Washington: Mental health is a major concern for the present generation as the hectic lifestyle and struggle to strike a balance has left many suffering from depression or anxiety. Apart from therapy and other treatments, drugs are available in the market for treating depression, but all drugs have a risk of side effects.
Several people have reported that one of the most profitable drugs in the US for depression has led them to binge on sex, gambling and shopping instead of solving their issues. The antipsychotic drug is now facing hundreds of lawsuits from people alleging how the side effects have ruined their lives.
A woman among the plaintiffs said that she had to leave her parents’ house since she couldn’t stop gambling and also lost custody of her children. She said she never felt tempted to gamble until she started taking Abilify.
The drug is believed to act on dopamine receptors in the brain which can be satisfied by gambling and hyper sexuality. One of the people affected said that she even took to prostitution for satisfying her urges.
The urges were reportedly controlled when patients stopped taking the drug or reduced the dosage.
