Patients who have used Rexulti and Abilify have reported problems with gambling, leading to a wave of product liability lawsuits. Plaintiffs came together in a large multidistrict litigation, reporting problems with gambling that developed after using the two medications.

The complaint alleges that the medication Abilify, used to treat schizophrenia, depression and bipolar-1 disorder, is given to thousands of patients each year but is tied to problems with gambling.

In fact, the lawsuit alleges that the drug manufacturers were aware of the problems with gambling as well as other uncontrollable compulsive behaviors that might develop after using Abilify but failed to warn patients or the medical community about these dangers.

Warning Labels

The Abilify lawsuit claims that the problems with gambling were not clearly posted on the label of the medication. Prior to January 2016, for example, the U.S. Abilify label had no direct reference to pathological gambling risks, plaintiffs claim.

The word gambling never even appeared on Abilify’s U.S. label before January 2016, when pathological gambling was added to the post-marketing section of the label. Yet for years before that, plaintiffs say that numerous people came forward to report concerns with uncontrollable behavior, including problems with gambling.

That information, patients claim, was not included in the patient medication guide.

In May 2016, the FDA shared that warnings would be added to the Abilify label regarding the uncontrollable or compulsive urges to binge eat, gamble, have sex or shop.

Warnings were further updated in August of that year related to compulsive gambling. Problems with gambling can escalate quickly and cause financial devastation for people taking a medication that they anticipated to help them, as well as for their families.

Compulsive Behavior Problems

Problems with gambling are some of the more damaging compulsive behaviors tied to the use of this medication.

The lawsuit alleges that the problems with gambling should have been clearly explained in the drugs information packet so that physicians and their patients could have made informed decisions about whether or not the risks outweigh the possible benefits.

Anyone who has developed problems with gambling after receiving a prescription for and using Rexulti or Abilify should be prepared to discuss their options and next steps with the help of an experienced attorney.

In many cases, a multidistrict litigation is set up only after numerous plaintiffs who share similar problems or side effects have come forward to share their concerns. As is the case, a current lawsuit investigation is looking for patients who were prescribed Abilify and Rexulti and developed uncontrollable behavior, including problems with gambling, after taking the medication as prescribed by their doctor.

The Abilify Gambling lawsuit is Case No. 3:16-MD-02734-MCR-GRJ, filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Pensacola Division.