Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the Johnson & Johnson medical subsidiary, has recently come under fire for their blockbuster antipsychotic drug Risperdal. According to reports and the 1,300 Risperdal lawsuits filed across the United States by young men and their families, Risperdal can cause some male patients to develop gynecomastia, also known as male breast growth.

What is Risperdal?

Risperdal (also known as Risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication manufactured by Janssen. Prior to 2006, Risperdal was only approved for use in adults suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other mental conditions. The FDA did finally approve Risperdal for use in children and adolescents in 2006; during the same year it was also approved as a treatment for autism. However, Janssen allegedly did not wait for this approval, as the company has allegedly been marketing the drug to pediatric psychiatrists and doctors for years prior to FDA’s approval for this age group.

Risperdal Complications and Side Effects

As previously stated, many young men and their families have filed Risperdal lawsuits against J&J and Janssen for unwarned and unwanted Risperdal side effects, including gynecomastia.

Some Risperdal side effects alleged by plaintiffs in Risperdal lawsuits include:

• Male breast growth
• Man boobs
• Gynecomastia
• Painful breasts
• Nipple pain
• Nipple discharge

For many of these young men taking Risperdal, they are already suffering from a medical condition like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, autism, or other conditions that make it difficult to go about their day-to-day lives. Risperdal was supposed to help them manage their mental disorder symptoms and has instead brought them physical, mental, and emotional complications related to their development of Risperdal gynecomastia.

What is Risperdal Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is the unnatural  swelling of breast tissue in men that leads to the development of male breast growth, also known by the layman’s term “man boob.” It is important to note that gynecomastia can strike young men who are not taking Risperdal and who are simply experiencing a hormonal imbalance during puberty, though this more natural form of gynecomastia usually reverses itself once the hormonal imbalance has been corrected.

However, Risperdal gynecomastia allegedly occurs because the antipsychotic drug prompts the body’s production of prolactin, a hormone that usually stimulates breast development and lactation in women. When prolactin production is stimulated in young men, it causes their breasts to swell and develop, and may also cause painful nipple and breast pain. Sometimes, nipple discharge also accompanies these symptoms. According to one report, a man on a Risperdal treatment grew 46DD breasts.

For some young men, Risperdal gynecomastia may stop and reverse itself once the antipsychotic treatment is discontinued. However, according to some Risperdal lawsuits, a number of young men have needed breast surgery in order to remove the excess breast tissue. In addition to the physical side effects of Risperdal, young men may also experience emotional distress because of the development of man boobs.

Many men and their families are pursuing lawsuits against the drug’s manufacturer, seeking repayment of the medical bills associated with treating and reversing Risperdal gynecomastia complications, as well as monetary compensation for the emotional and mental pain and suffering experienced by these patients.