The popular atypical antipsychotic Risperdal has been linked with serious Risperdal side effects including long-lasting gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is a condition that affects boys and young men taking Risperdal, causing them to develop female-like breast tissue.

Breast tissue growth due to gynecomastia can be extreme and can be traumatic for boys who are often going through puberty simultaneously with suffering from this condition.

Risperdal Background

Risperdal (also known by its generic name, risperidone) is a widely-used antipsychotic drug manufactured and distributed by pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

Risperdal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment option for a variety of mental and mood disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar mania and autism.

Atypical antipsychotics like Risperdal help restore the balance of various natural substances in the brain.

Any medication comes with certain mild side effects, and Risperdal is no different. Risperdal side effects include involuntary motion, dizziness, fatigue, anxiety, nausea, and skin rashes.

These Risperdal side effects are similar to the complications patients expect from many drugs, and are indicated on the drug’s labeling. Patients taking Risperdal are easily able to locate these side effects prior to taking the medication.

However, some patients note that patients and even the medical community were not sufficiently warned about Risperdal gynecomastia.

Risperdal Side Effects

Hundreds of boys and young men who took Risperdal have developed male breasts with a buildup of excess tissue due to a condition called gynecomastia. These Risperdal side effects are caused by excess breast tissue, not fat.

Gynecomastia is often instigated by a hormonal imbalance, as is the case for Risperdal users who develop the condition. Risperdal works to combat mental and mood disorders by adjusting the balance of certain hormones in the body.

One of the hormones affected by Risperdal is prolactin, which can be increased dramatically by the use of Risperdal. Excess prolactin is known as hyperprolactinemia which, in both children and adolescents, can lead to gynecomastia.

Are Risperdal Side Effects Permanent?

For some, Risperdal gynecomastia may go away on its own, or subside after stopping intake of the drug, but for others, the Risperdal side effects may be long-lasting or even permanent.

While Risperdal side effects can be quite minor for many patients—some patient’s gynecomastia problems are barely noticeable—others are more heavily impacted. Indeed, some young men gain so much excess breast tissue that they develop D-cup sized breasts.

These more extreme cases rarely go away on their own, and more often lead to boys undergoing surgery to remove the excess tissue.

Filing a Risperdal Lawsuit

Hundreds of boys and young men who have suffered from Risperdal side effects have filed gynecomastia lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, alleging that that the drug maker failed to adequately warn patients about the potential side effects of the drug.

If you or someone you know was negatively impacted by Risperdal side effects, or you are a male who has developed excessive breast tissues due to taking Risperdal, you may be able to file a Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for failure to adequately warn about the potential side effects of the drug.