If you have gotten sick or become injured because of a defective medication or product, a Little Rock personal injury lawyer may be able to help you.
Abilify is the top-selling anti-psychotic drug in the United States, and Mirapex is not far behind. Studies link the medications with compulsive gambling and eating. The suit stems from prescribed users who have accumulated large gambling debts against Otsuka and Bristol-Myers Squibb, the manufacturers of the drug.
Doctors prescribe Abilify (aripirazole) to almost a million Americans each year to treat mental conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression, allowing them to lead more stable lives. While the drug is effective at helping to control symptoms, it comes with side effects that patients don’t expect: compulsive gambling and compulsive eating.
Several studies have linked Abilify to compulsive behaviors – binge eating, hypersexual behavior and pathological gambling – in people with no history of these problems prior to taking the drug. This compulsive gambling is so addictive that it’s difficult to stop without professional help.
The addiction drives people to gamble by means necessary and to continue doing so even if they can’t afford it. They gamble with credit cards or borrow money. In severe cases, people feel they need to gamble to continue living. While this type of side effect might not cause physical harm, it can cause psychological distress and ruin lives.
People left with crippling debt after compulsive gambling caused by Abilify may have the option to file lawsuits against Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company and Bristol-Myers Squibb for compensation. An MDL has been formed in the Northern District of Florida, and cases filed elsewhere in the United States are being transferred into this litigation panel for efficiency.
When something seems a bit awry and bothersome, seek counsel immediately. There are strict time limits that govern certain products, and once those limits expire, your claim will be blocked, no matter how significant the issue may be.
For these reasons, it is imperative to hire a veteran defective products and medical malpractice lawyer immediately.