Sokolove Law, Robins Kaplan: Abilify® Makers Change Label in Canada to Warn of Compulsive Gambling Behavior - But Not in United States

Widely Prescribed Drug May Lead to Pathological Behavior & Enormous Debt

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Dec 15, 2015, 12:54 ET

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass., Dec. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Robins Kaplan LLP and Sokolove Law LLC continue to evaluate claims of compulsive gambling linked to use of the antipsychotic drug Abilify. Canadian regulators recently required the makers of the antipsychotic medication Abilify® (aripiprazole) to warn consumers about the risk of uncontrollable impulses to gamble while taking the drug. The recent label update in Canada follows a 2012 label change in Europe. However, Abilify users in the United States remain in the dark about the dangers of the drug because the manufacturers have chosen not to make similar label changes in the U.S. about the increased risk of pathological gambling.

Abilify is the top-selling antipsychotic drug in the U.S. and is widely prescribed to treat a variety of disorders, including schizophrenia, irritability, agitation, depression and mania – millions of prescriptions are dispensed each year. Medical studies link Abilify to compulsive behaviors in people with NO HISTORY of these problems prior to taking the drug. In some cases, people have lost tens of thousands of dollars gambling while taking Abilify.

"Abilify patients and doctors in the U.S. are not getting the critical information about compulsive gambling that is shared in other parts of the world. There are probably many people in this country continuing to struggle with gambling only because drug makers do not tell them, or their doctor, that Abilify may be linked to gambling," said Gary Wilson, a partner at Robins Kaplan LLP, a law firm representing Abilify users who gambled compulsively while on the medication.

According to Michael Skoler, CEO of Sokolove Law LLC, "Drug makers who fail to warn patients about the known risks associated with their products should be held accountable. The civil justice system is in place to protect consumers from dangerous products and to hold responsible companies that fail to warn of serious side effects or perform inadequate testing before a drug or medical device goes to market. If the courts hit them hard enough, the hope is that these companies will think twice before failing to warn the public about the risks of the next drug that comes to market."

Individuals who have developed a serious gambling problem or accumulated heavy gambling debts while taking Abilify, may be eligible for compensation. Both law firms suggest Abilify users with uncontrollable gambling behavior contact an attorney toll-free at 800-337-2718 for a free legal consultation, and to discuss next steps and how to move forward.

About Sokolove Law
Sokolove Law provides quality legal services that help people obtain access to the civil justice system. With over 30 years of service, Sokolove Law has helped hundreds of thousands of injured parties obtain the compensation they deserve from their legal claims. The national firm allows equal access to the nation's court system – regardless of income or race. Major case types include mesothelioma, cerebral palsy and other birth injuries, nursing home abuse, dangerous drugs, disability insurance denial, and medical malpractice. Sokolove Law has 43 offices nationwide. For more information on Sokolove Law, please visit www.sokolovelaw.com.

About Robins Kaplan LLP
Robins Kaplan LLP believes that everyone deserves equal access to justice and has a long-standing history of representing individuals and families who have been harmed by the wrongdoing of others. The firm has attorneys located throughout the country. The firm litigates, mediates, and arbitrates high-stakes, complex disputes, repeatedly earning national recognition. Firm clients include — as both plaintiffs and defendants — numerous Fortune 500 corporations, emerging-markets companies, entrepreneurs, and individuals. The firm's vibrant, multi-discipline, nationally known practice reflects a shared purpose of excellence, community service, and a firm-wide commitment to justice.