A meeting of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas took place on Dec. 2 to discuss the consolidated Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits filed in various state courts regarding the unwanted side effects of the Janssen Pharmaceutical antipsychotic drug.

Over 1,100 Risperdal lawsuits have been filed in this Philadelphia court, and many of these Risperdal lawsuits have been consolidated into one multidistrict litigation, or MDL, alleging this Janssen drug caused young boys and men to develop gynecomastia, a condition in which the male breast tissue becomes unnaturally enlarged.

According to many of the plaintiffs’ legal counsel, they are “representing numerous men and young boys whose Risperdal lawsuits allege symptoms associated with gynecomastia following use of the medication. These lawsuits further allege that it was often prescribed off-label, especially in the treatment of children.”

A high rate of gynecomastia has been reported in many Risperdal patients, especially young men between the ages of 10 and 18, who are regularly prescribed the Janssen antipsychotic drug to treat various mental disorders like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and occasionally autistic disorder in children as young as 5 years old.

As mentioned above, many of the Risperdal lawsuits allege the drug was also prescribed for off-label uses, such as to treat ADHD, despite the absence of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

The plaintiffs of these Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits are seeking compensation for medical bills, damages for physical and emotional pain, other injuries allegedly stemming from the male breast growth condition.

The consolidated Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuits are part of the Risperdal MDL, In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case No. 100300296, in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

What is Risperdal Gynecomastia?

Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug designed, manufactured and sold by Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary Janssen. It was given FDA approval in 1993 and has since been prescribed to thousands of boys and young men to treat mental conditions of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and even some types of autistic disorders.

However, according to various medical studies and consumer Risperdal lawsuits, unwanted Risperdal side effects allegedly exist, including unnatural male breast growth.

Risperdal has the capacity to overstimulate the pituitary glands in boys and young men, thereby causing the gland to release a hormone called prolactin. Prolactin stimulates milk production in the breast tissue and can lead to unnatural male breast growth, also known as gynecomastia.

Signs and Side Effects of Risperdal Gynecomastia

While gynecomastia is physically benign, it is the source of great psychological stress for young men and may lead to issues with body image and body acceptance.

Some symptoms of gynecomastia include:

• Nipple discharge
• Tenderness in the breast area
• Pain in breast tissue
• Swelling of breast tissue and nipples

As a result of the various emotional, psychological and physical gynecomastia side effects of Risperdal, many young men have filed or will file a Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit or have joined the Risperdal gynecomastia MDL against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen.