According to the National Alliance of Mental Illness, Risperdal is a second-generation antipsychotic, or atypical antipsychotic. It is a medication that is prescribed to treat schizophrenia, and is taken to also rebalance serotonin and dopamine levels to improve behavior, thinking, and mood. It is specifically prescribed to treat other neurological and psychological disorders such as bipolar disorder and irritability due to autism.

The Risperdal tablet is usually taken 1 or 2 times per day, and patients typically begin starting the medication by taking a low dose and slowly increase the dosage amount over several weeks.

There are currently some serious adverse effects that occur by taking the prescription medication and other serious Risperdal hormonal side effects.

These side effects may include the increase in a hormone known as prolactin. Prolactin, a hormone responsible for milk production in women, may cause increases in breast enlargement, females losing their period, and males losing their sex drive and developing erectile dysfunction.

Gynecomastia, One of Many Risperdal Hormonal Side Effects

A condition in which males develop breast enlargement, known clinically as gynecomastia and informally as “man boobs,” is also one of the Risperdal hormonal side effects. Hundreds of boys may suffer from Risperdal hormonal side effects, including gynecomastia. Due to the breast enlargement, reports state that boys must undergo tissue reduction surgeries. These surgeries occur due to specific breast tissue enlargement and may also include an increase in fat.

Researchers believe gynecomastia occurs due to the increase and overabundance of the hormone prolactin. It is the consequence resulting from the imbalance of the body’s hormones.

Males who take Risperdal and suffer from such Risperdal hormonal side effects not only develop enlarged breasts and breast tissue, they also develop an increase in fat. The enlarged growth of breasts start off as being small lumps beneath the nipple. However, the nipple begins to sensitize and grows tender as the breast enlarges.

There can also be some differences in males who develop enlarged breasts from gynecomastia. In males, enlargement can occur either in both breasts or just one. And as one breast grows and enlarges, it can leave the other breast with no differentiation in size.

Social stigma is acknowledged to occur and surround males who begin to suffer from gynecomastia. It can leave males feeling embarrassed and uncomfortable.

To treat the condition of gynecomastia and other Risperdal hormonal side effects, patients or males who take the prescription medication may need to discontinue its use. Additionally, males may switch the medication to other antipsychotic medications that do not affect the prolactin hormone.

Furthermore, elevated levels of the hormone prolactin, over the couse of months or even years, can cause osteoporosis and increased risks to bone fractures.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning in 2005 cautioning patients about other serious adverse effects linked to Risperdal. The black box warning announced that “patients with dementia-related psychosis treated with atypical (second generation) antipsychotic medications are at an increased risk of death compared to placebo.”

It had asked that additional warning risks be added and revised and to include warnings that the antipsychotic medication should not be used to treat this disorder.