Invega and gynecomastia have been linked in several studies and in many real-life examples in boys and men who have taken the antipsychotic medication.

Invega is made by Johnson & Johnson and is approved by the FDA to treat schizophrenia. Doctors also prescribe Invega to treat bipolar disorder, autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, insomnia and depression. Invega is a derivative of Risperdal, which means it can have the same side effects.

The link between Invega and gynecomastia could be related to the drug’s effect on dopamine. Invega works by blocking dopamine receptors to control mood, but it also blocks dopamine’s action on the pituitary gland. This can result in an increase in prolactin, the hormone that controls sex drive in males and enables lactation (breast milk production) in females.

Prolactin levels that reach abnormally high levels in men result in a condition called hyperprolactinemia, resulting in gynecomastia.

The New Zealand Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Authority reported in one study that more than 90 percent of those taking Invega or Risperdal have abnormally high levels of prolactin.

Invega and gyecomastia can go even further. Boys have been known to develop a milky discharge that leaks from their nipples.

In a study of 1,885 children taking Risperdal, 43 boys exhibited gynecomastia. Since the FDA approved Risperdal and Invega for the treatment of children, many boys have experienced  Invega and gynecomastia, leading to multiple product liability lawsuits.

Invega and Gynecomastia More Pronounced by Weight Gain

Invega and Risperdal can also cause weight gain, which can make enlarged breasts appear even more pronounced. After 10 weeks of Invega treatment, patients gained an average of 4.6 pounds, according to one study. Patients on Invega had “a statistically significantly greater incidence of weight gain,” says the FDA.

Although weight gain from Invega can contribute to breast enlargement, Invega and gynecomastia is largely due to an increase of glandular tissue, not just fat. Glandular tissue is not reduced by weight loss. The only way to get rid of glandular tissue is through surgery.

Invega and Gynecomastia Can Effect Males of All Ages

The American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP) presented findings at their 2014 annual meeting that claimed men on Invega or Risperdal had a 69 percent higher risk of gynecomastia than nonusers.

“This is the first and largest epidemiologic study on this question using data from 1 million men in the United States,” said lead author Dr. Mahyar Etminan, a drug safety researcher in the Therapeutic Evaluation Unit at Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia, in an interview with Medscape Medical News.

Dr. Etminan and fellow researchers looked at information gathered from 1 million men between the ages of 45 and 80 who made claims of side effects between 2001 and 2011. Of that sample of men, 8,285 cases of gynecomastia were confirmed. Their mean age was 65.5 years.

Their analyses showed that men on a competing medication, Seroquel, had a lower risk of developing man boobs than those taking Risperdal or Invega.

If you have experience problems with Invega and gynecomastia, you could be eligible for compensation through legal representation.