A large number of Risperdal lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson alleging that the company violated consumer protection laws and failed to warn consumers about dangerous side effects associated with taking the medication.

In May 2012, the attorney general of Kentucky announced a lawsuit against the pharmaceutical company alleging that the company concealed dangerous side effects of Risperdal, which included diabetes, substantial weight gain, and gynecomastia.

Risperdal, generically known as risperidone, is an antipsychotic medication often used to treat children who have been diagnosed with autism or bipolar disorder. Risperdal is also used to treat schizophrenia.

Risperdal works by rebalancing dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain which helps improve mood, behavior, and thinking. Risperdal is associated with several different side effects such as aggressive behavior, anxiety, changes in vision, and muscle spasms. It wasn’t until recently that consumers became aware of the potential risk of developing gynecomastia.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is informally known as man boobs. This is a condition where a male’s breasts swell and become abnormally and unnaturally large. While the exact cause of male breast growth is unknown some medical researchers believe the condition is caused by an increase in prolactin levels. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates breast growth in young women.

Gynecomastia Symptoms

Gynecomastia symptoms include breast gland tissue swelling, tender breasts, and the enlargement of the areola. The areola is the small ring of pigmented skin surrounding the nipple. At times the male’s chest may also become asymmetrical and the male may experience nipple pain or discharge.

Gynecomastia Treatment

When a physician sees a patient displaying gynecomastia symptoms, the physician will first try and rule out other causes of male breast growth. A physician will look to rule out cysts, benign tumors, inflammation of the breast tissue, breast cancer, and hematomas. The treating physician will also perform a physical exam of the patient’s breast tissue, genitals and abdomen.

Gynecomastia treatment can take many forms. If the gynecomastia is caused by medications like Risperdal, a medical professional may recommend discontinuing the medication. In some cases, once the offending medication is discontinued the gynecomastia symptoms will self resolve. In severe cases, gynecomastia treatment may require gynecomastia surgery or hormone therapy meant to block the effects of estrogen.

Gynecomastia Surgery

There are two potential types of gynecomastia surgery that may be performed for treatment purposes. The type of gynecomastia surgery selected will depend on the type of excess breast tissue found in the body. If the male has extra fatty tissue liposuction can be performed to suck out the excess tissue.

If it is the glandular tissue that has grown in excess the patient will have to have excision surgery. This requires cutting the tissue with a scalpel rather than sucking out the tissue through a tube. Excision surgery will generally leave a scar around the edge of the male’s nipple.

Males who have taken Risperdal and suffered from gynecomastia may be able to bring a Risperdal lawsuit against the pharmaceutical manufacturer.