Risperdal drug side effects have been reported numerous times across the country, from patients alleging severe complications like gynecomastia or type-2 diabetes.

Many Risperdal drug side effects have been reported in boys and young men, who allegedly developed gynecomastia after beginning their prescription.

Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic medication that is typically prescribed to treat extreme mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and is often prescribed to children for similar purposes along with certain forms of autism.

Risperdal works by affecting the dopamine levels in the brain, which is supposed to alleviate psychiatric symptoms. Dopamine is the brain chemical responsible for pleasure and reward sensations, which will induce less severe emotional side effects.

However, the Risperdal drug side effects recently reported have spurred wariness in the medical community, with several studies suggesting adverse reactions.

One of the body’s biological reactions to Risperdal drug side effects is increased prolactin production, which is the hormone primarily responsible for breast development in young girls. While prolactin is naturally produced in small amounts in young boys, interference or increased production during adolescent development stages could lead to breast growth in male patients, known clinically as gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia has become associated with Risperdal drug side effects, with young boys alleging they began experiencing swelling soon after starting their Risperdal prescriptions. Gynecomastia may be caused by a hormonal imbalance in patients, resulting in breast growth on one or both sides of the chest.

Gynecomastia complications reported by patients include: breast swelling, breast tenderness, nipple pain, and nipple discharge, with most patients forced to undergo revision surgery to remove the excess breast tissue.

Patients who suffered from these Rispderal drug side effects often report long term emotional trauma due to the stigma of having male breast growth, while contending with recovery.

There have been numerous Risperdal gynecomastia claims filed against manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, for allegedly failing to warn against these serious Risperdal drug side effects and aggressively marketing the drug for pediatric use before it was approved to do so.

Overview of Risperdal Gynecomastia Allegations

Risperdal was originally approved by the FDA in 1993 to be ab antipsychotic treatment medication for adult patients, but it was commonly prescribed to children for off-label uses.

Johnson & Johnson reportedly took noticed of this, and allegedly marketed Risperdal for pediatric use before it was approved to do so in 2006, according to a joint federal and state enforcement action. While it is not illegal for doctors to prescribe medications for off label purposes, it is illegal for pharmaceutical companies to market them for these reasons.

Johnson & Johnson has faced intense legal action for this allegedly fraudulent marketing, with the United States government and individuals patients alleging gynecomastia from Risperdal drug side effects. The company has paid billions of dollars in settlements to resolve numerous Risperdal gynecomastia claims.

Currently there are approximately 1,300 Risperdal lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson, each alleging the patient had developed gynecomastia as a result of the medication.