The link between Invega and gynecomastia has become a widespread concern throughout the United States, raised by male patients who reportedly experienced breast development. The alleged link between Invega and gynecomastia stems from allegations of Risperdal, Invega’s predecessor, reportedly causing male breast growth.

Both of these antipsychotics have been linked to male breast growth, allegedly due to unusual biological reactions to these drugs’ treatment mechanism. Invega works by increasing the level of dopamine, a brain chemical responsible for certain emotional responses, to produce a better mood balance.

However, increasing the dopamine levels may be causing adverse reactions in patients, reactions that have reportedly led to cases of Invega and gynecomastia. Also known as male breast growth, gynecomastia occurs when an overabundance of prolactin is produced.

Prolactin is the hormone primarily responsible for breast growth in young girls, and it is naturally produced in small amounts in young boys. When too much prolactin produced, it can result in gynecomastia and unexpected galactorrhea, or milk production, in young boys.

The alleged link between Invega and gynecomastia has also been observed in scientific inquiries, with a recent study study published in 2014 by researchers from the University of British Columbia. The researchers found that Risperdal and Invega patients faced an increased risk of gynecomastia, compared to non-expose patients.

An earlier study published in 2006 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology also found a connection between Risperdal and gynecomastia. The researchers warned that Riseperdal prescribed to younger patients may cause their bodies to increase prolactin production, which may result in gynecomastia or galactorrhea.

The concern for Invega and gynecomastia primarily affects younger patients, who are either going through puberty or have yet to enter that development stage.

Overview of Invega and Gynecomastia Complications

Invega (paliperidone) is a popular atypical antipyschotic medication, which treats adults with extreme mental disorders like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is sometimes used for off-label treatment of different mental conditions including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette syndrome, disruptive behavior disorder, and other similar conditions.

Invega was approved by the FDA in December 2006, soon after Risperdal (risperidone) earned pediatric treatment approval. Risperdal and Invega have the same treatment mechanism, but are metabolized differently. Invega is a metabolite of Risperdal, which means it is the core ingredient remaining after the drug is metabolized in the system.

The concern of gynecomastia developing in young boys has been reported since the early 1990s, when Risperdal first entered the market. While Risperdal did not get pediatric treatment approval until the mid 2000s, doctors often prescribed Risperdal to treat young patients for off label purposes.