A new Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit has been filed by a Michigan man against Risperdal manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceutical (a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary), claiming the company “put their desire for profits ahead of the public health.” As a result, the plaintiff and countless other adolescent Risperdal users allegedly experienced unnatrual male breast growth from taking the brand name antipsychotic drug.

Plaintiff Jerad Short alleges in the Risperdal lawsuit that he was prescribed the drug in 1994 when he was 9 or 10 years old to manage his bipolar disorder condition, even though the FDA had approved Risperdal for the treatment of schizophrenia only and it was not approved for any use in children and adolescents.

“Despite this fact, and prior to [March 2002], Defendants engaged in active solicitation of doctors, hospitals, and healthcare professionals to prescribe the drug to adolescents. Further, Defendants knew that the drug had grave risks of causing physical malformations in young males but knowingly downplayed these risks in its marketing endeavors,” Short’s Risperdal lawsuit states.

Short continued to take Risperdal from 1994 to about 1999 as prescribed by his physician according to the drug instructions.

According to the Risperdal lawsuit, the plaintiff, now 28 years old, was recently diagnosed with gynecomastia, a “known side effect of adolescent exposure to Risperdal.” Gynecomastia is a condition in which a man’s breast tissue becomes painfully and unnaturally enlarged. Short alleges his gynecomastia is a direct result of his Risperdal consumption during his adolescent years.

Short says in the Risperdal gynecomatia lawsuit that he will require surgery to correct the complications cased by the drug. Not only will he have to incur high medical expenses for his gynecomastia removal surgery, but he and his parents lost money by paying for a drug that was deceptively marketed, he claims.

Additionally, the Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit claims, “Mr. Short has suffered, and continues to suffer, severe emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, mortification, fear, and outrage as a result of the physical deformity from which he suffers, resulting from the Defendants’ [Janssen’s] wrongful actions.”

In addition to incurring fiscal damages from his Risperdal gynecomastia condition, Short claims he has also suffered severe emotional and psychological repercussions from the Risperdal side effects.

Short and his legal counsel are suing Janssen in this Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit for several claims, including two counts of violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act, violation of the Michigan’s Consumer Protection Act, and a claim of products liability.

The plaintiff seeks relief in the form of payment by Janssen and J&J of past and future medical expenses, exemplary and punitive damages, monetary compensation for emotional and psychological damage, payment of attorney’s fees, and any other form of relief so deemed appropriate by the court.

The Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuit is Short v. Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., et al., Case No. 1:14-cv-01025-RJJ in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan.

What is Risperdal?

Risperdal (also known as Risperidone) is an atypical, antipsychotic drug created by Janssen and first introduced into the North American drug market by J&J in 1993. Since then, thousands of patients suffering from schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and autistic disorder have benefited from taking Risperdal.

Risperdal was designed in such a way to block dopamine in order to manage certain mental disorders and conditions. However, in some cases Risperdal side effects may lead to the overstimulation of an individual’s pituitary gland. When this occurs, the pituitary gland releases prolactin, which then stimulates milk production and specifically in men and young boys can lead to the development of male breast growth, also known as gynecomastia.

Dozens of Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits have been filed by men and the parents of young boys who developed enlarged breasts, nipple discharge, and other symptoms of gynecomastia after taking the drug.

Signs of Risperdal Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is a condition in which adolescent boys and adult men’s breast tissue may become unnaturally enlarged. Sometimes, this happens naturally when a man’s body does not produce enough testosterone. However, according to recent medical studies and consumer reports, the rates of adolescent males using Risperdal and later developing gynecomastia as a result is quite high.

While gynecomastia is physically benign, it is the source of great psychological stress for young men and may lead to issues with body image and body acceptance.

Some symptoms of gynecomastia include:

• Nipple discharge
• Tenderness in the breast area
• Pain in breast tissue
• Swelling of breast tissue and nipples

As a result of the various emotional, psychological and physical gynecomastia side effects of Risperdal, many young men have filed or will file a Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit or have joined Risperdal class action lawsuit investigation.