Risperdal (risperidone) is produced by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, owned by Johnson & Johnson. It’s an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat Bipolar I disorder and schizophrenia.

However, Risperdal has been associated with a series of side effects, ranging from mild to moderate to severe. Among these Risperdal side effects, one of the most serious is a condition called gynecomastia, the enlargement of breast tissue in boys and men.

In general, atypical antipsychotic medications may cause extreme weight gain, drowsiness, dizziness, and movement-related symptoms such as tremors or muscle spasms. The weight gain associated with the use of atypical antipsychotics may increase the patient’s risk for diabetes and high cholesterol.

In addition to these side effects, Risperdal may cause elevated levels of prolactin, a hormone important for pregnancy and lactation, in the blood. Risperdal blocks dopamine reception in parts of the brain, but this action stimulates the pituitary gland to release prolactin.

In women, this may cause lactation, menstruation issues, loss of libido, and breast pain. In men, it may cause sexual dysfunction, infertility, and gynecomastia.

Risperdal and Gynecomastia

One of the more serious Risperdal side effects reported is male breast growth, a potentially irreversible condition known as gynecomastia or enlargement of the breasts in a male. The breasts may be tender or uncomfortable and the sufferer may experience social or psychological difficulties.

Gynecomastia symptoms may not affect both breasts evenly and may affect just one breast, leaving the sufferer with uneven breasts. The condition is permanent and painful; it will not disappear without medical gynecomastia treatment.

Risperdal gynecomastia symptoms include:

• Tenderness in one or both breasts
• Swelling of breast gland tissue
• Discharge from the nipple

Gynecomastia Treatment

Gynecomastia treatment can sometimes involve taking medications or surgery. There are two gynecomastia surgery options that are used to treat gynecomastia:

Liposuction: Mild gynecomastia treatment may include liposuction where fat is removed from the breast, but the breast gland tissue remains.

Mastectomy: More severe cases will require invasive gynecomastia surgery to where breast gland tissue is removed via small incisions.

Gynecomastia sufferers will be exposed to the risks of gynecomastia surgery (such as reaction to anesthesia or infection of surgery site) and will have to endure a long and painful healing process.  Physical discomfort aside, many patients who undergo gynecomastia surgery or treatment, especially young ones, experience significant psychological trauma due to their condition.

Risperdal Lawsuits

Risperdal was approved for use in adults in 1993 by the FDA, but was denied for use in children. Johnson & Johnson reportedly chose to market the drug for children and for other off-label uses anyway. Risperdal has caused gynecomastia resulting in lactation and male breast growth in boys as young as 4 years old.

Johnson & Johnson is facing a growing number of defective drug lawsuits from young men who have been affected by gynecomastia symptoms after taking Risperdal.  Several Risperdal settlements have been reached and J&J paid out $2.2 million in a federal case alleging improper marketing and labeling of Risperdal.

If you or someone you love has developed gynecomastia from taking Risperdal, you may be entitled to compensation by filing a Risperdal lawsuit.