Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication designed to help people suffering from mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. It has also been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat other brain-based conditions, such as bipolar disorder. Originally developed for adults and adolescents, Risperdal wasn’t approved until 2006 for use in children to treat these conditions, and for children aged 5-16 as a treatment for aggression and irritability associated with autism.

In an informal analysis of Risperdal’s use by the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative, it was shown that the drug can effectively treat aggressive behavior often found in autistic children. Lawrence Scahill, professor of pediatrics at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University in Atlanta, is quoted on the group’s website: “It has pretty big effects on tantrums, aggression and self-injury.”

Risperdal can only improve some behaviors of autistic children. It doesn’t help many of the major traits associated with autism. And, use of the drug also has “significant drawbacks and limitations,” and can have severe side effects.

Physical Effects of Risperdal

Risperdal, like many antipsychotics, can cause weight gain. It can also cause sleepiness and hormonal changes, as it plays within the brain. However, rapid weight gain can be troublesome in children, setting them on a path that may be hard to correct. Additionally, weight gain hides a major side effect of Risperdal, gynecomastia.

Gynecomastia, or “man boobs,” may be missed if a person is overweight, as the appearance may be the same. It’s not the same, however. Gynecomastia is the actual development of breast tissue, so losing weight doesn’t mean losing the breast. If this Risperdal side effect occurs, victims would have to consider surgical removal of the breast. In individuals who suffer from autism, this adds another world of emotional distress.

Allegations Grow

Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals (its subsidiary) are facing numerous Risperdal side effects lawsuits. In the case of child victims, some Risperdal lawsuits state that prior to FDA approval in 2006, the drug manufacturers improperly marketed the drug for pediatric use long before it was approved for use by that group. In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice fined J&J $2.5 million for its marketing practices for Risperdal and other drugs.

In the case of “man boobs,” the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has seen about 500 lawsuits filed on behalf of men and boys who allegedly developed Risperdal gynecomastia. Many of the allegations state that Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson knew about the true risks associated with Risperdal, but failed to warn the public.