A Massachusetts Abilify lawsuit may be an option for patients who suffered from compulsive gambling or other serious side effects after taking the medication. Aripiprazole, also known by the brand name Abilify, is primarily used to treat symptoms associated with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression. The drug is a popular form of treatment, however, it has been linked to serious impulse control disorders, including compulsive gambling. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a Massachusetts Abilify lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Massachusetts today. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Massachusetts Abilify lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Abilify and Mental Health Disorders
According to Drugs.com, Abilify is most commonly prescribed to treat two of the most widespread mental health problems, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Abilify, also known generically as aripiprazole, combats psychosis in the brain and alters a patient’s mood through the regulation of the body’s neurotransmitters. Autism, Tourette’s syndrome, and various levels of depression are other issues that may be addressed with Abilify or a combination of Abilify and other prescription medications.
Bipolar Disorder and Schizophrenia
The Mayo Clinic states that bipolar disorder occurs in those who find themselves transitioning back and forth between energetic, uplifting, productive moods and states of fatigue, sadness, and lethargy. These shifts in outlook may be subtle or dramatic. They are known as mania that alternates with depression, causing the patient to fluctuate at various intervals between one state of being and another.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), schizophrenia may be caused by a variety of factors from an abnormal chemical composition in the body to prenatal distress or malnourishment. Some signs that a person may be dealing with schizophrenia include a lack of normal speech function, delusional thinking patterns, a reduction of participation in the activities of life, and an inability to concentrate and uncoordinated physical movements.
Abilify Side Effects and Risks
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) states that while schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are both fairly long-term conditions, taking a prescription medication like Abilify can help to moderate and regulate both the acute and chronic symptoms associated with these mental health issues as well as maintain a patient’s well-being over time. However, the use of Abilify does not come without its side effects. Some of the most common risks associated with the medication include metabolic dysfunction, muscle malfunction, tiredness and gastrointestinal upset.
On rare occasions, however, the National Center for Biotechnology Information notes that Abilify has been reported as potentially causing neuroleptic malignant syndrome, leading to higher than normal body temperatures and significant changes in body composition. Less than three percent of patients who are taking neuroleptic drugs such as Abilify experience this potentially fatal condition.
Abilify and Compulsive Disorders
Impulse control disorders, such as sexual behavioral issues, impulsive shopping, and excessive gambling, are another possible side effect of aripiprazole medications, according to an article published in the JAMA Internal Medicine. Since there has been no warning of these adverse effects for those taking Abilify, it is important that health care providers who prescribe this drug monitor their patients closely for behavioral shifts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning regarding Abilify and its alleged link to compulsive disorders, including the urges to gamble, binge eat, shop, and have sex.
Abilify Lawsuit Claims
Lawsuits allege that Abilify is linked to compulsive gambling and other compulsive behaviors, which have resulted in substantial financial, mental, and physical damages to patients who have taken the drug. Additionally, patients cite manufacturer negligence for failing to create a safe medication, while also stating that warnings did not include all the risks associated with the drug.
How a Massachusetts Abilify Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to File a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Massachusetts. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
