A Risperdal lawsuit was filed against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceutical Inc. (Janssen) by an Ohio mother, alleging that they neglected to fully report Risperdal side effects such as rapid weight gain, gynecomastia (the development of breasts in males), and galactorrhea (lactation).

The number of Risperdal lawsuitshas been increasing over the past few years, with billions of dollars paid out in settlements to plaintiffs.

Rev. Elaine D. Fennell filed a Risperdal lawsuit with her son on Oct. 1. Fennell’s son began using Risperdal in 2002 as an antipsychotic medication.

Allegedly as a result of taking Risperdal, he experienced the following (and more) side effects: gynecomastia (commonly known as man boobs), lactation, involuntary movement disorders, and rapid weight gain.

These Risperdal side effects (and others) are becoming more commonly known among Risperdal users, and gynecomastia is most commonly cited in Risperdal lawsuits.

In addition to already suffering physical pain, mental anguish and embarrassment due to Risperdal side effects, he will have to have a mastectomy (surgery) in order to remove his breasts.

The Risperdal lawsuit accuse Janssen of “fraudulently [conveying] false and misleading information concerning the safety and efficacy of Risperdal and [concealing] the risks of serious adverse events” from the FDA, physicians, and the public. Fennell claims that had they been aware of the possible Risperdal side effects, they never would have used the drug.

Johnson & Johnson and Janssen allegedly acted in concert with one another in order to spread the false information about Risperdal’s side effects. A 2006 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology confirms the allegations about the development of gynecomastia, galactorrhea, and others made in this and other Risperdal lawsuits. Janssen and Johnson & Johnson have already lost several individual Risperdal lawsuits and Risperdal class action lawsuits. About 420 Risperdal lawsuits are pending. 

Fennell accuses Johnson & Johnson and Janssen of failing “to publish negative studies related to Risperdal” and misleading the public as to the safety of the drug. The Risperdal lawsuit also alleges that the defendants manipulated clinical trials in order to suggest Risperdal was safer than other antipsychotic drugs. 

The Risperdal Lawsuit is K.D. Conner and Rev. Elaine D. Fennell v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-01767-JLG-EPD, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.