Abilify Compulsive Gambling Risk Study

Austin Kirk

By Austin Kirk
Posted December 9, 2016

ADD YOUR COMMENTS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals and families nationwide who are pursuing an Abilify compulsive gambling lawsuit, after experiencing substantial gambling losses and damage to their financial security following use of the atypical antipsychotic medication.

Abilify Compulsive Gambling Lawyers

Did You or a Loved One Begin Compulsively Gambling on Abilify?

REVIEW A CASE

A study released this week provides clear support for the link between side effects of Abilify and gambling compulsions, supporting the findings of other research and conclusions reached by the FDA earlier this year, when the drug maker was required to provide warnings for the first time to U.S. consumers and the medical community.

The findings also highlight how Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals knew or should have known about the compulsive gambling risk with Abilify, and could have helped thousands of individuals nationwide avoid the devastating consequences of gambling, since users, their doctors and family had no way of knowing that urges to engage in compulsive behaviors were caused by Abilify.

Free consultations and claim evaluations are provided to help individuals and families throughout the United States determine whether financial compensation or settlement benefits may be available.

Study on Abilify Risk of Compulsive Gambling

Abilify (aripiprazole) is widely used to treat bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia and other psychological disorders. It is also commonly prescribed off-label for uses not approved by the FDA, and has become one of the top selling drugs in the United States.

In the February 2017 edition of the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology, researchers outline the findings of a new study that confirms the Abilify compulsive gambling risk.

Researchers set out to conduct the study after a recent FDA analysis identified a large number of adverse event reports involving gambling and other impulse control problems with Abilify.

There have also been a number of published case reports highlighting compulsive gambling disorders that emerged among users of Abilify. However, a large case-control study had not been done to confirm the risk… until now.

After examining data on 355 cases of gambling disorders and 3,550 controls, as well as 4,341 cases of impulse control disorder and 43,410 corresponding controls, researchers determined that users face:

  • More than 5 times higher risk of pathologic gambling on Abilify
  • More than 7 times higher risk of impulse control disorder
  • Abilify compulsive gambling risk was even higher among patients with bipolar disorder
  • Gambling side effects typically appear within about 20 days

The strength of the study is the large sample size, and ability to exclude for strong confounders, such as bipolar, alcohol and substance abuse disorder. Researchers also noted that some individuals with gambling disorder were never seen by a psychiatrist and did not receive a diagnosis. This suggests that the findings are likely an underestimation of the true risk of Abilify compulsive gambling.

Abilify Gambling Addiction Lawsuits

Abilify may cause users to suddenly have the desire to engage in compulsive and very harmful behaviors, including:

  • Compulsive Gambling
  • Uncontrollable Shopping
  • Risky Sexual Activity

The issues not only cause immediate financial losses, but the Abilify problems also have a devastating impact on overall quality of life, resulting in loss of financial security, damage to reputation, loss of employment and family trust.

If you, a friend or family member engaged in compulsive gambling after starting Abilify or increasing dose, financial compensation may be available as a result of the drug makers’ failure to warn users and the medical community about the risk.

All Abilify lawsuits are pursued under a contingency fee agreement, which means that there are never any out-of-pocket costs to hire a lawyer and we only receive an attorney fee or reimbursement of expenses if you and your family receive a settlement or recovery for compulsive gambling problems caused by Abilify.

CONTACT OUR ABILIFY COMPULSIVE GAMBLING LAWYERS

No Comments • Add Your Comments

Add Your Comments

  • Have Your Comments Reviewed by a Lawyer

    Provide contact information below and additional private comments if you want an attorney to contact you to review a potential case.

    The information below will not be published to this page.

  • NOTE: Providing information for review by an attorney does not form an attorney-client relationship.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.