A Risperdal trial underway in Pennsylvania has been placed on hold until Dec. 9 after manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals were ordered to hand over additional evidence to the 11-year-old plaintiff’s attorneys.

The trial, which has already been going on for a month, stems from allegations that the antipsychotic drug Risperdal led to side effects including male breast growth. The lawsuit filed on behalf of plaintiff Timothy S. claims he was prescribed the drug to help him with Tourette’s syndrome and that he took the medication for three years.

However, the Risperdal lawsuit alleges that Timothy gained weight that masked gynecomastia (man boobs), yet when he lost the weight the breasts remained. The lawsuit claims that the Risperdal man boobs were the source of much emotional distress as he was taunted and teased. This ultimately led to the decision to undergo surgery in order to have the male breast growth removed.

Counsel for Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals claim that there has not been a clear and established link between Risperdal and gynecomastia.

According to Johnson & Johnson attorney Michael Kelly, the plaintiff’s prolactin levels were not tested prior, during or after Risperdal treatment. Kelly further argued that male breast growth can occur as a natural part of puberty even for boys.

Kelly added that Timothy was teased for having male breasts but he was also ridiculed for having Tourette’s and Risperdal helped him with symptoms.

Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Kenneth Powell ordered Janssen to provide further evidence regarding “reanalysis data” to plaintiff Timothy’s attorneys.

This Risperdal lawsuit comes after two earlier Risperdal trials in Philadelphia. One of those resulted in Johnson & Johnson having to pay $2.5 million for failing to adequately warn about the possibility of male breast growth.

Risperdal Side Effects

The FDA approved Risperdal to treat schizophrenia, mania, bipolar disorder, autism and other conditions.

According to Risperdal lawsuits, including Timothy’s, the medication has side effects that increase prolactin, the hormone that stimulates breast growth in women. Young men who are of puberty age appear to be more susceptible to this gynecomastia side effect.

Commonly reported Risperdal complications include:

• Nipple discharge
• Breast pain
• Nipple pain
• Milk production

Risperdal Breast Tissue Growth Lawsuits

More than 1,300 Risperdal lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs alleging that the medication caused male breast growth as large as a 46DD cup size.

Risperdal manufacturers have also fallen under scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice over civil and criminal allegations of improperly promoting the medication by providing doctors “kickbacks” every time they prescribed Risperdal. Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.2 billion in order to settle the charges.

If you developed gynecomastia after taking Risperdal, contact a Risperdal attorney to find out if you have legal claim.

The Risperdal Lawsuit is Case No.130401984 in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.