Patients and families are coming forward with claims about serious side effects, including gynecomastia, in a growing number of Risperdal injury lawsuits.

One of the most recent Risperdal injury lawsuits, originally ruled in favor of the defense, has been given new life in an upcoming trial. The new trial comes after a panel of judges from the Pennsylvania Superior Court reversed the original verdict, which favored the defendant, Johnson & Johnson.

This case was the only one of the Risperdal injury lawsuits from the mass tort litigation (which includes more than 6,000 individual Risperdal injury lawsuits) in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to reach a verdict in favor of the pharmaceutical giant.

That favorable verdict has now been overturned, and the patient who filed the lawsuit is getting another chance in a new trial.

The original verdict was brought to a close back in March 2015, with the jury finding that Johnson & Johnson failed to give adequate warning to patients and the medical community about Risperdal’s risks, including gynecomastia, but with the jury unable to agree that it was indeed Risperdal that caused the plaintiff’s condition. This decision meant that he received no financial damages from the original verdict.

The Superior Court panel has now unanimously decided to bring this lawsuit forward once again in a new trial, giving the plaintiff another chance at a favorable verdict.

Background of Risperdal

Risperdal (also known by its generic name, risperidone) is a widely used antipsychotic also marketed as risperidone. Risperdal has been around for some time; it was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1993 as a treatment for schizophrenia. In the years since that initial approval, Risperdal has also been approved for the treatment of bipolar mania, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and certain symptoms of autism. Risperdal is now one of the most popular antipsychotics available.

Risperdal is known as an atypical antipsychotic, which works to treat conditions by helping to restore the balance of various natural substances in the brain. While Risperdal was initially not approved for use in children, it is now.

Risperdal Gynecomastia

Despite the undeniable popularity of Risperdal, many who have used the drug have begun filing lawsuits, alleging that it can cause serious complications. Most of these lawsuits cite gynecomastia.

At its most basic, gynecomastia is a condition that involves the abnormal growth of male breast tissue. Hundreds of boys and young men who have been prescribed Risperdal to treat their mental and mood disorders have developed male breast growth as a side effect of the medication. In some cases, boys gained such excessive breast tissue that the breasts grew to be the size of “D” cups.

For some, gynecomastia breast growth can bring with it breast pain and tenderness, discharge, and even mild lactation. Some severe cases have become such a problem in their daily lives that they have required surgeries like liposuction and mastectomy to correct.

Risperdal Injury Lawsuits

The vast majority of the Risperdal injury lawsuits included in this mass tort action were filed over gynecomastia complications. Risperdal injury lawsuits claim that Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and the manufacturer of Risperdal, actively concealed the risk of male breasts linked with their drug.

Since February 2015, the mass tort of over 6,000 Risperdal injury lawsuits has been making its way through the Pennsylvania court. Some Risperdal injury lawsuits have ended in settlements and some have reached verdicts, where juries have awarded plaintiffs damages from $500,000 to $70 million.

Join the Risperdal Injury Lawsuits

Hundreds of patients and their families have filed Risperdal injury lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, alleging that patients have been injured by serious Risperdal long term side effects. Risperdal injury lawsuits allege that the company failed to adequately warn the public and the medical community about the risk of gynecomastia linked with Risperdal.

If you or someone you love has suffered from gynecomastia after taking Risperdal, you may be able to join the growing pile of Risperdal injury lawsuits. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the effects of gynecomastia, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses.