A Risperdal trial was set to begin in Monday from a Risperdal lawsuit brought by plaintiffs accusing Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals of allegedly concealing information and failing to give adequate warnings about important Risperdal side effects, such as gynecomastia (male breast growth). This will be the Risperdal gynecomastia litigation’s first trial, with additional trials scheduled for 2015.

There are currently 888 Risperdal lawsuits in this particular mass tort litigation. There were just over 400 Risperdal lawsuits in November 2013. This number does not surprise the Risperdal lawyers, who in fact expect to receive more lawsuits about Risperdal side effects. The first Risperdal lawsuit trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 3, 2014 in Pennsylvania.

The Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit (and all in the mass tort litigation) allege that Risperdal has serious Risperdal side effects such as male breast growth, or man boobs, which the defendants hid from doctors and patients. Male breast growth is a primary Risperdal complaint, however other negative Risperdal side effects such as pain in the breast and/or nipple and even nipple discharge have been listed.

Johnson & Johnson and Janssen were previously involved in a Risperdal lawsuit in November 2013. Both defendants paid $2.2 billion in settlements for inappropriately selling the drug to elderly dementia patients. It was considered a criminal misdemeanor.

While this Risperdal lawsuit was unrelated to gynecomastia (and the defendants did not admit to any crimes regarding the use of Risperdal in children at the time), it illustrates the Janssen’s alleged history with inappropriate prescription and lawsuits.

One Risperdal lawsuit settlement was reached in 2012 when a 21-year-old man experienced gynecomastia as an alleged side effect of Risperdal.

Risperdal Behavior and Side Effects

Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug used to treat autism and bipolar disorder and was approved for use in children as young as five in 2006. Hundreds of young male patients have allegedly experienced gynecomastia as an alleged result of taking Risperdal.

One study published in 2006 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology claimed that Risperdal increases prolactin levels, which encourages breast growth and can lead to the development of man boobs (the enlargement of breast tissue in males).

In addition to the mastectomy needed to remove the breasts, gynecomastia often leads the patient to psychological issues such as depression, bullying, deep embarrassment and insecurity.

This is especially a problem because the young boys, the plaintiffs, who are taking Risperdal are already taking it for psychological treatment. The study warned that the side effects of Risperdal were not well known and that it should be prescribed with caution.

Hundreds of patients have filed individual Risperdal lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and Janssen for allegedly concealing negative Risperdal side effects and not adequately warning patients of the potential Risperdal side effects. A Risperdal class action lawsuit investigation has been launched to further investigate these claims.

The Risperdal trials will begin on Nov. 3. A second Risperdal case has a court date of January 3, 2015. A third date was originally scheduled for February 2015, but is being rescheduled.