Abilify FAQ
What is Abilify?
Abilify (generic: aripiprazole) is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat certain mental health disorders including schizophrenia, manic and mixed episodes associated with Bipolar I Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder in combination with other medications, irritability associated with Autistic Disorder, and Tourette’s disorder.
How Does it Work?
Atypical antipsychotic medications like Abilify affect the dopamine pathways in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. All antipsychotics affect a particular dopamine receptor called D2. Abilify, however, is the only antipsychotic drug to act as a partial agonist for D2 receptors, not an antagonist. Agonists activate receptors; antagonists block the work of agonists.
Who Makes Abilify?
Abilify is made by the Japanese company Otsuka Pharmaceutical. It is marketed in the U.S. under agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS).
When Was it Approved?
Abilify was approved by the FDA on November 15, 2002. The drug was originally only approved to treat schizophrenia in adults, but its use was later expanded to treat other mental health disorders and their symptoms, like Bipolar I, Major Depressive Disorder, autistic disorder and Tourette’s disorder.
What’s the Problem?
Our lawyers are investigating lawsuits on behalf of Abilify users who developed uncontrollable behaviors including compulsive gambling, binge eating, shopping and hypersexuality. The way the drug affects the brain may cause patients to develop a problem with impulse control that causes them to act on uncontrollable urges.
Has the FDA Warned About Abilify Side Effects?
In May 2016, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication announcing that it was updating the labeling of Abilify with a warning about an increased risk for uncontrollable urges to gamble, eat, shop and have sex. The agency said it received at least 184 reports of impulse-control disorders since Abilify was first approved in November 2002.
My Loved One Died After Taking Abilify. Can I file a Lawsuit on Their Behalf?
In most cases, you may pursue a claim on behalf of a deceased loved one who died as the result of taking an allegedly defective drug like Abilify. Our lawyers can set up an estate to pursue the claim of a deceased relative. If the claim is successful, we will then disburse the funds through the estate, as prescribed by laws governing the jurisdiction in which the suit was filed.
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
Successful lawsuits must be filed within a specific time period referred to as a “statute of limitations,” or SOL, which is dependent upon the jurisdiction where the case is filed. Because SOLs vary considerably from state to state, you should contact a qualified Abilify attorney as soon as possible to learn more about your legal rights. Waiting could bar you from the ability to file a claim and getting the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
How Much Does it Cost?
Our lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we only collect our fee upon a recovery for you. As experienced products liability attorneys, our interests are uniquely aligned with those of our clients as we ONLY receive a fee when you are successful in your claim.
What Type of Compensation Could I Qualify For?
The value of each lawsuit depends on the circumstances of the plaintiff and their specific injuries. Nonetheless, a person, along with their family, who was injured by Abilify may qualify to receive compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.