Risperdal is a medication approved to treat schizophrenia in adults and children, bipolar disorder in adults and adolescents and irritability associated with autism in pediatric patients.

It is an atypical antipsychotic that was intended to reduce side effects that are common in older medications used to treat psychotic disorders.

Despite this intention, Risperdal has been shown to cause a number of side effects similar to those seen with other antipsychotics, some of which are severe or even life-threatening, but the drug has also proven to cause gynecomastia or breast tissue development in males — even in children.

Gynecomastia and Risperdal

Gynecomastia is defined as the abnormal development of breast tissue in males.  While it is troublesome in adults, it is particularly disturbing in juveniles and children.  In addition to the physical changes, children are also often subjected to significant emotional and psychological trauma due to gynecomastia.

Risperdal works as an antipsychotic by blocking the activity of dopamine in certain areas of the brain but blocking dopamine also has an effect on the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is responsible for hormone production and regulation of many body systems.

Risperdal’s dopamine blocking activity works to stimulate the pituitary gland causing a number of metabolic disruptions and also results in the release of a hormone known as prolactin.

Prolactin is responsible for stimulating breast tissue development and causing lactation in pregnant and nursing women.  While these women have high levels of prolactin, the hormone is normally very low in males, pre-pubescent girls, and women who are not nursing or pregnant.

Stimulation of the pituitary gland leading to high prolactin levels has caused premature breast development in girls, lactation in non-nursing women and pituitary tumors.  It has also caused gynecomastia in males who are adolescents and even in children as young as 4 years of age.

Risperdal Gynecomastia Surgery

Gynecomastia caused by Risperdal will usually not go away even if the drug is discontinued.  In mild cases where not much mammary tissue has developed, liposuction may be used to remove the tissue but in more extensive cases, a breast reduction or mastectomy surgery will be required.  This may also require removal of skin in a chest reconstructive procedure.

In addition to the emotional trauma that is likely to result from the development of gynecomastia, the patient may be subjected to significant surgical pain and may require a lengthy period for gynecomastia surgery recovery and healing.

What is the Cost of Gynecomastia Surgery?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgery’s 2012 plastic surgery statistics report, the average gynecomastia surgery cost is approximately $3,200. However, this may not include such things as:

• Anesthesia charges
• Hospital or medical facility costs
• Medical examinations
• Post-surgery garments
• Post-surgery Medication
• Surgeon’s fees

The real gynecomastia surgery cost can also be a prohibitive factor, with prices starting at $5,000 and going up to over $10,000, it is not a cheap option. Surgery costs vary from patient to patient and also depend upon what type of surgery you may require, the surgeon’s fee and the post-gynecomastia surgery recovery care needed.

Risperdal Lawsuits and Settlements

Janssen and Johnson & Johnson face hundreds of additional lawsuits filed by patients who have developed male breasts after taking Risperdal and have been subjected to painful gynecomastia surgery and emotional trauma.

It has been reported that among the Risperdal lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen unit, at least 130 of these cases allege that the drug caused male adolescents to grow breasts.

The plaintiff in one of these cases alleged that he developed breasts as a result of his use of Risperdal, which he took between the ages of 9 and 14. He claimed that he developed psychological trauma as a result of his injuries and needed gynecomastia surgery to remove the breast tissue.

On the first day of trial in mid-September 2012, Johnson & Johnson agreed to a settlement, the amount of which remains confidential. Five other lawsuits were settled shortly afterward.

If you or a loved one has used Risperdal and suffered from gynecomastia, you may have legal recourse to collect compensation for gynecomastia surgery cost, hospital bills, mental anguish and other damages associated with gynecomastia surgery recovery.