Lawsuits Over Abilify Gambling Side Effects Consolidated for Pre-trial Litigation in NJ

Due to an increasing number of similar lawsuits being pursued in New Jersey state court involving gambling side effects from Abilify, a state court judge has consolidated pretrial proceedings for cases filed by at least nine different plaintiffs.

Bergen County Superior Court Judge Brian Martinotti issued an order in March, which provides coordinated discovery and pretrial motions in a group of cases filed against Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. over failure to warn about the risks associated with their blockbuster antipsychotic medication, according to a report by the New Jersey Law Journal.

Given the similar questions of fact and law raised in the cases, Judge Martinotti agreed to consolidate the cases for pretrial proceedings, but rejected a request to combine the cases for trial before one jury, indicating that it was premature to decide the issue. However, plaintiffs can renew the request after discovery is complete.

Abilify (ariprazole) is one of the top-selling brand name medications on the market in the United States, generating sales in excess of $6 billion per year. It was introduced in 2002 for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other major depressive disorders, but is also widely used to treat irritability, aggression, mood swings and other behavior issues.

The motion comes amid a growing number of Abilify lawsuits filed in courts throughout the United States, each raising similar allegations that users of the drug engaged in uncontrollable gambling or other compulsive behaviors while using the drug, resulting in substantial financial losses, as well as damage to their financial stability, family relationships, reputation and overall quality of life.

Last week, the FDA issued a warning about the link between Abilify and gambling problems, indicating that the drug has been linked to a large number of adverse event reports involving uncontrollable urges to gamble, as well as engage in other potentially dangerous activities, such as uncontrollable shopping, eating or sexual activity.

In October 2014, a study published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine found that a class of drugs known as dopamine receptor agonists, often used to treat Parkinson’s disease, were linked to impulse control problems. However, the researchers in that study also saw the same behavioral problems associated with the use of Abilify.

Addictive gambling on Abilify can have a severe impact on users, causing severe financial losses and behavior that can destroy families, reputations and cause irreparable damage to an individual’s quality of life. Plaintiffs allege that if warnings had been provided about the risk of impulsive behaviors, they may have avoided devastating consequences by recognizing the potential side effects associated with the medication and stopping use of the drug.

As Abilify gambling lawyers continue to review and file claims for individuals nationwide over the coming months, it is possible that formal consolidated proceedings may be established in New Jersey state court and the federal court system.