What are the Side Effects of Abilify?

Abilify (aripiprazole) is an anti-psychotic drug used to treat psychotic conditions and disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It also is used with other medications to treat major depression in adults.

As of May 2018, more than 800 lawsuits have been filed in federal court against the makers of Abilify by individuals who claim to have experienced compulsive behaviors because of the drug.

These cases are being heard by Chief Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the Northern District of Florida, however individuals who believe they may be entitled to compensation are not bound to the state of Florida.

There are three key legal issues at work in these ongoing lawsuits against the makers of Abilify:

1. The makers of Abilify hid evidence from the government when they received FDA approval for the drug.
   
   
2. The makers of Abilifys failed to warn doctors and patients of the connection between Abilify and compulsive behaviors.
   
   
3. The makers of Abilify convinced doctors to prescribe Abilify for conditions not approved by the FDA.

How does Abilify work?

While Abilify's exact chemical mechanism is currently unknown, it works like other anti-psychotics to block receptors on nerves in the brain for several neurotransmitters—the chemicals that nerves use to communicate with one another.

Its medicinal benefits are thought to be due to its effects on dopamine and serotonin receptors. The effects it has on these receptors are complex, and involve involving stimulating the receptors to a lesser degree than the naturally-occurring neurotransmitters in our brains.

The possible side effects and injuries associated with Abilify

The most common side effects caused by Abilify are:

• Anxiety,
• Blurred vision,
• Constipation,
• Dizziness,
• Drooling,
• Drowsiness,
• Headache,
• Lightheadedness,
• Nausea,
• Restlessness,
• Trouble sleeping, and weight gain.

In 2016, the FDA issued a warning, saying it had reviewed 184 cases connecting Abilify to compulsive behaviors, such as:

• Gambling,
• Sexual behavior,
• Shopping,
• Eating, and other impulse-control issues.

These addictive behaviors started soon after the patient began taking Abilify. It stopped after the patient stopped taking the drug and switching to a different one.

Patients developed an uncontrollable urge to perform an action and cannot stop from doing it. The patient will perform the action even if it's causing him or her personal, social, and financial harm.

How to Get Compensation in an Abilify Lawsuit

If you have experienced more than $50,000 in gambling losses due to the effects of Abilify, an experienced law firm will pursue the following damages for you:

• Past and future medical expenses to treat your addiction.
• Past and future mental pain and suffering caused by your addiction, such as losing family, friends, employment, and finances.
• Wage loss.
• Gambling losses.
• Other economic losses you sustained because of your compulsive behavior.
• Punitive damages, if appropriate.

If you believe you may be entitled to compensation, contact us below to request a free case evaluation. An experienced law firm will evaluate each client's damages on his/her specific facts. Each of our clients has the option of settling or not settling his/her case.