Many people in the United States suffer from mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. For many of those who suffer, prescription antipsychotic medications such as Abilify offer a way treat their condition. Abilify, however, has been linked to serious behavior disorders, including compulsive gambling. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a Mississippi Abilify lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Mississippi 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 attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Abilify?
Abilify, also known as aripiprazole, is a prescription medication used to treat children and adults who suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In some cases, Abilify may be used to treat major depressive disorder, tic disorders, irritability associated with autism, and Tourette’s disorder.
How Does Abilify Work?
Abilify belongs to a class of medications called atypical antipsychotics. It works by changing the activity of natural substances in the brain known as neurotransmitters. When taken as prescribed, Abilify can decrease hallucinations, improve concentration, help patients think more clearly and positively about themselves, relieve feelings of nervousness, and allow patients to take a more active part in their everyday lives.
Abilify and Compulsive Gambling Studies
Compulsive gambling is often characterized by the persistent urge to gamble, eventually leading to serious personal and social consequences. Research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in July 2011 indicated three cases that suggest that pathological gambling may have been affected by the treatment of psychosis using aripiprazole, or Abilify.
Abilify Compulsive Gambling Lawsuits
Drug manufacturers have an obligation to give adequate warnings and instructions about the possible risks associated with the medications that they make. Although the European Medicines Agency (EMA) requested that product labels be updated and Health Canada issued an update requiring the drug makers include product warnings about a possible link between the antipsychotic drug Abilify and compulsive gambling, no such warnings exist on product labels in the United States.
Abilify compulsive gambling lawsuits in California and Minnesota allege that the use of the antipsychotic drug may have led to substantial financial, mental, and physical damages in patients who used the drug as prescribed. Plaintiffs claim that drug manufacturers knew or should have known about the increased risk of serious side effects and risks, including uncontrollable compulsive behaviors such as compulsive gambling.
Abilify Side Effects
Common side effects of Abilify include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Upper respiratory illness
Other Abilify Risks
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), serious risks of Abilify include:
- Elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis are at a greater risk of death when treated with Abilify. Abilify is not an approved form of treatment for patients who suffer from dementia-related psychosis.
- In clinical studies, there was an increased risk of cerebrovascular adverse incidents such as stroke and transient ischemic attack (stroke-like event) in patients who suffer from dementia-related psychosis and were treated with Abilify.
- Adults and children who suffer from major depressive disorder (MDD) may experience worsening of their condition and/or the development of suicidal thoughts and behavior. The FDA warns that all patients who are treated with antidepressants for any reason should be monitored for signs of unusual changes in behavior, especially during the early stages of drug therapy.
- A potentially fatal condition known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS) may develop in patients who take antipsychotic drugs, including Abilify. Symptoms of NMS include muscle rigidity, changes in mental status, and irregular blood pressure.
- Patients who use antipsychotic drugs such as Abilify may develop a potentially irreversible syndrome known as tardive dyskinesia (TD). Elderly women may be more likely to experience symptoms associated with TD, however, it is impossible to predict which patients will develop the condition once treatment with antipsychotics begins.
How A Mississippi Abilify Lawsuit Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries and damages that may result.
When patients suffer from severe side effects from a dangerous or defective drug, they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries and damages. The types of losses that can be recovered include:
- Economic Losses
- Medical and other treatment expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If the conduct of a drug company in manufacturing and selling drug is found to be highly reckless, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the company and deter similar conduct in the future.
Patients who have suffered loss as a result of compulsive gambling or other compulsive behaviors are encouraged to speak with a Mississippi Abilify lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Mississippi. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or 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.
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