Product liability attorneys are currently looking for potential plaintiffs to bring Risperdal lawsuits against the pharmaceutical branch of Johnson & Johnson known as Janssen Pharmaceuticals. These Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits allege that the drug company manufactured and sold a dangerous and defective medicine that caused adverse side effects in adolescent males, particularly unnatural male breast growth.

Risperdal, generically known as Risperidone, is a popular antipsychotic that is often prescribed by doctors to treat schizophrenia and other problems caused by bipolar disorder, primarily manic depression. In some cases, Risperdal is used to treat autistic children for symptoms of irritability. The medication can be taken orally in pill form or as an injection. While Risperdal can provide patients with relief for the above named conditions, it has also allegedly caused many, particularly teenage boys, to develop Risperdal gynecomastia, a condition in which the male breast tissue becomes enlarged.

How does Risperdal Work

Risperdal works by affecting the brain’s neurotransmitters. Dopamine and serotonin are neurotransmitting chemicals stored in the nerve cells which are involved in sending and receiving messages between the cells. While dopamine and serotonin have several functions in the human body, these chemicals are known mood and behavior regulators. Medical researchers believe that many psychotic illnesses are caused by over activity or fluxes in these chemicals, particularly dopamine. It is believed that Risperdal works by inhibiting or blocking receptors in the brain that these chemicals react with in order to alter mood or behavior in patients.

Adverse Side Effects of Risperdal

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Risperdal for use in children back in 2006. When the medication was approved, very little was known about the potential Risperdal side effects associated with anti-psychotic’s use in children. But studies have been published linking the use of Risperdal in young males to gynecomastia, also known as male breast growth.

Medical researchers believe taking Risperdal may increase the production levels of prolactin levels in the body. Prolactin is a hormone that is known to stimulate breast development in young women. A 2006 Risperdal study warned consumers that due to the fact that long-term effects of the medication was poorly documented, Risperdal should be administered to children with caution. The use of Risperdal in adolescent males has been linked to male breast growth, painful breasts, and nipple discharge. Male breast growth in young boys often requires corrective surgery and can cause severe psychological trauma.

Risperdal Lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen have recently faced multiple lawsuits for adverse side effects associated with the use of Risperdal in adolescent males. For example, the major drug manufacturer has faced billions of dollars in government fines for illegal marketing of Risperdal. Civilian plaintiffs have received millions of dollars in settlements and awards in these Risperdal lawsuits. Currently there are nearly 1,300 Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson in federal and state courts.

Risperdal lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson generally claim that the pharmaceutical company violated consumer protection laws, alleging that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn the medical community and general public about the gynecomastia side effects associated with taking the medication. Claims brought against the company usually include breach of warranty, negligence, fraud and misrepresentation, and products liability defects.

Plaintiffs bringing Risperdal lawsuits are generally males who used Risperdal between the ages of 10 and 18. Awards and settlements from the Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits will help these plaintiffs pay past and future medical bills as well as compensate victims for the pain, suffering, and emotional trauma they endured.