Risperdal and Invega adverse effects are, for the most part, not unusual considering the type of disorders they are given to treat. Risperdal and Invega are both antipsychotic drugs used to treat schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, and childhood autism with high irritability.

Between these two drugs, Risperdal is the one that is FDA-approved for autism-spectrum disorder treatment.

These two medications work on the brain by changing the levels and function of its chemistry. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Risperdal and Invega specifically put two neurotransmitters into balance within the brain: dopamine and serotonin.

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that facilitate impulse communication between brain cells or neurons. A balance of both dopamine and serotonin lead to more organized thought and promote better mood states.

Commonly Listed Risperdal and Invega Adverse Effects 

Here is a list of the more often published Risperdal and Invega adverse effects:

• Extrapyramidal effects – sudden involuntary movements of limbs, eyes, head or neck. These are often jerky contractions of a muscle or muscle group.
• Restlessness or anxiety
• Tremor
• High fever
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Insomnia, excessive drowsiness or tiredness
• Cough or sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Skin rash
• Increased appetite
• Weight gain
• Dry mouth

Gynecomastia among Risperdal and Invega Adverse Effects

Gynecomastia, a condition in which breast tissue grows abnormally in males, is lesser known among Risperdal and Invega adverse effects. The hormone prolactin produced in overabundance is at the heart of this disorder.

Prolactin is controlled by dopamine. Dopamine levels are controlled by Risperdal and Invega in those being treated with these drugs. Prolactin can increase to a very high level in the absence of proper neurotransmitter control. This hormone is responsible for both breast tissue growth and lactation.

Gynecomastia in Clinical Trials and Now

Of 1,885 children taking Risperdal during clinical trials, roughly 2.28% developed gynecomastia. Since its approval to go to market by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), hundreds of boys have grown breasts comparable to that of a grown adult woman while undergoing Risperdal treatment.

A lot of the boys and men named as plaintiffs in current pending lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals have given complaints of suffering severe psychological trauma because of the development of breast tissue. Some plaintiffs have supposedly had to have breast tissue removed surgically.

In March 2015, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, developers and manufacturers of Risperdal and Invega, were ordered by a jury to pay $2.5 million to a young sufferer of autism. This young man took Risperdal from age 8 to 13 under orders from his physician and developed gynecomastia.

In 2012, Johnson & Johnson settled a private lawsuit with a sufferer of gynecomastia on undisclosed terms. The drug company will likely face thousands of upcoming lawsuits in the next few years.