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What is Abilify?
Aripiprazole, marketed and sold under the name Abilify by Bristol Myers Squibb, is a medication that falls into the category of second-generation or atypical antipsychotics. In addition to Abilify, other medications that fall under the atypical antipsychotic category include Risperdal, Zyprexa, and Seroquel. Atypical antipsychotics are prescribed for the treatment of symptoms associated with schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder. Symptoms of schizophrenia that Abilify is used to treat may include hearing voices or seeing things that are not there, while bipolar I symptoms for which Abilify is prescribed include the manic episodes associated with this mood disorder.
Abilify and harmful side effects
The common side effects of Abilify may include headache, nausea, vomiting, constipation, sleeplessness, restlessness, anxiety, dizziness, and rash. Abilify may be linked to significantly more harmful side effects such as the major health risks of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), tardive dyskinesia (TD), stroke and ministroke, diabetes, and high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). A clinical study has reported that there exists an increased risk of stroke and ministroke in elderly patients with dementia-related psychosis who are treated with atypical antipsychotics. Atypical antipsychotics in general have been linked to increasing the risk of obesity and high cholesterol, as well as diabetes in those to whom they are prescribed. The risk of diabetes is increased further in those that have additional diabetes risk factors such as preexisting obesity or a family history of diabetes. The FDA has requested that manufacturers of atypical antipsychotics, including the producer of Abilify, Bristol-Myers Squibb, include a warning about the risks of diabetes on its labeling. In addition, these effects of obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes, are believed to be contributing factors that may increase the risk of developing heart disease or other serious cardiovascular problems.
Abilify Black Box Warning
The FDA indicated in 2005 that in recent trials, older patients treated for dementia with atypical antipsychotics had an increased risk of death when compared to patients in a placebo control group who did not take the atypical antipsychotics. Most of the deaths appear to have been caused by heart related ailments such as heart disease and infections like pneumonia. The FDA has ordered manufacturers of atypical antipsychotics to include a new warning about the increased risk of death to elderly patients with dementia as a "black box warning." Abilify is affected by this black box warning as well as the other atypical antipsychotics Zyprexa, Symbyax, Seroquel, Risperdal, Clozaril, and Geodon. The black box warning is the most severe type of warning that is available to the FDA in prescription drug labeling. The black box warning must be placed on all packaging and advertisements for the drug.
Questions and Consultations
If you or a family member has used the prescription drug Abilify and noticed adverse side effects, such as stroke or diabetes, you should contact a physician immediately. If you would like to discuss your rights, are interested in more information on Abilify litigation, or if you have information about the cases that you would like to share with us, please click here to fill out a short evaluation form, and a member of Seeger Weiss LLP's experienced staff will call you to discuss your potential rights concerning Abilify. Attorney consultations incur no obligation on your part and all initial consultations are free of charge and do not create an attorney-client relationship. Seeger Weiss LLP has office locations in both New York and New Jersey and its attorneys practice in courts throughout the country.
Link To Lawyer Seek's Abilify Content:
<a href='http://www.lawyerseek.com/Practice/Pharmaceutical-Injury-C1/Abilify-P9/'>Abilify: Lawyer Seek</a> |
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