Drug Injury Lawyers Blog
Abilify is an antipsychotic prescription drug used to treat emotional disorders, including bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, and some symptoms of autism. Although Ability can be quite effective at treating these disorders, it is also linked to serious medical complications and uncontrollable behaviors, such as binge eating and compulsive gambling.
How Does it Work?
Abilify controls certain disorders by stabilizing levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. In addition to multiple behavioral problems, Ability may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in children. A 2013 study by Vanderbilt University, Columbia University and the Mayo Clinic, found that children being treated with Abilify and similar antipsychotic drugs have three times the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes.
The study compared children between the ages of six and 24 who used antipsychotics between 1996 and 2007 with children who were prescribed other drugs during the same period. Those who used antipsychotics had three times the risk of developing diabetes within one year. The risk increased as the dosages increased. As a result, the study’s authors are urging doctors to consider alternatives before prescribing Abilify or other antipsychotics:
“This is particularly important for high-risk children, for example, those with elevated weight. Children should be monitored carefully for metabolic effects predisposing them to diabetes, and use of the drug should be at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time,” said one of the study’s senior authors, Wayne A. Ray, Ph.D. A MA drug injury lawyer can help you recover damages if you’ve been injured by Abilify or a similar drug.
Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
If you are concerned that your child has developed type 2 diabetes after taking Abilify, consult with your physician immediately.The following symptoms may be cause for concern:
- Extreme thirst or hunger
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Vision problems
- Frequent infections
- Slow healing
- Sores
- Dark spots on skin
Abilify may also cause
- Balance problems
- Difficulty speaking
- Restlessness
- Muscle stiffness or trembling
- Trouble walking
- Uncontrollable body movements
- Compulsive behaviors
The Link to Compulsive Behaviors
According to multiple studies, Abilify may impact an individual’s ability to control certain impulses, especially gambling, addictions, hyper-sexuality, and binge eating. Dating back to 2009, research linked dopamine receptor drugs such as Abilify to problems with impulse control. In 2014, the journal JAMA Internal Medicine found even more links between antipsychotics and abnormal behaviors, including weight gain in pediatric patients.
“Weight gain was pervasive even in medications usually considered to be weight neutral in adults,” said a lead author of the study, Dr. Christoph Correll. “The worry is that weight gain sustained over long periods of time can cause adverse outcomes like diabetes and heart attacks and strokes.”
Risk of Stroke in Dementia Patients
Last spring, the FDA required Abilify manufacturers to update the drug’s warning label. The new labels warn of the risk of compulsive or uncontrollable urges to bing eat, gamble, shop, and have sex. In young patients, there is also a risk of suicidal thoughts. And that’s not all; Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. – the drug’s manufacturer – has reported that “an increased risk of stroke and ministroke have been reported in clinical studies of elderly people with dementia-related psychosis.” Despite the risks, Abilify and similar drugs are increasingly prescribed for off-label uses, such as pediatric outbursts and aggression, and dementia. A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you have been harmed by Abilify.
Altman & Altman, LLP – Drug Injury Lawyers Serving All of Massachusetts
If you or a loved one has been injured by Abilify or a similar drug, the skilled legal team at Altman & Altman, LLP can help. We have been protecting the rights of accident and injury victims for more than 50 years. Our experienced, knowledgeable attorneys have an impressive track record of obtaining compensation for our clients. We will analyze the details of your case to determine the best legal strategy for moving forward. It is our goal to get you the compensation you deserve so that you can get on with your life. Don’t go through this difficult time alone. Contact Altman & Altman, LLP today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.
