People Injured by Side Effects of Risperdal Deserve Compensation

Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug approved to treat people who suffer from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It has been associated with very serious and sometimes permanent side effects. While adverse outcomes may happen with any medication, pharmaceutical companies have a duty to disclose those risks to federal regulators and the public. Unfortunately, that disclosure did not happen for many people who were prescribed Risperdal. The drug’s maker, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., are already paying the price in court.

In 2002, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Risperdal (also known as risperidone) for the treatment of schizophrenia. It later cleared the drug for use in managing acute mania and mixed episodes of Bipolar I Disorder. In 2006, Risperdal was approved for children. But recent lawsuits fined Johnson & Johnson more than $1.6 billion for minimizing the risks associated with Risperdal and marketing the drug for off-label uses, including the treatment of the elderly with dementia-related psychosis and those with anger and anxiety problems.

Male Breast Growth after Taking Risperdal

In addition to legal challenges over misbranding Risperdal, hundreds of claims have surfaced alleging that boys and men developed enhanced breast tissue after using the drug – a condition called gynecomastia. A 2006 article in the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that the use of risperidone is associated with elevated levels of prolactin in the blood. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for lactation and milk development in mammals and has other reproductive functions.

Another recent study found that middle-aged men who took Risperdal were 69 percent more likely to develop breast tissue than men who did not take antipsychotic medications. Furthermore, the researchers found that men who took Risperdal were 40 percent more likely to develop breasts – up to a 38D cup size – than those who took Seroquel or Zyprexa, other competitor drugs.

In addition to breast growth, men who took Risperdal have experienced other breast-related side effects, including:

• Swollen breast tissue
• Pain
• Nipple discharge
• Breast milk production

The physical consequences of gynecomastia cannot be understated. Many men have had to have expensive surgeries to remove the excess breast tissue. That’s not to mention the psychological trauma and embarrassment that accompanies gynecomastia for many victims.

In 2012, Johnson & Johnson settled its first Risperdal breast-growth lawsuit for a confidential sum. The company is continuing to settle claims in New Jersey. There are also nearly 700 cases pending in Pennsylvania involving Risperdal-related gynecomastia, which allege that plaintiffs needed liposuction, mastectomies and other surgeries to remove the unnatural breast tissue after taking the drug.

Other Risperdal Claims

In addition to male breast growth, Risperdal has been linked to a host of other serious side effects, such as:

• Significant risk of death in elderly
• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
• Tardive dyskinesia
• Metabolic changes, including the development of diabetes
• Erectile dysfunction
• Elevated cholesterol and triglycerides
• Low white blood count
• Heat sensitivity

If you or a loved one experienced adverse effects such as gynecomastia after taking Risperdal, you may have a dangerous drug claim against the manufacturer. It is important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible to learn what you may be able to recover in court for your injuries.