Young Man Reveals Male Breast Growth from Risperdal

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When Andrew Bentley was a young man and prescribed Risperdal as his antipsychotic drug, he was never told of the full potential of Risperdal side effects. Bently suffered years of torment after he developed male gynecomastia from Risperdal, the medical term for male breasts or “man boobs.”

According to Bentley and other men like him, the makers of the drug, Johnson & Johnson, allegedly knew about the complications caused by Risperdal side effects on young boys but chose to keep mum on the subject. Now that this Texas teen has joined others like him by filing a Risperdal lawsuit, the truth is coming to surface.

He told a jury about his troubling experience, adding insult to injury when he was already struggling with serious ailments. Bentley claims that the drugmaker “knew” that Risperdal caused man boobs in an alarming number of men, but purposefully hid and/or downplayed the reality. Bentley is one of the first Risperdal victims to go to trial, but he certainly won’t be the last.

Male breast growth from Risperdal is somewhat unique. It causes the actual breast tissue, which both men and women have, to grow. This isn’t fat or another growth that looks like “man breast.”

Gynecomastia is the technical name for this phenomenon, and unfortunately part of the side effects of Risperdal on some young boys. It’s not until many young men began searching for things like “get rid of man boobs” that they’re slapped with the truth— the drug they took, likely as pre-teens and teens—are the cause of their embarrassment and shame. Gynecomastia isn’t actually dangerous, but the mental torment it can cause any male (not to mention a teenager already struggling with a mental illness) can be fierce.

According to Bentley’s Risperdal lawsuit, “A drug that was never meant for kids was illegally marketed to kids. Johnson & Johnson knew about this side effect, did not warn about it and actually covered up evidence about it.”

At the moment, there are over 400 Risperdal lawsuits staring down Johnson & Johnson, all detailing similar stories. Sadly, Bentley’s situation isn’t unique—and male breast growth doesn’t disappear just because a person stops taking the drug. Surgery is required, just like when a woman gets a breast reduction, and it’s usually considered a cosmetic procedure. This costly surgery is often unaffordable for many men, causing them immense psychological harm. These personal injuries from Risperdal grow each month.

Currently, Bentley is 17 years old, still a teen and struggling with a relatively rare Risperdal side effect. He says he took the drug for his Asperger’s Syndrome, and it was during a time before the drug had been approved for children. However, he and his parents trusted his doctors, who in turn rely on drug makers to provide adequate and comprehensive warnings about their drugs.

In his Risperdal case, Bentley asserts that Johnson & Johnson took advantage of the medical community and patients because in the end Risperdal accounted for over $1 billion in sales. As for the drug maker, they’re not willingly signing up for any blame, claiming that Bentley’s man boobs were “normal for a teen going through puberty” and that Risperdal had absolutely nothing to do with it. However, the evidence to the contrary is overwhelming. Some young men develop as large as D-cups, even when their body fat content is low or normal. It might be easy for an onlooker to mistake far for male breasts, but medical speaking they are two very different things—and there’s no denying when a doctor diagnosis the disorder.

Define “Normal”

In an effort to shift blame, Johnson & Johnson asserted that Bentley’s condition “was totally consistent with the idea that the teen developed breasts as part of puberty.” The company also denies the illegal marketing of the drug. In addition to the side effects and safety concerns, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also looking into the legality of the marketing tactics for Risperdal. It’s alleged that the company marketed Risperdal for “unapproved uses.”

The company has struck a deal with the US Justice Department and will pay up to $2.2 billion to complete the probe of the Risperdal sales reports Bloomberg News. However, this is before the throngs of young men with Risperdal stories came forward. Johnson & Johnson has also agreed to pay $181 to settle claims in 36 states claiming that Risperdal was not marketed properly.

Did You or Your Son Suffer Risperal Side Effects?

If you were a young man between the ages of 10 and 18 who was prescribed Risperdal and developed male breasts, you likely have a Risperdal legal claim. To learn more, visit the Risperdal Side Effects, Male Breast Growth Class Action Lawsuit Investigation. After you submit your information, an attorney will contact you if you have a case for a free Risperdal claim review.