Puberty can be an awkward time for any young man but for those taking the anti-psychotic medication Risperdal, who develop “man boobs” as a side effect, it can be especially embarrassing.

Risperdal lawsuits that allege patients were unaware of the risk of gynecomastia (man boobs) have been growing in recent years. Currently there are more than 1,300 lawsuits filed by plaintiffs who alleged the medication caused male breast growth as large as 46DD cup size.

Risperdal Complications

Risperdal has been approved to treat a wide variety of medical conditions including autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Occasionally, physicians will prescribe the medication off-label for ADD or ADHD treatment, anxiety disorders, depression or sleeping issues.

Although the medication had been on the U.S. market for more than 10 years, it wasn’t approved for pediatric use until 2006. At that time it was widely unknown what, if any, side effects could occur in young men.

Since then, male Risperdal consumers especially between the ages of 10-18 years old, have reported nipple pain, breast growth, nipple discharge, breast pain and in some cases milk development.

Risperdal consumers report that the male breast growth does not go away by discontinuing the medication, some patients claim they had to undergo surgery in order to have the man boobs removed.

How Does Risperdal Work?

Risperdal helps balance the mental state of patients by managing the brain chemical dopamine which is the brain’s pleasure and reward sensor. However, medical experts believe that dopamine is manufactured at the same place where prolactin is developed. Prolactin is the hormone that encourages breast growth in young women.

Patients who are prescribed Risperdal at a certain stage of puberty development could have an increase of prolactin which in turn could encourage breast growth.

Risperdal Settlements

Risperdal manufacturers Johnson & Johnson have paid billions in Risperdal lawsuit awards and settlements to date.

Johnson & Johnson settled with the Justice Department for $2.2 billion to absolve criminal and civil fines that the manufacturers improperly marketed Risperdal and Invega to adults and children with developmental disabilities.

In addition, a recent Risperdal lawsuit lead to a Philadelphia jury awarding $2.5 million to a young man who developed man boobs after allegedly taking the medication to treat autism for five years. The jury found Johnson & Johnson along with their subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals failed to warn the plaintiffs of the male breast growth side effect by stating that the risk of gynecomastia was low.

Recently Janssen Pharmaceuticals was ordered by the Supreme Court of South Carolina to pay $124 million in penalties after allegations that the drug manufacturer hid the risks of gynecomastia side effects when they allegedly knew about them.

Risperdal Lawsuits

Those filing lawsuits claim that manufacturers knew of the risk of Risperdal breast tissue growth but did not fully inform patients of the possible side effect.

Risperdal plaintiffs are seeking financial compensation for what they claim to be a highly embarrassing medical condition that they were unaware they could develop. Individuals can file a Risperdal lawsuit as an individual or by joining a Risperdal class action lawsuit.