The popular antipsychotic medication Invega has been linked with a growing number of reports of Invega risks, including gynecomastia.

Invega, also known by its generic name, paliperidone, is an antipsychotic medication manufactured and distributed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Janssen is a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

The drug belongs to a class known as atypical antipsychotics, and are prescribed to adults and adolescents (children over the age of 12). Invega and other antipsychotics work by restoring the balance of essential chemicals in the brain.

Invega was first approved for the treatment of a variety of disorders in 2006 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since its release onto the market, Invega has grown increasingly popular.

Invega is used across the country to treat a number of disorders, including schizophrenia.

Even though Invega and similar atypical antipsychotic drugs are popular and widely used, Invega has recently been linked with a number of severe Invega risks that patients may not have been properly warned of prior to use.

Invega Risks

One of the most often cited Invega risks is gynecomastia, or male breast growth. Adolescents taking Invega are far more likely to develop gynecomastia than are adults taking the medication.

Young men who develop enlarged breasts due to Invega can suffer from extreme embarrassment, and may find the complication to be traumatizing. Puberty is already a difficult time for young men—adding this complication on top of that compounds the difficulty.

Though people might assume that gynecomastia involves excess fat in the breast area, this is not in fact true. Instead, gynecomastia comes from a buildup of excessive breast tissue, very similar to a woman’s breasts.

Though the exact causes of gynecomastia are still unclear, most doctors attribute the condition to the body’s hormones being knocked out of balance.

Hundreds of boys and young men who have taken Invega have reported developing excessive breast tissue. In some cases, the symptoms are barely even noticeable.

In others, however, breast tissue growth can become quite extreme. In the most major cases, a young man may develop “D” cup breasts because of gynecomastia.

Unfortunately, this is a side effect of Invega that may not simply go away on its own anytime soon. For some, all it takes to treat gynecomastia symptoms is simply halting intake of Invega. However, for other boys, surgery is necessary to remove excess tissue.

Invega Risks Lawsuits

A growing number of injured patients and their families are filing lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, alleging that the drug manufacturers failed to adequately warn the public and the medical community about the drug’s serious Invega risks.

Gynecomastia is not the only one of the possible Invega risks to be cited in lawsuits against Janssen. Some of the other Invega risks that are included in these lawsuits are diabetes, movement disorders, and nipple pain.

Hundreds of families have filed gynecomastia lawsuits over Invega risks, alleging that Janssen Pharmaceuticals failed to adequately warn about the risk of gynecomastia. In some cases, lawsuits resulted in plaintiffs winning millions in settlement money.

While a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering felt through Invega risks, it can help to compensate for financial expenses incurred by medical bills.

If you or someone you love has developed gynecomastia after taking Invega or Risperdal, you may be able to file an Invega lawsuit.