Latest news with #Abilify
Toronto Sun
09-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
B.C. woman sues psychiatrist, says prescribed drug made her gamble away her home equity, shop excessively
Judge throws out $1.2 million lawsuit, says woman did not prove drug was to blame Lost lawsuit seeking $1.2 million in damages after losing $220K at casinos and buying multiple pairs of shoes and luxury bags over two months while she was on drug to treat depression known to cause compulsive behaviour Photo by Arlen Redekop / PNG A B.C. woman who bought several pairs of the same shoes in different colours, owned 25 Louis Vuitton bags and gambled away her home equity said a prescribed drug made her do so and sued her psychiatrist for $1.2 million. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account But a B.C. Supreme Court judge who heard the prescribed antipsychotic drug, Abilify, can cause compulsive behaviour, especially gambling, dismissed the lawsuit. Justice Michael Stephens said the woman hadn't proven the doctor was responsible to warn her of side effects or monitor the drug's effect on her. Court heard the manufacturer and Health Canada both issued warnings the drug could cause increased risk of pathological gambling and the manufacturer said patients 'should be monitored carefully.' And according to the plaintiff's expert witness, psychiatrist Rosemary Abu, warning patients is standard with Abilify. But Stephens, concluded, 'The plaintiff had not proven on a balance of probabilities that the two mg dose' caused her to gamble and shop nor that her doctor's 'alleged negligence' caused her behaviour. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. And he also said it was 'equally likely' she 'would have experienced the personal and financial losses she complains of in this action in any event,' despite the doctor's conduct. The woman sued Dr. Stephen Ogunremi for negligence, seeking damages for her $220,000 casino losses, past wages after she lost her job, future earnings, treatment expenses and pain and suffering, according to the judgment. During the nine day trial, the woman, 49, testified she had been going through a 'hard time' in November 2019 and had developed an addiction to the Percocet (oxycodone) she was prescribed for pain, and the Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinic referred her to Ogunremi. The woman is identified but Postmedia isn't naming her for privacy reasons. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Ogunremi diagnosed her with major depressive disorder and anxiety and recommended she take time off work, get psychological counselling and take two milligrams a day of Abilify, the lowest possible dose, Stephens wrote. The woman alleged Ogunremi was negligent and breached a standard of care to her because he didn't warn her of the risks of compulsive behaviour. The woman's lawyer said the 'facts are overwhelmingly in support of a conclusion that the Abilify,' caused the compulsive gambling in November and December 2019. But two expert medical witnesses said it's unlikely such a low dose would have caused obsessive gambling and it wasn't necessary to warn patients without a gambling problem. The woman testified she started to gamble more after going on the drug, was playing slot machines 'not in a social way,' and withdrew $186,000 over the course of two months during 25 casino visits. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Instead of playing her usual $100 when she gambled before then, she was spending $10,000 to $20,000 a night, and she lost her savings, it said. She also testified during those two months she had an urge to shop and did so excessively, 'like a robot,' it said. Also she ate excessively, in particular, ice cream bars, Stephens wrote. She testified she didn't tell Ogunremi about the casinos or shopping, and he didn't warn her of the risks of compulsive behaviours while on Abilify, it said. In January 2020, she told her family doctor she had been 'gambling and shopping, did not know why, and had spent a lot,' and she told her to stop taking the Abilify, it said. Then 'the gambling went down, the shopping and eating all went away,' but she gambled socially, she testified. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She said she later told Ogunremi she was 'completely distraught,' 'had destroyed everything' she had worked for, and she was embarrassed and didn't know how she would move on. She went into a residential addiction treatment in early 2020, didn't work for the rest of 2020 and had to re-mortgage the house, he wrote. She said the incident affected her job, marriage and relationship with her children. She also testified 'she believes Abilify caused her gambling behaviour' and it changed her from a happy, confident, reliable, fun-loving person. Her husband, friends and co-workers testified she had been responsible with money and hard-working before late 2019. But court also heard she had dealt with mental health issues her whole life and had an 'established diagnosis of opiate disorder.' Uncategorized Sunshine Girls Canada Toronto Blue Jays Crime
Vancouver Sun
09-07-2025
- Health
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. woman sues psychiatrist, says prescribed drug made her gamble away her home equity, shop excessively
A B.C. woman who bought several pairs of the same shoes in different colours, owned 25 Louis Vuitton bags and gambled away her home equity said a prescribed drug made her do so and sued her psychiatrist for $1.2 million. But a B.C. Supreme Court judge who heard the prescribed antipsychotic drug, Abilify, can cause compulsive behaviour, especially gambling, dismissed the lawsuit. Justice Michael Stephens said the woman hadn't proven the doctor was responsible to warn her of side effects or monitor the drug's effect on her. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Court heard the manufacturer and Health Canada both issued warnings the drug could cause increased risk of pathological gambling and the manufacturer said patients 'should be monitored carefully.' And according to the plaintiff's expert witness, psychiatrist Rosemary Abu, warning patients is standard with Abilify. But Stephens, concluded, 'The plaintiff had not proven on a balance of probabilities that the two mg dose' caused her to gamble and shop nor that her doctor's 'alleged negligence' caused her behaviour. And he also said it was 'equally likely' she 'would have experienced the personal and financial losses she complains of in this action in any event,' despite the doctor's conduct. The woman sued Dr. Stephen Ogunremi for negligence, seeking damages for her $220,000 casino losses, past wages after she lost her job, future earnings, treatment expenses and pain and suffering, according to the judgment. During the nine day trial, the woman, 49, testified she had been going through a 'hard time' in November 2019 and had developed an addiction to the Percocet (oxycodone) she was prescribed for pain, and the Opioid Agonist Treatment Clinic referred her to Ogunremi. The woman is identified but Postmedia isn't naming her for privacy reasons. Ogunremi diagnosed her with major depressive disorder and anxiety and recommended she take time off work, get psychological counselling and take two milligrams a day of Abilify, the lowest possible dose, Stephens wrote. The woman alleged Ogunremi was negligent and breached a standard of care to her because he didn't warn her of the risks of compulsive behaviour. The woman's lawyer said the 'facts are overwhelmingly in support of a conclusion that the Abilify,' caused the compulsive gambling in November and December 2019. But two expert medical witnesses said it's unlikely such a low dose would have caused obsessive gambling and it wasn't necessary to warn patients without a gambling problem. The woman testified she started to gamble more after going on the drug, was playing slot machines 'not in a social way,' and withdrew $186,000 over the course of two months during 25 casino visits. Instead of playing her usual $100 when she gambled before then, she was spending $10,000 to $20,000 a night, and she lost her savings, it said. She also testified during those two months she had an urge to shop and did so excessively, 'like a robot,' it said. Also she ate excessively, in particular, ice cream bars, Stephens wrote. She testified she didn't tell Ogunremi about the casinos or shopping, and he didn't warn her of the risks of compulsive behaviours while on Abilify, it said. In January 2020, she told her family doctor she had been 'gambling and shopping, did not know why, and had spent a lot,' and she told her to stop taking the Abilify, it said. Then 'the gambling went down, the shopping and eating all went away,' but she gambled socially, she testified. She said she later told Ogunremi she was 'completely distraught,' 'had destroyed everything' she had worked for, and she was embarrassed and didn't know how she would move on. She went into a residential addiction treatment in early 2020, didn't work for the rest of 2020 and had to re-mortgage the house, he wrote. She said the incident affected her job, marriage and relationship with her children. She also testified 'she believes Abilify caused her gambling behaviour' and it changed her from a happy, confident, reliable, fun-loving person. Her husband, friends and co-workers testified she had been responsible with money and hard-working before late 2019. But court also heard she had dealt with mental health issues her whole life and had an 'established diagnosis of opiate disorder.'
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Warning to anyone taking common tablets as Met Office says 33C heatwave looms
Brits taking a common type of medication should be prepared for potential adverse effects during spells of hot weather, experts have said, as new forecasts show 33C temperatures on the way Experts have issued a warning to Brits taking a common type of medication amid new warnings of a sweltering heatwave. After several days of hot, dry weather, temperatures are set to ramp up even further over the next few days before peaking at 33C on Sunday afternoon, according to forecasters. Yesterday, the Met Office confirmed the continuing warm air coming from continental Europe means it is now likely that large areas of the UK will pass the official heatwave threshold by the weekend, an announcement that will no doubt be welcomed by many up and down the country. But for the estimated 8.7million people in England who take antidepressants, these prolonged spells of hot weather can have potential adverse effects, experts say. According to Mental Health UK, some antidepressants, such as SNRIs, antipsychotic medication, and some SSRIs, can affect body temperature regulation and make you more sensitive to heat. For antipsychotic medications, this includes amisulpride (brand name Solian), aripiprazole (Abilify), clozapine (Clozaril, Denzapine, Zaponex), lurasidone (Latuda), olanzapine (Zypadhera, Zyprexa), paliperidone (Invega, Xeplion), quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XL), risperidone (Risperdal, Risperdal Consta), chlorpromazine, flupentixol, and haloperidol. This has also been reported in tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine, doxepin, mianserin, and trazodone, and SSRIs such as sertraline, citalopram, and fluoxetine, reports the Manchester Evening News. On its website, the Mental Health UK charity adds that interfering with temperature regulation is often listed as a potential side effect of the drugs, so it is important to check the leaflet of your medication if you are concerned. Dr Sameer Sanghvi, a practising GP and Clinical Technology Lead at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, explained: "Common antidepressants can all stop the temperature regulating area of the brain functioning as it should. "Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants. "However, SNRIs are known to cause excessive sweating and thus dehydration, while SSRIs have been linked to heat intolerance and heat stroke." Dr Sanghvi said people should not stop taking their medication during hot weather and to always consult your doctor before making changes to your mental health medication. He added: "The best thing you can do is take precautions to stay cool: stick to the shade; drink plenty of fluids and avoid alcohol; keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm; avoid exercising in the hottest parts of the day; and wear loose, breathable clothing." Heat health alert issued It comes after the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued a yellow heat health alert for Midlands, South and East England, Yorkshire and Humber, and London. The alert - which is in place from 12pm tomorrow until 6pm on Sunday - is sent out by the UKHSA to local and national officials in the healthcare sector when it is believed adverse temperatures are "likely to impact on the health and wellbeing of the population." This includes an "increased risk to health" among vulnerable groups, including those aged 65 and over or those with pre-existing health conditions.
Wall Street Journal
15-05-2025
- Health
- Wall Street Journal
‘Unshrunk' Review: The Toll of the Treatment
For nearly 15 years, Laura Delano was, in her own words, a 'professional psychiatric patient.' She believed she had an incurable psychiatric disease that could be managed only with medication, therapy and the occasional hospitalization. Over the course of her long career as a patient, Ms. Delano was medicated with Seroquel, Geodon, Abilify, Zyprexa, Risperdal, Depakote, Topamax, Lamictal, Klonopin, Ativan, Ambien, Provigil, Prozac, Effexor, Celexa, Cymbalta, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, and lithium. So convinced of her condition was Ms. Delano that if anyone had handed her a memoir like the one she has now written, 'Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance,' she would have been insulted and outraged. Her story begins when she was 13 years old. A competitive squash player and the soon-to-be president of her eighth-grade class, Ms. Delano was brushing her teeth in front of a mirror one evening when she had a harrowing experience: The edges of her vision blurred; she felt a terrifying sense of disembodiment and fragmentation; and the figure in the mirror was no longer recognizable as her. The episode didn't last very long, but it left her with a profound sense of unease. Reflecting on it in bed later that night, Ms. Delano began to see herself from the outside. The view was unsettling. Convinced that her life was all fakery and mindless rule-following, she resolved to escape. What followed was a self-destructive spiral that went far beyond adolescent rebellion. Ms. Delano gives us an unsparing account of her alcoholism, cocaine abuse, eating disorders and episodes of self-harm. In the ninth grade, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and given prescriptions for an antidepressant and a mood stabilizer. Later came an antipsychotic and a drug to help her sleep. If anything, medication accelerated her decline. By age 19, when she was a sophomore at Harvard, she writes, 'I'd morphed from a raw, suffering, lost young woman . . . into a detached, absorbed, empathyless machine.' Ms. Delano marks her eventual turnaround at age 27 to a moment of profound revelation in a Vermont bookstore. That was where she encountered Robert Whitaker's 2010 book, 'Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America.' The question Mr. Whitaker asked was simple: How is it possible that rates of mental illness have skyrocketed in parallel with the development of so many supposedly groundbreaking psychiatric drugs? Mr. Whitaker's book forced Ms. Delano to pose a question that had never before occurred to her. 'What if it wasn't treatment-resistant mental illness that had been sending me ever deeper into the depths of despair and dysfunction, but the treatment itself?'
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Shopping centre killer was 'under Satanic control' before stabbing six to death
Joel Cauchi Cauchi killed six people at a shopping centre in Sydney, Australia, in April 2023, and an inquest has heard how he claimed to be 'under satanic control' before the attack A man who went on a killing spree in a shopping centre left notes suggesting that he was 'under satanic control of religious beings', an inquest has heard. Joel Cauchi, 40, killed Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others at Westfield Bondi Junction on 13 April last year before he was shot and killed by police inspector Amy Scott. Clinical notes, personal writings, and emails from Cauchi's mother have revealed a troubling descent into mental illness in the years leading up to his deadly attack. The coronial inquest into the mass stabbing resumed its third week on Monday, focusing on testimony from psychiatrists and registered nurses who had treated Cauchi in his hometown of Toowoomba, Queensland. One registered nurse, who worked closely with Cauchi between 2011 and 2019, recalled the shock of discovering he was the attacker behind the tragedy. 'I turned the TV off so my children wouldn't see the news,' said the nurse, who cannot be named for legal reasons. 'Then his name came up on my phone - I vomited when I saw it was him. It just didn't make sense. It didn't match the Joel I knew.' Cauchi, who had been diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, was under long-term psychiatric care and had been taking a powerful antipsychotic medication. According to the nurse, he was extremely conscientious about his health. 'He didn't want to get unwell. He was always anxious about relapsing,' she told the inquest. 'He never missed an appointment.' Around 2016–2017, Cauchi's Clopine dosage was slightly reduced under supervision. He reported feeling better physically and mentally, with increased energy and no signs of hallucinations or violence. By mid-2018, he had fully stopped taking Clopine. In June 2019, he began refusing Abilify as well - leaving him completely unmedicated for the first time in 15 years. Both nurses who testified Monday expressed concern, saying they had never seen a patient come off Clopine without transitioning to another antipsychotic. By late 2019, Cauchi's mental health had begun to unravel. His mother, Michele Cauchi, contacted the clinic, expressing growing alarm. In an email dated November 2019, she wrote: 'I know you thought that it wasn't having any effect, but I have noticed a gradual decline in his condition. I have a feeling he is now hearing voices. I would hate to see him have to go back into hospital after 20 years of being stable on medication.' She also reported disturbing signs. Cauchi believed he was under satanic control, exhibited compulsive showering, developed a strange gait, and began layering clothes to protect himself from illness. He also became obsessively concerned with pornography, asking the clinic for help finding an internet provider that could block it. The following day, Joel's nurse spoke with his father, Andrew Cauchi, who strongly opposed any return to medication. A clinical note from that conversation read: "Father became adamant that he did not want his son to go on medication as it will kill him… He said he himself had been traumatised by demons and hears voices, and is not on medication.' The family's deeply religious background, coupled with Andrew Cauchi's own mental health struggles, became a significant factor in Joel's care. Despite multiple efforts by medical professionals to convince Joel to resume treatment, he refused. By 2020, his behaviour had become increasingly erratic. Police were called multiple times due to his obsession with military knives and confrontations with his parents. By early 2024, he was homeless and sleeping on a Sydney beach. On March 13, 2024, Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi Junction with a large military knife and fatally stabbed six people before being shot dead by a NSW Police inspector. His mother's earlier fears had tragically come true. The inquest continues.
