The adverse effects of Risperdal (risperidone) have been the subject of concern for the medical community and patient population for the past several years.

Gynecomastia, or male breast growth, has been allegedly occurring in young boys soon after starting Risperdal with most patients requiring surgery to remove the unwanted breast tissue.

Initially approved by the FDA in 1993, Risperdal was approved to treat adults with extreme mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders.

Manufactured by Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Risperdal quickly became a popular choice among adult and pediatric patients.

Even though Risperdal was only approved for adults patients at the time, physicians often prescribed the medication to children off label treatment purposes. While this is not illegal to prescribe the medication in this manner, it is not lawful for pharmaceutical companies to advertise the drug for such purposes.

Risperdal had eventually been approved to treat children with certain forms of autism and other similar purposes in 2007, but Janssen Pharmaceuticals had allegedly advertised the drug for children years prior.

Overview of the Adverse Effects of Risperdal

Risperdal works by leveling the serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain, which results in ideal brain chemical balance and mood stability. However this drug naturally interacts with the body’s pituitary gland, leading to a number of adverse effects of Risperdal.

One of the natural effects of Risperdal is being a natural prolactin stimulator, which is the hormone responsible for breast development in young girls. While prolactin is naturally produced in small amounts of young boys, it can cause the chest to swell if prolactin is manufactured in large amounts in boys.

More severe cases of gynecomastia can include man boobs growing as large as D-cups, with some breasts producing lactation and nipple discharge. Oftentimes, children have to have the excess breast tissue surgically removed with the children requiring counseling to contend with the emotional trauma of male breast growth.

While gynecomastia is one of the most talked about complications, there are other serious adverse effects of Risperdal.

As mentioned before Risperdal directly interacts with the pituitary gland, and this may also cause pituitary tumors to grow in some patients. This is because Risperdal may increase the size of the pituitary gland, which raises the chances of tumor development.

Another significant complication often mentioned in conjunction with adverse effects of Risperdal is include type-2 diabetes. This is due to the fact that patients often gain a significant amount of weight during their Risperdal prescription, causing significant changes in metabolism and blood sugar levels.

In severe cases ketoacidosis can occur, which is when the blood becomes acidic after the body is forced to break down fat instead of sugar. This condition is caused by insulin shortage, which is very dangerous in Risperdal cases because blood sugar levels may be dangerously high.

Other adverse effects of Risperdal patients should be wary of are movement disorders, which can range of severity depending on the patient. Regardless of which adverse effects of Risperdal patients may experience, they should report it to their physician immediately.