Research dating back to before 1994 indicates that Johnson & Johnson’s drug Risperdal had dangerous side effects, especially harmful emotional and physical side effects in adolescent boys.

Some of these common Risperdal side effects include significant weight gain and male breast growth, also known as gynecomastia.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is enlargement or development of breast tissue in males.  It is more common and particularly disturbing in children and adolescents.  The development of Risperdal gynecomastia is usually a permanent change that will require surgical removal by a reconstructive surgeon.

Male breast growth has been attributed to Risperdal’s stimulation of prolactin, a hormone common in women who are pregnant or nursing.  Adolescents or boys who develop breast tissue suffer not only physical changes but also severe emotional trauma.

This psychological trauma and expenses related to gynecomastia surgery have led to dozens of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson by plaintiffs seeking compensation for damages related to Risperdal side effects.

Risperdal Label Minimizes Gynecomastia Side Effect

Several issues surround the marketing and the prescribing of this drug. Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturers and marketers of Risperdal, allegedly used language on the label that minimized and downplayed the harmful side effects of this medication.

In addition to this, they also claimed that their drug was safer and more superior than other antipsychotic medications in its class even though sufficient evidence did not exist to validate that claim.

With the help of these claims and the company’s aggressive marketing schemes, physicians readily prescribed this medication for off-label uses.

A 2008 Wall Street Journal article cautioned that a Risperdal male breast growth warning is most important for adolescents taking the drug.

The blog article reported as far back as November 2008 on how “Risperdal Can Have Troubling Side Effects in Boys”, and how litigation was pending because of the link between using Risperdal and male breast growth.

Risperdal Gynecomastia Risks

Risperidone, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and sold as Risperdal, is an antipsychotic drug that was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993, and is used as a treatment for schizophrenia, mania, and irritability associated with autistic disorder in children and teenagers.

Risperdal belongs to a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics, and works by altering certain substances in the brain.

To date, 27 different studies have been conducted since 1998 that demonstrate the link of Risperdal use to gynecomastia.  In 2006, one such study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that the use of risperidone in children was associated with excessive levels of the hormone prolactin, which is tied to female breast development and lactation.

Three years later, research published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology revealed that these high levels of prolactin could persist for as many as two years, stating that “Current users of risperidone (which is the generic name for Risperdal) had approximately four times the risk of developing gynecomastia than non-users. When the analysis was stratified to children and adolescents (≤18 years of age) taking risperidone, the risk of gynecomastia was five times higher than for non-users.”

Risperdal Lawsuits

Risperdal lawsuits are mounting in courts around the country on behalf of men and boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia, or male breast growth, due to their use of the antipsychotic drug.

In fact, as of October 2012, Johnson & Johnson had already settled a handful of Risperdal lawsuits, even as the litigation surrounding the medication continued to grow.

Just this past year, one of these Risperdal Gynecomastia lawsuits resulted in a judgement award of $2.5 million for the plaintiff.

If you or a loved one developed gynecomastia or other harmful side effects as a result of taking Risperdal, you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.