Over recent months, Johnson & Johnson has faced a number of Risperdal lawsuits filed by men alleging Risperdal breast development following their use of the antipsychotic medication.

Allegations against the company state that Risperdal causes increased breast growth, or gynecomastia, and related adverse side effects such as nipple pain, nipple discharge, and painful breasts.

Risperdal

Risperdal (risperidone) is manufactured and marketed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, J&J’s subsidiary, and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993.

Rispersal is sometimes prescribed in an “off-label” capacity for uses not approved by the FDA, such as for treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD), dementia, anxiety, and depression. It was initially FDA-approved for treatments of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and acute mania.

Notwithstanding the drug’s capability and effectiveness for treatment of a number of life-threatening and serious conditions, Risperdal has been linked to adverse side effects and complications including Risperdal breast development.

Allegations against the company reported by plaintiffs filing Risperdal lawsuits include that Janssen Pharmaceuticals illegally marketed Risperdal for use in children for treatment of psychiatric disorders and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) between 1993 and 2004.

Allegations against the company further accuse the company of misrepresenting the benefits of taking Risperdal, and of concealing the drug’s potential risks and adverse effects.

Some other reported Risperdal side effects linked to the medication include bone loss, pancreatitis, neutropenia, tardive dyskinesia, production of prolactin, diabetes or hyperglycemia, and increased risk of sudden death from heart attack.

Moderate side effects include chest pain, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, sore throat, joint pain, respiratory infection, and difficulty urinating.

Risperdal Breast Development

The exact cause of Risperdal breast development from the use of the medication is not known. However, what is believed to be the case is that Risperdal does increase the levels of a hormone known as prolactin, a protein which enables females to produce milk.

As a result, young boys prescribed Risperdal may experience breast tissue development from exposure to prolactin, and they may also experience nipple pain, nipple discharge (lactation), and painful breasts.

A published study in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology supports the allegations that prolactin increased levels causes Risperdal breast development. The researchers concluded:

“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.”

So far, Johnson & Johnson has been hit with millions of dollars in judgments in lawsuits filed by men and the parents of young boys alleging Risperdal breast development.

One lawsuit filed by an Alabama boy who alleges Risperdal breast development says that he developed increased breast growth after taking Risperdal as a child for treatment of autism. Before filing the Risperdal lawsuit, he says that his Risperdal breast development grew to a size of 46DD.