Puberty can be an awkward time for any teen, but for young men who develop “man boobs” as a side effect of medication, it can be psychologically distressing.

More than 1,300 Risperdal lawsuits have been filed by Risperdal patients who allege that the anti-psychotic drug caused the medical condition gynecomastia commonly known as male breast growth, or “man boobs.”

Risperdal is used to treat a variety of conditions including manic depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism and occasionally the off-label treatment of ADD and ADHD.

Male Risperdal patients have reported developing breasts as large as 46DD cup size and claim the breasts do not go away even after they stop taking the medication. Some consumers even allege that they had to undergo surgery in order to remove the Risperdal man boobs.

Risperdal Breast Tissue Growth

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Risperdal in 1993 for physiological conditions. Since then, the medication gained in popularity to treat other ailments including anxiety and depression. By 2006, Risperdal was approved for pediatric use although the side effects were widely unknown.

The medication increases the hormone level of prolactin which typically stimulates breast growth and milk production. In young men, the growth of male breasts can be an embarrassing side effect of taking Risperdal.

Consumers have reported that the drug causes the following Risperdal side effects:

• Nipple pain
• Nipple discharge
• Breast pain
• Milk production

Patients who have filed Risperdal lawsuits are accusing manufacturers Johnson & Johnson, and their subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, of failing to warn of the gynecomastia risks associated with the medication.

Risperdal Lawsuits

Johnson & Johnson has paid billions in Risperdal lawsuits and settlements. In a recent Risperdal lawsuit, a jury awarded $2.5 million to a plaintiff who alleged he developed man boobs after being prescribed the medication as a 7-year-old.

In a separate case, Johnson & Johnson paid $2.2 billion to absolve criminal and civil fines with the U.S. Justice Department for improperly marketing Risperdal and Invega to adults and children with developmental disabilities.   

Manufacturers argue that breast development is a normal part of puberty even for boys but Risperdal attorneys dismiss that claim especially since many patients produce milk or nipple discharge, which they deem is not a normal part of male development.

Risperdal lawsuits allege that manufacturers failed to adequately warn consumers as they claimed the risk of developing male breast growth was low. Those who have filed a Risperdal lawsuit after experiencing Risperdal complications seek financial compensation for what they describe as an embarrassing condition that they were not warned could be a side effect.

A Risperdal class action lawsuit investigation has been launched to try to determine if consumers were fully warned of the gynecomastia possibilities of taking the medication. Recent research has found that young men ages 10-18 are especially at risk for developing Risperdal male breast growth.

Plaintiffs filing Risperdal lawsuits either as an individual or by joining a class action lawsuit seek financial compensation for the emotional and physical distress of developing man boobs as a Risperdal side effect.