Abilify Childhood Diabetes Side Effects

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously reviewed potential product liability lawsuits for children diagnosed with diabetes following use of the popular antipsychotic Abilify. However, cases are no longer being pursued by your law firm.

Research has found that side effects of Abilify may increase the risk of childhood diabetes and the risk of weight gain, posing serious life-long health consequences for young children prescribed the atypical antipsychotic.

Although it appears that the makers of the drug knew or should have known about the risk of diabetes from Abilify, inadequate warnings were provided about the risk for kids using the medication. As a result, potential Abilify childhood diabetes lawsuit were evaluated.

Abilify Childhood Diabetes Problems

Abilify (aripiprazole) is one of the best selling drugs in the world, with 2013 sales estimated at more than $6 billion worldwide.

It was approved by the FDA in 2002, for the treatment of a number of psychological problems, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression and autism in adults and children.

The drug is part of a class of medications known as atypical antipsychotics, and it has become one of the top selling antipsychotic medications in recent years, particularly since it does not yet face competition from generic versions. The manufacturer, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., has promoted the drug through aggressive direct-to-consumer advertisements.

In recent years, concerns have emerged about the widespread use of the drug among children, especially given the potential link between Abilify and diabetes.

Critics suggest that the drugs are meant to provide stability to adolescents, while the underlying problems are treated through counseling and other means. However, doctors and patients suggest that Abilify is being provided more and more as a cure for behavioral problems of all kinds, resulting in overuse and children being unnecessarily exposed to the drug’s side effects.

It is known that Abilify may cause weight gain, and the medication also poses an unreasonable risk of diabetes for children.

In a 2011 study, researchers found that after using antidepressants for just 4.5 months, 3.23 out of every 1,000 children developed diabetes. That compares with only 0.76 per 1,000 children not given an antipsychotic. At the average doses, Abilify may increase the risk of diabetes 7.72 percent above normal.

Abilify childhood diabetes can pose serious long-term health risks, which follow children into adulthood and for the rest of their lives. Some data indicates that Abilify can increase the risk of childhood diabetes by a factor of seven.