintiffs such as Anthony allege it is Abilify’s interference with dopamine that sparks compulsive behaviors in some patients.

The Compulsive Behaviors Lawsuit is Case No. 3:18-cv-00708-MCR-GRJ and is part of the Abilify MDL, In re: Abilify (Aripiprazole) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2734, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division.