A New Jersey Abilify lawsuit may be an option for patients who suffered from compulsive gambling and other serious side effects after taking the medication. For millions of Americans who suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Abilify may be prescribed to treat their condition. However, lawsuits claim that the drug makers knew or should have known about the potential risks of compulsive gambling and other serious complications allegedly associated with the drug. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a New Jersey Abilify lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey 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 New Jersey Abilify lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
How Abilify Works
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Abilify is also known by its generic name aripiprazole, and is used primarily in the treatment of schizophrenia, although it has indications for other mental disorders. Patients taking Abilify are cautioned not to stop taking the drug suddenly, as this can result in a relapse of symptoms (including delusional beliefs, diminished motivation and difficulty with thought organization).
Categorized as a second generation antipsychotic, Abilify works by correcting the levels of chemicals in the body thought to impact feeling and behavior. The drug can be ingested orally or injected, and is intended as a long-term treatment.
Abilify and Compulsive Behaviors
Along with claims of misleading product statements, some patients prescribed Abilify have also expressed concern about the drug’s possible link to compulsive behaviors. The Journal of the American Medical Association details some statistics regarding these behaviors, which can have a dire impact on many facets of one’s life. Ultimately, researchers concluded that the link between dopamine receptor agonist drugs and disorders related to impulse control warranted changes to product labeling making adverse effects well-known.
Among almost 2,000 adverse event reported compiled by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) pathological gambling was the most frequent complication, affecting approximately 39 percent. While slightly less prevalent, those taking these drugs also experienced the urge to wander from their homes (poriomania), an increased sexual desire and an uncontrollable compulsion to shop. The study stated that in 2012’s fourth quarter, these types of drugs were dispensed out 2.1 million times to patients.
In May 2016, the FDA issued a safety announcement warning that some patients who have taken Abilify have reported uncontrollable urges to gamble, binge eat, shop excessively and have sex. The agency urges patients to keep a close eye on excessive urges they might experience while taking Abilify.
Other Potential Side Effects
Abilify also has links to many other serious side effects, as listed by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.:
- Decreased blood pressure
- Dehydration
- High blood sugar
- Greater chance of stroke
- Diminished white blood cell count
- Difficulty swallowing
Patients taking Abilify may also develop a rare disorder known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, this condition is characterized by high fever, stiffness within the muscles and cognitive symptoms like confusion or irritation. Without timely medical treatment can result in coma and/or death.
Despite claims of Abilify’s effectiveness, the FDA issued warnings about many misleading statements included in product inserts. The FDA determined certain statements, such as claims of the drug’s ability to regulate dopamine and serotonin levels, to be misleading because the mechanism of action that allows Abilify to treat bipolar patients is currently unknown.
The agency also found fault with the claim that the drug is superior to other treatments, as its superiority has not been established in clinical drug trials. Accordingly, the FDA demanded that the manufacturer discontinue distribution of misleading advertising materials.
Abilify Lawsuits Filed
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 New Jersey 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 Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey. 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.
