Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Risperdal man boobs

The jury in the second Risperdal mass tort case in Philadelphia, while finding that Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a division of Johnson & Johnson) failed to warn about the risk of male breast growth from the drug, determined that the drug did not cause the plaintiff’s gynecomastia.

On March 20, the 12-member jury returned its verdict in favor of Janssen in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Victor DiNubile Jr.’s courtroom. Ten out of the 12 agreed that Janssen failed to warn about the risks of gynecomastia in off-label pediatric use while 11 of the 12 determined the antipsychotic Risperdal did not cause the plaintiff’s male breast growth.

This Risperdal verdict has many in the legal profession speculating that the drug manufacturer will steer away from failing-to-warn defense strategies and instead focus on individual causation defenses in future and pending Risperdal lawsuits.

However, despite the recent court victory, Janssen remains embroiled in mass Risperdal litigation and the outcome of this particular trial doesn’t necessarily predict the outcome of other Risperdal male breast growth lawsuits pending in state and federal courts nationwide.

There were 1,291 cases in the Risperdal mass tort list. On Feb. 25, in a highly publicized verdict, a jury awarded $2.5 million to an autistic man who developed breasts after taking Risperdal.

What is Risperdal?

Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic that is used to treat adolescents and adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as irritability associated with autistic disorder in children ages 6 to 16. Risperdal is also being used more and more as a treatment for ADHD, even though this is an off-label use that has not been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).

While Risperdal has been on the market since 1996, it wasn’t until 2006 that the FDA approved the use of Risperdal in children.

The active ingredient in Risperdal is risperidone, which works by affecting the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters are known to affect mood and behavior.

The issue concerning Risperdal involves boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia (male breast growth) due to their use of the medication. In addition to claiming the use of Risperdal caused male breast growth, Risperdal lawsuits filed on behalf of children allege that Johnson & Johnson improperly marketed the drug for pediatric use before the FDA cleared it for such purposes.

Risperdal Lawsuits

As of October 2012, Johnson & Johnson has settled a handful of Risperdal claims, but the litigation surrounding the medication continues to grow. Not only does the drug company face hundreds of individual Risperdal lawsuits, they also had a multibillion-dollar government settlement that covers illegal marketing charges, as well as similar settlements with the states totaling nearly $2 billion.

The problems stem from the companies’ marketing of Risperdal for off-label (unapproved) use in children in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The Risperdal attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Risperdal class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Risperdal lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

Learn More

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.


Get Help – It’s Free

Join a Free Risperdal Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or your son took Risperdal between the ages of 10 and 18 years old and suffered gynecomastia (male breast growth), male breast pain, nipple pain, or nipple discharge, you may be entitled to compensation. See if you qualify by submitting your information below for a free and confidential case review.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.