Risperdal gynecomastia side effects in kids have been the subject of concern for the past several years for parents and the medical community.

Numerous children, young boys in particular, have experienced severe side effects after taking Risperdal and have had to contend with chronic emotional trauma in result.

Gynecomastia, or male breast growth, occurs when there is a severe hormonal imbalance inside the body that causes breast tissue to significantly swell.

Risperdal’s treatment mechanism directly works with the dopamine brain chemical, which is supposed to induce improve mood and behavior.

However this treatment mechanism causes prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast development in young girls, levels to increase in young boys. This is because the dopamine blocking mechanism triggers the pituitary gland, the organ responsible for much of the body’s hormone production.

Even though prolactin is naturally produced in small amounts in young boys, the increased prolactin amount allegedly induces male breast growth.

Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic, which was originally approved by the FDA to treat adult patients with extreme mental disorders in the early 1990s.

While this medication was eventually approved to treat children in 2006, Risperdal was often prescribed to children for off label treatment purpose by physicians soon after its initial release. While it is not illegal for physicians to prescribe medications for off label purposes, it is illegal for pharmaceutical companies to advertise their drugs for such purposes.

Manufacturing company Janssen Pharmaceuticals, subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, had allegedly done this since Risperdal first entered the market. In result, there have been numerous cases of Risperdal gynecomastia side effects in kids reported.

Examining Risperdal Gynecomastia Side Effects in Kids

Currently, Risperdal is approved to treat children with certain form of autism and other specified mental disorders. Other than male breast growth, there are many other significant Risperdal gynecomastia side effects in kids that invoke emotional trauma.

Oftentimes children experience serious weight gain with the sudden breast development, with severe cases reporting nipple pain and lactation. Significant weight gain can often causes changes in metabolism and blood pressure, resulting in some children developing type-2 diabetes.

This medical condition will require lifelong blood sugar monitoring, and will probably require assistance in making sure adequate insulin is produced. Non cancerous pituitary tumors have also been reported in Risperdal side effects in kids, adding to the medical complications associated with the medication.

It is important to note that Risperdal gynecomastia side effects in kids will not be resolved if the medication is discontinued, often need to be treated with surgery. The excess breast tissue can be removed with surgery with liposuction in minor cases, and mastectomy in more severe cases.

In addition, the emotional trauma from bullying and social stigma from having male breast growth may require long term therapy for recovery. Even though these Risperdal gynecomastia side effects in kids are very serious, Janssen Pharmaceuticals allegedly failed to warn parents and the medical community against them.

Former Risperdal patients or parents of patients may be able to file legal action against the manufacturing companies, and should contact a specialized lawyer to determine eligibility.