Plaintiff David D. has filed a lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturers of Risperdal, in California federal court.

According to the Risperdal side effects lawsuit, David is a resident and citizen of California. He alleges that he had been prescribed Risperdal at various times.

David alleges in his Risperdal side effects lawsuits that patients taking this drug have developed serious and/or permanent adverse effects such as “rapid weight gain, hyperprolactinemia, gynecomastia (abnormal development of breasts in males), galactorrhea (lactation), tardive dyskinesia, and other serious health conditions.”

David further alleges that after taking Risperdal, he suffered mental and bodily injury; mental anguish, pain and suffering, embarrassment, disfigurement, and inconvenience. He is also suffering from past and future incurred medical expense, the Risperdal side effects lawsuit alleges.

According to the Risperdal side effects lawsuit, David is raising claims for Strict Products Liability, Negligence, Failure to Warn, Breach of Warranty of Merchantability, Breach of Express Warranty, Breach of Implied Warranty, Fraud, and Negligent Misrepresentation.

Risperdal Side Effects Lawsuit Drug Facts

Risperdal, also known as risperidone, is an antipsychotic medication that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993. Conditions treated by Risperdal include autism and bipolar disorder.

When Risperdal was first introduced, not all Risperdal side effects were well known. Since then, several young men who were treated with this drug  have filed Risperdal lawsuits accuding Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company Johnson & Johnson of failing to disclose what it knew about Risperdal side effects.

How does Risperdal Increase Male Breast Growth?

Researchers don’t know for certain what it is about Risperdal that may cause male patients to grow breasts. They believe that by altering  the effect of dopamine, Risperdal may increase levels of a hormone called prolactin.

Prolactin is responsible for stimulating the development of breasts in pregnant and nursing women. It is alleged that the increase in the prolactin hormone will cause a similar increase in breast growth in males.

Some additional side effects of the Risperdal drug and of increased levels of prolactin includes nipple discharge, nipple pain, and painful breasts.

Studies Supporting Alleged Side Effects

A study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology supported the correlation of the increased breast growth in males and the increased link of prolactin.

According to the study, “Risperidone administered to adolescents at doses commonly used for the treatment of psychotic symptoms can strongly increase prolactin levels, with clinical consequences such as gynecomastia and/or galactorrhea.

“Given that the long-term effects of antipsychotic drug-induced hyperprolactinemia are not well documented, especially regarding osteopenia, infertility, growth, and pubertal delay, risperidone should be administered with caution to children and adolescents,” the researchers concluded.

The Risperdal Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-08058-AB-JPR in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.