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UPDATE: On Sept. 30, 2020 The Superior Court of Québec extended the opt-out deadline to November 19, 2020. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chief Justice of Québec and the Minister of Justice also lifted the civil procedure time limits for the Abilify class action lawsuit.
A Quebec court has authorized a proposed Class in an Abilify class action lawsuit alleging those who took the antipsychotic medication suffered from compulsions to shop, gamble, overeat, and even have sex.
Lead plaintiff S. Scheer lodged the complaint against Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada, Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical, and Lundbeck Canada seeking to represent Canadians who took Abilify before Feb. 23, 2017.
On Jan. 6, 2020, the representative for the plaintiff announced that the proposed Class had been certified by the Honourable Justice Pierre-C. Gagnon. To remain in the Class, you don’t have to do anything further. Canadians who would like to opt out of the Abilify class action must do so by May 31, 2020.
The Abilify class action lawsuit alleges that the medication carries a risk of causing irresistible compulsions to eat, gamble, and shop, but the drug makers failed to adequately warn patients.
According to the Abilify class action lawsuit, the drug makers “developed, designed, manufactured, tested, marketed, labelled, packaged, promoted, advertised, imported, distributed, and/or sold the ABILIFY Products as safe and/or effective despite a wealth of existing knowledge that the drugs had dangerous side effects including uncontrollable impulses, such as pathological gambling, binge eating, uncontrollable spending or shopping and hypersexual behavior.”
Abilify is an antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, notes the complaint. It comes in several different dosages, available in both pill and liquid form. The drug works by binding to receptors in the brain, making it different from drugs in the same family known as atypical antipsychotics.
“Like other atypical antipsychotics, the ABILIFY Products bind to several different neurotransmitter receptors, but unlike others in its class, it doesn’t block dopamine (specifically, dopamine D2) or serotonin (specifically, 5-HT1A) receptors,” states the Abilify class action lawsuit.
“Instead, it’s a partial agonist at those receptors – it can activate those receptors, but not to the full biological effect. In lay terms, it can both enhance dopamine and serotonin signaling where those transmitters are deficient, and inhibit signaling where they are in excess.”
Dopamine has a role in compulsive and addictive behavior, contends the plaintiff, and that role is well known. Additionally, the drug makers allegedly knew of reports of serious pathological gambling linked to patients who took Abilify while the drug was still being tested. Despite these reports, the companies pushed for approval of Abilify in 2009.
Further cases of compulsive, addictive behaviors linked to the drug were reported in subsequent years, alleges the Abilify class action lawsuit. Patients reported an irresistible urge to gamble and overeat and some reported incidents of hypersexuality. These urges, says the plaintiff, dissipated after the patients were switched to a different medication.
Even in the face of these reports, as well as limits placed on the use of Abilify by the European Union, Bristol-Meyers and Otsuka marketed the drug to Canadians, alleges the complaint.
“Despite the risks of serious adverse events, and the lack of adequate testing, that Respondents aggressively promoted ABILIFY, including illegal promotion for off-label use,” states the class action lawsuit.
In 2017, the makers of Abilify reached a $19.5 million settlement with 43 U.S. attorneys generals who brought similar claims. The funds were distributed to those who took the antipsychotic medication in the U.S.
Top Class Actions will continue to post updates on the Abilify class action lawsuit. Click the “Follow Article” button at the top of this page to get the latest updates about the Abilify class action lawsuit by using your free Top Class Actions account. For the latest updates, keep checking ca.TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter.
Did you take Abilify and suffer from compulsions to overeat, gamble, shop, or have sex? Tell us your story in the comments below.
The plaintiff is represented by Consumer Law Group.
The Abilify Class Action Lawsuit is S. Scheer v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., et al., Case No. 500-06-000831-160, in the Superior Court of Québec, District of Montreal, Canada.
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42 thoughts onAbilify Class Action Certified By Canadian Court
How do I join this lawsuit??? Abilify is a horrible drug. I’ve lost thousands in gambling – where I had no urge to gamble before. It’s been 6 years on this thing. I tried getting off of it and I went into a suicidal spiral. Had to go back on it and my doc put me on a higher dose! I feel like I can’t control my actions. I’m going to try to get off of it again. I’d rather be dead than on this drug
I have been on abilify for more years than I care to count and had no knowledge of this class action I take the medication for ADHD which it treats quite well however I have severe anxiety weight gain sleeplessness body aches muscle aches back aches headaches beyond belief memory loss and then the gambling begin more money than I make I am appalled that this class action is done I had I ever heard of it I would have most certainly been involved in this this has been long-term drug since probably 2000 2002
I am on this drug. I have severe headaches and vomit besides the impulse to use more drugs or alcohol. How do I become part of this class action.
I have been on abilify for 10 years suffering from compulsive gambling along with other compulsive behaviors. I mentioned to my Dr and she refused to accept and wanted to up the dose..
I recently joined some support groups finding info about my gambling.. People on there td me about abilify l recently 2 months now have took myself off..
I do not feel the urges as before and have not gambled since quitting l feel this medication had a grave I.pact on my compulsions..
Can you consider adding me to this class action lawsuit? I have become a sex addict and went bankrupt due to terrible judgment and spending way too much since being on abilify.
Please add me I am seeking on behalf of my 26 year old son with multiple disabilities that was prescribe this for 5 years and spent over 30, 000 in online video games , gaming and other sites. Please help Thank you
I’f you have any compulsive behavior do not take this drug it will ruin your life . Hypersexuality money spendin
Addiction to drugs
Weight gain. Like it hijacked the brain. Terrible this should never be prescribed . Unless watched closely.
I started taking Abilify and I went crazy with spending and gambling, ended up dropping out of grad school in part due to it. Wasted over $30,000 over the last few years.
I started taking Abilify in 2013 as prescribed by my GP, he said it was for my anxiety and depression as my mother was sick and I was her caregiver. I was very stressed. I took this drug throughout 2013-2014. My mother passed away in 2013 while I was still on this drug. I developed a compulsive clicking in my jaw and mouth against my teeth which persists to this day. I compulsively shopped maxing out my credit cards and overate, gaining 30 lbs. I finally stopped taking the drug when I began to feel suicidal on several occasions. I have suffered financially and personally with the weight gain and the TD which is noticeable to this day because of this drug.
Please add me to this class action lawsuit.
Does this include the generic version of abilify?