Abilify, a popular antipsychotic drug, has been linked with a number of serious and financially problematic Abilify side effects, including compulsive shopping.

Abilify (generic name: aripiprazole) is produced by Otsuka Pharmaceuticals and Bristol-Myers Squibb, and is used to treat a number of mental disorders from schizophrenia to depression.

Since its release onto the market, Abilify has risen quickly in popularity, bringing in billions of dollars annually.

Though Abilify is undoubtedly one of the more popular antipsychotics available on the market, Abilify side effects linked with the drug can be extreme, as well as have serious financial consequences for patients.

Abilify is one of several drugs known as dopamine receptor agonists, which is a class of drugs that has been linked to serious impulse control problems. Impulse control issues commonly manifest themselves through shopping addiction, as well as compulsive gambling.

A recent study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, linked Abilify and others in its class with major impulse control issues like gambling, sex addiction, and compulsive shopping behaviors.

Compulsive shopping may not seem like your typical side effect, but compulsive behavior Abilify side effects can have a dramatic and negative impact on the lives of patients.

Though these Abilify side effects do not cause direct physical problems for patients, unlike side effects such as disease or injury, they still have the power to tear apart a patient’s life.

Shopping addiction can cost a patient and their family a great deal of money, and may even send the patient into deep debt. On top of the serious financial effects, compulsive shopping behaviors can disrupt a person’s daily life, leading them away from their family and making them unable to function as they normally would.

It is often very difficult to stop impulse control behaviors such as shopping addiction or compulsive gambling and return to normal life.

An increasing number of reports of impulse control problems have been filed over Abilify in recent months. More still have been filed over the dopamine receptor agonist class in general.

Researchers report that information on impulse control Abilify side effects date back to 2009 or before. This information, say researchers, has been available to drug manufacturers. However, despite the risk of shopping addiction and other impulse control behaviors, these risks did not make their way onto the warning labels of Abilify or similar drugs.

Abilify Side Effects Lawsuits

Abilify and similar drugs are currently being investigated in the United States to determine possible compulsive behavior side effects. Similar drugs, other dopamine receptor agonists, have been targeted in other lawsuits.

A dopamine receptor agonist lawsuit filed in Australia, over the drugs Casaber and Dostinex, was recently settled for millions of dollars. This lawsuit included 170 Australian patients who have experienced major impulse control behaviors because of drugs like Abilify.

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.