Risperdal has been a popular drug in the U.S. to treat disorders like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. However, it has also been linked to severe Risperdal adverse side effects such as gynecomastia.

Risperdal has been a popular and powerful antipsychotic drug that was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1993. It was originally approved to treat schizophrenia in adults and adolescents. But since, has been prescribed for a number of different uses.

Risperdal, generically known as risperidone, is an atypical antipsychotic that targets both serotonin and dopamine. It has been seen to be very successful in treating conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

This drug, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, is broken down by the liver into metabolites. Metabolites work against serotonin and dopamine and thereby help to suppress both aggressive and psychotic behavior.

Originally approved to treat schizophrenia, Risperdal has since been approved to treat bipolar disorder and certain aggressive forms of autism.

Many doctors, however, have been prescribing Risperdal in an “off-label” way to treat ADHD and, as a result, many have claimed an increase in Risperdal adverse side effects. There is no law against prescribing drugs “off-label,” but many say that it is not safe because of serious Risperdal adverse side effects.

Many patients have been reporting significant Risperdal adverse side effects including a disturbing condition known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is the abnormal growth of breasts in males.

When gynecomastia is one of the Risperdal adverse side effects, it is thought to be caused by an increase in the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is present in both females and males, but it is most prevalent in nursing and pregnant women and triggers breast growth as well as milk production.

Risperdal allegedly causes the increase of production of prolactin. When this occurs in young males, it can cause male patients to grow breasts.

Johnson & Johnson has been accused of illegally marketing Risperdal for uses not approved by the FDA. It has also been accused of unlawfully paying doctors to endorse Risperdal and paying kickbacks to pharmacies to promote the drug for the elderly.

In fact, Johnson & Johnson has grossed approximately $18 billion in Risperdal profits since the 1990s. In 2007 alone, Risperdal made Johnson & Johnson $4.5 billion. Yet in 2013, it was ordered to pay $2.2 billion for illegally marketing Risperdal for use in children and the elderly for unapproved purposes.

Thousands of families have filed lawsuits against the drug makers claiming that Johnson & Johnson was negligent and hold them responsible for irreparable damage to patients.

Gynecomastia is not the only side effect from Risperdal. Other Risperdal adverse side effects include diabetes, heart attack, movement disorders, tardive dyskinesia, stroke and hyperglycemia.

If you or someone love has suffered from Risperdal adverse side effects including gynecomastia, you may benefit from speaking to an experienced attorney to determine if you have a legal case.