Tag: Abilify

Abilify top-selling of all Prescription Drugs in U.S. has unknown method of action

The best-selling drug in America isn’t what you think—and it’s a whole lot more powerful than you’d expect

abilify image
The best-selling drug in America isn’t what you think—and it’s a whole lot more powerful than you’d expect.

Abilify, is currently the top-selling of all prescription drugs in the U.S. marketed as a supplement to antidepressant drugs. From April 2013, through March 2014, sales of Abilify totaled almost $6.9 billion. Not only is it amazing that an antipsychotic is outselling all other drugs, no one even knows how it works to relieve depression, writes Jay Michaelson. The standardized United States Product Insert says Abilify’s method of action is “unknown” but it likely “balances” brain’s neurotransmitters – the drug is said to work “like a thermostat to restore balance”. But critics say antipsychotics don’t treat anything at all, but zone people out and produce oblivion. They also say there is a concerning rise in the prescription of antipsychotics for routine complaints like insomnia…

Sources and more information:

  • Mother’s Little Anti-Psychotic Is Worth $6.9 Billion A Year, thedailybeast, 11.09.14.
  • The most popular drug in America is an antipsychotic — and no one really knows how it works, rawstory, 16 NOV 2014.
  • How ABILIFY Is Thought to Work, addabilify.com.
  • Questionable Advertising of Psychotropic Medications and Disease Mongering, PLOS, PMC1518694, Jul 2006.