Antipsychotic drugs used in the treatment of schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder, and some cases of bi-polar disorder are known for having side effects associated with them.

Among described side effects is gynecomastia, the excessive growth of male breast tissue. This side effect is associated with Risperdal.

A Risperdal mass tort sparked because of gynecomastia is moving forward, according to a June 23, 2017 article on PR Newswire.

According to the article, the developers and makers of Risperdal, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, have been named as defendants in 5,800 lawsuits in the State of Pennsylvania alone. Johnson & Johnson itself claims product liability cases mounting to 16,900 nationwide.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is a swelling of the breast tissue in males due to an imbalance of hormones. It is not at all uncommon for newborn infants to have this breast growth as well as boys approaching puberty and older men.

Risperdal is believed to cause an imbalance of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates female breast growth and lactation.

While not life-threatening, gynecomastia has caused some male patients who take Risperdal to suffer innumerable injustices in the form of psychological bullying.

According to a Medical News Today article, Risperdal is not the only medication known to affect hormonal balance and possibly increase risk of abnormal breast growth in males. Other potential medications include:

• Ulcer medications
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Diazepam or Valium and other anxiety treatment
• Some HIV medications
• Some antibiotics
• Chemotherapy
• Anabolic steroids
• Some heart drugs
• Antiandrogens

There are also conditions affecting hormonal imbalance that can stimulate breast growth in males including hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, pituitary, adrenal or testicular tumors, Klinefelter’s syndrome, and alcoholism.

The Risperdal Mass Tort

The Pennsylvania Risperdal mass tort is allegedly moving forward in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Again, according to PR Newswire, the court will have a meeting in early July to discuss the status of the legal actions.

In Pennsylvania, four out of eight cases have been adjudicated by juries in favor of plaintiffs in gynecomastia claims. Extensive damages have been awarded that ranged from around $500,000 to $70 million. There have also been cases that have settled prior to going to court for an undisclosed amount of money.

What is the Difference between a Risperdal Mass Tort and a Class Action Lawsuit?

In this Risperdal mass tort, sometimes the language can get confusing. Since the term class action lawsuit and a mass tort are used interchangeably, it is understandably a difficult thing to know the difference.

Mass torts involve a large group of plaintiffs often living within the same geographic region. The size of the group is likely to be much smaller than that of a class action lawsuit.

The difference between this Risperdal mass tort and say a class action lawsuit again Johnson and Johnson Inc. and Janssen Pharmaceuticals would be the way the plaintiffs’ claims are addressed. Each plaintiff in a mass tort must present their case with factual data supporting their claim of wrongdoing by the defendants.