A growing number of patients and their families are filing lawsuits over Risperdal effects, especially gynecomastia. However, some Michigan residents may actually be barred from pursuing Risperdal lawsuits because of the Michigan Product Liability Act.

Just last month, a Pennsylvania appeals court found in a panel of three judges that the Michigan Product Liability Act, which can bar claims over FDA-approved medications, can bar cases even when the medication was being used off-label.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Risperdal back in 1993 as an antipsychotic, but is now often used to treat symptoms of autism. While it was approved by the FDA for this purpose in 2006, many lawsuits have been filed in cases where the drug was allegedly prescribed for autism prior to this approval, for so-called “off-label” use.

Regardless, the Pennsylvania appeals court has ruled that whether or not an FDA-approved drug is used on- or off-label, it is still granted immunity from most litigation under the Michigan Product Liability Act.

The Pennsylvania appeals court’s decision affects more than a dozen Michigan residents who filed suit over Risperdal as part of a mass tort program in Philadelphia.

Risperdal Background

Risperdal is one of the more popular antipsychotic medications used to treat a range of mental and mood disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar mania, and symptoms of autism. Risperdal has been around for a while: it was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 1993, and is one of the few antipsychotics used for children as well as adults. Risperdal is manufactured by Janssen, a prominent subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

Risperdal work to combat these disorders by restoring the balance of certain natural substances in a patient’s brain. Its mechanism of action can affect levels of the hormone prolactin. Unfortunately, Risperdal can increase a person’s prolactin levels to a concerning degree, which is known as hyperprolactinemia. Hyperprolactinemia places patients at risk of developing gynecomastia, or male breast growth problems.

What is Gynecomastia?

While some might assume that the breast growth Risperdal effects are connected to excess fat, it is actually excess breast tissue. For some, the condition is not too severe and can be lived with. For others, the condition causes them to grow breasts as large as “D” cups, and can drastically affect their daily adolescent lives. Male breast growth from the use of Risperdal has affected somewhere between hundreds and thousands of adolescent boys across the United States.

While there are other antipsychotics similar to Risperdal, not all antipsychotics are linked so closely with gynecomastia. In fact, studies show that hyperprolactinemia occurs more commonly in patients taking Risperdal than any other antipsychotic.

Filing a Lawsuit over Gynecomastia Risperdal Effects

For hundreds of boys and young men who suffer from these Risperdal effects, the breasts they have developed from gynecomastia became such an issue in their lives that they were forced to go through surgery in order to have the excess tissue removed.

If you or someone you love was negatively impacted by Risperdal effects, especially gynecomastia male breast growth, you may be able to pursue a Risperdal effects lawsuit. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away Risperdal effects or the physical and mental harm they can cause, but it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.