Anti-psychotic drug aripiprazole blamed for shopping addiction

A woman taking a common antipsychotic drug says its side effects cost her £10,000 in two months.

Abi Hoxley, from Warwickshire, claims she developed a shopping addiction after being prescribed aripiprazole.

The mental health drug treats conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but can lead some people to engage in compulsive behavior.

Health organizations say impulse control disorders are a very rare but common side effect of medications.

Hoxley, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, said she decided to speak out because she wanted to raise awareness of this unusual reaction.

She has lived with mental health issues for over 30 years.

The company's director, who started his PR firm during the pandemic, said this summer had been a particularly difficult time.

Her mother died from the coronavirus in 2020, and she is experiencing work-related stress.

The 51-year-old from Rugby was prescribed aripiprazole in September and said he immediately experienced unpleasant reactions, including a lack of sensation in his limbs and muscles.

She then became a compulsive shopper and found herself spending thousands of dollars on clothes, furniture, and supermarket items.

“When food is delivered, I either take two buses to go to the supermarket or walk,” she says.

Alison Cave, the MHRA's chief safety officer, said that while aripiprazole was an important drug, patients were advised to tell their doctor about any unusual urges that they were unable to resist.

These include behaviors such as addictive gambling, overeating and overspending, and an abnormally high sex drive, Cave said.

“The number of reports of suspected gambling and other impulsive behaviors associated with aripiprazole is small compared to the frequency with which it is prescribed,” she said.

“However, there can be serious consequences for patients who develop these symptoms.”

Professor Henrietta Bowden-Jones, director of the National Problem Gambling Clinic, added: “Doctors prescribing aripiprazole must be committed to consistently warning patients of these potential risks.” .

The Royal College of Psychiatrists said it was aware of the new advice for professionals, and a spokesperson urged people to speak to their doctor before suddenly stopping medication.

Between 30 June 2009 and 28 August 2023, the MHRA received 69 reports citing aripiprazole, which is prescribed more than 1 million times a year, as a drug with suspected side effects for gambling and gambling disorders. Ta. 32 of these reports were received in 2023.

Mr Hoxley said that at the height of his compulsive behavior, he was spending more than £600 a day at the supermarket.

She showed him the BBC receipt she kept in case she suspected shoplifting.

The £10,000 total includes £5,000 from when he was on aripiprazole and £5,000 to deal with his shopping addiction, which he took off the drug in October.

“My friend said that when she bumped into me in the supermarket, I grabbed the items almost robotically,” Hoxley added.

“It’s really hard to see me not being in control and just jumping from store to store.”

Ms Hoxley, a former community mental health worker, said she could afford to shop but was worried about young people and people who could not afford to deal with coercion.

The expenses ate into her savings and forced her to postpone her plans to move.

But she stressed that her family has been supportive throughout.

Hoxley added: “I'm not ashamed, but it's hard to understand why I feel that way.”

She welcomed the new advice for medical professionals and urged patients to report any side effects. MHRA yellow card system Gather and monitor information regarding suspected safety concerns regarding health care products.

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