Another Risperdal lawsuit joins the growing number of lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals over the anti-psychotic Risperdal, alleging that the drug causes male breast growth.

A concerned mother filed the Risperdal lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals after her son developed gynecomastia, allegedly from taking Risperdal.

This Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit will be joining hundreds of other claims filed throughout the country in federal and state courts, involving young boys developing breasts from the drug.

Some of these Risperdal lawsuits have reported breasts growing as large as 38D, which can result in permanent physical deformity without surgical intervention.

Louisiana plaintiff Miriam R. filed the Risperdal lawsuit in a Louisiana state court on Nov. 25. Miriam’s Risperdal lawsuit seeks damages due to the fact that she has incurred medical expenses from her son’s condition, has suffered mental anguish, lost earning capacity, and enjoyment of life.

The charges she is bringing against Janssen include: negligence, concealing information, breach of warranty, and other federal violations.

According to the Risperdal lawsuit, Miriam’s son had been prescribed Risperdal and Invega to treat his mental condition, which is often prescribed to adults to treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders. However, Risperdal was also approved to treat children in 2007 with similar conditions, allegedly leading to the minor plaintiff’s predicament.

Since they were approved to treat children, they have been prescribed to thousands of pediatric and adolescent patients across the country to treat extreme to mild mental psychotic diseases. Risperdal’s popularity stems from its treatment mechanism and its fast-acting ability. It is an abnormal antipsychotic, meaning that it is only prescribed when other antipsychotics were not shown to be effective to the patient.

Overview of Risperdal Complications

Risperdal works by channeling the brain chemical dopamine, which controls the brain’s pleasure and reward sensations. By stabilizing this channel, Risperdal would ideally allow the patient to adequately balance the brain’s moods and signals.

Patients have praised this drug for allowing them to enjoy less severe mental side effects, with limited physical side effects.

Unfortunately, one of these reported Risperdal side effects is the development of breast tissue in boys and men. According to the Mayo Clinic, while gynecomastia is not a life-threatening condition, it is very difficult for patients to cope with due to the embarrassment of abnormal breasts and the complications that come with them.

The Mayo Clinic states that although gynecomastia is not usually a serious medical problem, it can be a difficult condition for men and boys to cope with. In some cases, victims report large breast development, breast tenderness, and nipple discharge.

While it is currently unknown as to what exactly causes gynecomastia, many medical experts believe it stems from the fact that the patient’s prolactin levels are significantly increased from taking Risperdal, which is the hormone that is primarily responsible for the breast development in adolescent girls.

Injury reports indicate that this is not a rare event, with more than 1,000 similar Risperdal lawsuits reported to Janssen and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson in a Philadelphia state court, as well as in other state and federal courts throughout the country.

Despite the allegations Janssen is facing, Risperdal continues to be prescribed to younger patients.

Currently, hundreds of Risperdal lawsuits have been consolidated into a mass tort in Philadelphia.