Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson are named as defendants in a new Risperdal lawsuit filed in Louisiana court, alleging the companies falsely advertised and promoted Risperdal as an effective treatment for schizophrenia and bipolar mania.

Plaintiff Karon-Jahlil W. claims that he was injured as a result of his use of Risperdal, an antipsychotic medication manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen unit. According to the plaintiff, Risperdal caused him to “suffer injuries, including but not limited to gynecomastia.”

The Risperdal lawsuit further alleges a series of misrepresentations and omissions committed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson, including “that Risperdal was defective and likely to cause gynecomastia and other medical problems.”

The Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuit, filed Dec. 2, 2014, is Case No. 5:14-cv-03354, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana (Shreveport Division).

What is Risperdal?

Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug that may increase levels of prolactin, a hormone which stimulates breast development, 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. 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.

In 2006 and 2007, the FDA approved additional uses for Risperdal including schizophrenia in children, bipolar disorder in adults and children and behavioral disorders caused by autism in children. 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).

Young males who have taken Risperdal and are displaying increased levels of the hormone prolactin may develop male breasts. Boys who have developed breasts may experience pain or nipple discharge. This is scientifically referred to as gynecomastia. Boys who have developed male breasts as a result of Risperdal use can suffer from severe psychological trauma. Many doctors recommend that such males undergo surgery. While mild cases can be resolved with liposuction, more severe cases will require a mastectomy.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is enlargement or development of breast tissue in males.  It is more common and particularly disturbing in children and adolescents.  The development of gynecomastia is usually a permanent change that will require surgical removal by a reconstructive surgeon.

Male breast growth has been attributed to Risperdal’s stimulation of prolactin, a hormone common in women who are pregnant or nursing.  Adolescents or boys who develop breast tissue suffer not only physical changes but also severe emotional trauma.

Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuits

Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits
 are mounting in courts around the country on behalf of men and boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia, or male breast growth, due to their use of the antipsychotic drug.

In fact, as of October 2012, Johnson & Johnson had already settled a handful of Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits, even as the litigation surrounding the medication continued to grow. Just a little over a year later, the company reached a Risperdal settlement with the federal government to resolve charges that it improperly marketed a number of drugs, including Risperdal.