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UPDATE: On Sept. 30, 2020 The Superior Court of Québec extended the opt-out deadline to November 19, 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice also lifted the civil procedure time limits for the Abilify class action lawsuit.
A Quebec court has authorized a proposed Class in an Abilify class action lawsuit alleging those who took the antipsychotic medication suffered from compulsions to shop, gamble, overeat, and even have sex.
Lead plaintiff S. Scheer lodged the complaint against Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical, and Lundbeck Canada seeking to represent Canadians who took Abilify before Feb. 23, 2017.
On Jan. 6, 2020, the representative for the plaintiff announced that the proposed Class had been certified by the Honourable Justice Pierre-C. Gagnon. To remain in the Class, you don’t have to do anything further. Canadians who would like to opt out of the Abilify class action must do so by May 31, 2020.
The Abilify class action lawsuit alleges that the medication carries a risk of causing irresistible compulsions to eat, gamble, and shop, but the drug makers failed to adequately warn patients.
According to the Abilify class action lawsuit, the drug makers “developed, designed, manufactured, tested, marketed, labelled, packaged, promoted, advertised, imported, distributed, and/or sold the ABILIFY Products as safe and/or effective despite a wealth of existing knowledge that the drugs had dangerous side effects including uncontrollable impulses, such as pathological gambling, binge eating, uncontrollable spending or shopping and hypersexual behavior.”
Abilify is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, notes the complaint. It comes in several different dosages, available in both pill and liquid form. The drug works by binding to receptors in the brain, making it different from drugs in the same family known as atypical antipsychotics.
“Like other atypical antipsychotics, the ABILIFY Products bind to several different neurotransmitter receptors, but unlike others in its class, it doesn’t block dopamine (specifically, dopamine D2) or serotonin (specifically, 5-HT1A) receptors,” states the Abilify class action lawsuit.
“Instead, it’s a partial agonist at those receptors – it can activate those receptors, but not to the full biological effect. In lay terms, it can both enhance dopamine and serotonin signaling where those transmitters are deficient, and inhibit signaling where they are in excess.”
Dopamine has a role in compulsive and addictive behavior, contends the plaintiff, and that role is well known. Additionally, the drug makers allegedly knew of reports of serious pathological gambling linked to patients who took Abilify while the drug was still being tested. Despite these reports, the companies pushed for approval of Abilify in 2009.
Further cases of compulsive, addictive behaviors linked to the drug were reported in subsequent years, alleges the Abilify class action lawsuit. Patients reported an irresistible urge to gamble and overeat and some reported incidents of hypersexuality. These urges, says the plaintiff, dissipated after the patients were switched to a different medication.
Even in the face of these reports, as well as limits placed on the use of Abilify by the European Union, Bristol-Meyers and Otsuka marketed the drug to Canadians, alleges the complaint.
“Despite the risks of serious adverse events, and the lack of adequate testing, that Respondents aggressively promoted ABILIFY, including illegal promotion for off-label use,” states the class action lawsuit.
In 2017, the makers of Abilify reached a $19.5 million settlement with 43 U.S. attorneys generals who brought similar claims. The funds were distributed to those who took the antipsychotic medication in the U.S.
Top Class Actions will continue to post updates on the Abilify class action lawsuit. Click the “Follow Article” button at the top of this page to get the latest updates about the Abilify class action lawsuit by using your free Top Class Actions account. For the latest updates, keep checking ca.TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter.
Did you take Abilify and suffer from compulsions to overeat, gamble, shop, or have sex? Tell us your story in the comments below.
The plaintiff is represented by Consumer Law Group.
The Abilify Class Action Lawsuit is S. Scheer v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., et al., Case No. 500-06-000831-160, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Montreal, Canada.
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42 thoughts onAbilify Class Action Certified By Canadian Court
I was taking this drug since 2010, it was to treat a psychosis.
but after the first 2 years of taking it Each month, i was going crazy
id buy stuff i didnt even need!
my drug consumption became heavy.
i was hypersexual at a point where that hypersexuality made me go to prison
not only that, i was sent by court order to take this medication.
its been 11 months im off abilify.
i feel better but the emotional & financial problems ive faced is too much.
I already have type 2 diabetes, there should be a specific warning against prescribing this drug to people who are diabetic. I have reported my binge eating to my doctor since being prescribed approximately 4-5 months ago – my memory is terrible now but I know it is because of this medication. I have stopped taking this medication because my blood sugar goes way to high and I want to sleep or I fall asleep on the couch. I am glad to find people are speaking up and taking action. The drug certainly should not be prescribed to diabetics for obvious reasons. Corporate and social responsibility is important than drug sales profits. My doctor has noted the side effects I have reported. I have been off this drug for 4 days now, but due to its half-life the side effects still persist. I am convinced that I was going into a coma-like state because I cannot function and feel like doing nothing, no motivation. I am also off of work and may not be able to return to my job in time before I am dismissed or am involuntarily separated from my employer.
I have collected numerous cases of harm. In 2022, at the height of the COVID pandemic lockdowns, almost 5000 “involuntary” patients were injected with Abilify Maintena 300-400mg every month for one year. If they refused their “treatment plan” a warrant was issued for their arrest, they were bought in handcuffs by police, injected and thrown into a taxi. No vital signs, no EKG, no oximetry, no labs, and no physical exam…this outrageous practice is Pharma funded “clinical research”.
My son has been prescribed this for years and suffered from gambling addiction to the point of losing his friends
, alienating his family and filing bankruptcy . We have lost thousands trying to help him. Please contact me to find out how to take action.
Been thinking if I have a case. Suffered from suicidal thoughts, insomnia, mania, delusions, the perception that I just want to sleep with men and hallucinations. Worst experience of my life and have PTSD and strange mental health/brain problems because of it.
Hi, ever since i took abilify in injections, ive spent thousands in gambling , lost thousands in countless , uncontrollable spending and it had make my life à disaster…help me get into this class action please…
I have lost thousands of dollars due to compulsive gambling addiction as the result of this drug. I would like to join the class action lawsuit.
I am on Abilify along with Lamitrogine to treat bi-polar disorder type II. I have a bad addiction to shopping. It is an obvious problem. Just a few examples: I own about 35 tuques. I have three boxes full of greeting cards for all sorts of occasions that I never send. My closet is full of clothes with the tags still on. I was never a shopper so the difference is striking. I compulsively buy lottery tickets and I gamble online until I have no immediate access to more money. I have been on Abilify since before the noted date. How to I join the suit. I am speaking to my psychiatrist tomorrow.
I experienced hypersexuality and reported being sexually assaulted a number of times to the police.
How do I join this class action lawsuit ? Or am I able to do anything? I got prescribed this medication after suffering from major depression and since then it has gradually ruined every part of my life . I have lost money due to an impulsive gambling addiction . I have literally spent rent and bill money and every dollar I have to the point that I am about to loose everything . Please help me