Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication to help adults suffering from brain-based disorders. Initially created in the 1980s, it was not released until 1993 when it was approved for the treatment of schizophrenia. Soon after, it was the only drug approved for use with schizophrenic adolescents (aged 10-17). In 2003, bipolar disorder was added to its treatment list, and in 2006 it was approved for use in children to treat these conditions.

Like all medications, usage comes with side effects and risk. If you look up the side effects of many antipsychotics, you’ll see a list that can include anxiety, dizziness, balance issues, fatigue and weight gain. In the case of Risperdal, what many say was not on the list is gynecomastia, or “man-boobs.” This development of breast tissue is the root of the hundreds of Risperdal lawsuits pending in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Statute of Limitations

Johnson & Johnson says it warned of the connection between Risperdal and gynecomastia in 2006. The company is trying to start the statute of limitations clock from that point. They have asked presiding Judge Arnold New to dismiss any Risperdal lawsuits that fall outside of the period they define. If he agrees, hundreds of Risperdal lawsuits could be eliminated from the Risperdal side effects litigation.

People who suffered a Risperdal-related complication before this date argue that the statute of limitations began to run on the date of injury, not on date of announcement. At issue is that gynecomastia can take years to develop, or be misdiagnosed as weight gain until it’s too late to rectify.

Statutes of limitation can be flexible. Set as state or federal guidelines dictating when a person can bring forth legal proceedings, they were created to help stop duplicitous claims being filed on evidence that is out of date. However, due to the delayed effects of Risperdal and gynecomastia, young men can file up to seven years after their 18th birthday.

Risperdal and Youth

Another use of Risperdal is in children and adolescents to treat aggression and irritability associated with Autism. However, gynecomastia is a side effect that can be particularly disturbing to those with autistim. And, in youth, it adds another world of emotional distress that they, and their parents, are not necessarily equipped to cope with.

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice fined Johnson & Johnson more than $2 million for its marketing practices for Risperdal and other drugs. It was alleged the drug manufacturer improperly marketed Risperdal for pediatric treatment long before it was approved for such usage.