Abilify is a popular antipsychotic medication prescribed for schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, Tourette’s, depression (in combination with other medications), and irritability in autistic patients. Despite its widespread acceptance and use, it poses a real danger to both adult and juvenile patients.
Abilify can cause addiction. Abilify helps control many symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and other mental disorders by affecting the chemicals in the brain. As a result, patients may feel that if they take more than prescribed, they’ll feel even better. Once addicted, they may lie to their prescriber and state they’re not getting relief. Generally, prescribers will change the dosage before removing a patient from the medication. This gives the patient the opportunity to continue to abuse the medication. Abuse of any drug is dangerous. If you or someone you love became addicted to Abilify, you may have a legal claim. Make an appointment for a case evaluation with an Abilify attorney from Goldwater Law.
Common Side Effects of Abilify
Abilify can cause serious side effects. In fact, Abilify has a black box warning for elderly patients. At one time, Abilify was prescribed to patients with dementia-related psychosis. However, studies have shown that giving elderly patients Abilify increases the risk of death.
That’s not the only serious side effect of Abilify. Additionally, patients may:
- Become addicted to gambling
- Become compulsive shoppers
- Engage in compulsive eating
- Develop an urge for compulsive sex
- Compulsively engage in other activities that could gravely injure the patient or their family
Compulsive behavior isn’t just seen in adults taking Abilify. It’s also been noted in children. Because of these devastating behaviors, lawsuits against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka American Pharmaceutical. Plaintiffs allege that the companies failed to inform the public of these serious risks. They also allege that if they’d known, they would have chosen a different medication. If you developed compulsive behavior or became addicted to gambling or shopping, contact an Abilify attorney to learn more about your potential legal options.
Other side effects for Abilify include:
- Severe agitation, distress, or restlessness
- Uncontrollable twitching and movement of the eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs
- Trouble swallowing and problems with speech
- Face paralysis
- Seizures
- Increased thoughts related to suicide or self-harm
- Rigid muscles, high fever, sweating, and confusion
- Arrhythmia
- Tremors
- Low blood cell count
- High blood sugar
- Weight gain
- Blurred vision
- Nausea or vomiting
- Changes in appetite
- Drooling
- Headache or dizziness
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
You should stop using Abilify and call your doctor if you develop an arrhythmia, get a fever and have stiff muscles, experience uncontrolled muscle movements, develop problems with your vision or speech, or have the urge to hurt or kill yourself.
If you or someone you love was severely impacted after taking Abilify, contact Goldwater Law immediately to schedule a free case consultation. Our Abilify attorney is experienced in drug laws and can help you understand whether you have a claim along with any potential legal options.