A Virginia 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 Virginia Abilify lawsuit and pursue compensation for damages.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia 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 Virginia Abilify lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Abilify and Compulsive Disorders
Mental illness affects the way a person’s brain functions, causing a variety of behaviors that are difficult or impossible to control. For example, people who are suffering from schizophrenia often are not able to manage their emotions or think clearly, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. They often are unable to relate to other people, and they may have hallucinations or make unreasonable decisions. Medication is often helpful in managing these symptoms for patients with schizophrenia.
According to drugs.com, the antipsychotic drug Abilify is intended to alter the chemistry of the brain. While some psychiatric side effects such as anxiety, restlessness and insomnia often occur, postmarketing reports indicate that some patients have suffered serious impulse control disorders like compulsive gambling after taking the drug.
The Mayo Clinic notes that a person with a gambling disorder is typically willing to take unreasonable risks regardless of the harm that may come from the loss. This compulsion may develop because of a pattern of gambling, depression or stress in a person’s life, and it affects the reward center in the brain in ways that are similar to other addictions.
Postmarket Reviews
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explains that it requires all drug companies to perform studies and submit the results when seeking approval for a new medication. The process does not end there, though. The preapproval tests are limited by the number of people who participate. While several thousand may be involved in the clinical trials, the drug may be prescribed to millions of patients once it is on the market.
Because of the likelihood of new side effects, the FDA collects information about unfavorable results patients experience after taking the drug. Anyone may report a problem, and these reports are evaluated carefully. The drug company must also monitor adverse events relating to their medication. If a significant number of issues are noted, the FDA may require new testing, new labeling, safety warnings or a recall of the drug.
Abilify Side Effects
Common side effects of Abilify include:
- Difficulty speaking
- Drooling
- Loss of balance
- Muscle stiffness
- Restlessness
- Uncontrollable movements of the body
In rare cases, the following side effects may develop in patients who use Abilify as prescribed to treat their condition:
- Convulsions
- Rapid heartbeat
- High fever
- High or low blood pressure
- Increased sweating
- Tiredness
- Severe muscle stiffness
Virginia Abilify Lawsuits Filed by Patients
Abilify compulsive gambling lawsuits filed in California and Minnesota allege that the drug makers, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., were obligated to provide product warnings and instructions regarding the possible risks associated with compulsive disorders and the use of Abilify to treat certain mental illnesses. However, the drug makers failed to do so.
Although the drug makers knew or should have known about the risks associated with Abilify, plaintiffs claim that the drug makers did not warn, advise, educate, or otherwise inform Abilify users or prescribers in the United States about the risk of compulsive gambling or other compulsive behaviors. As a result of using Abilify, plaintiffs also claim monetary losses; loss of financial stability; other mental, physical, and economic losses.
How a Virginia 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 Virginia. 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.
