Hundreds of young men and their families are currently pursuing legal action against Johnson & Johnson as a result of male breast growth, or gynecomastia, caused by their psychiatric medication Risperdal.

Through a Risperdal lawsuit, many of these victims are hoping to hold the drug maker accountable for failing to warn them about serious Risperdal side effects and the impact that Risperdal breast growth can have.

And it seems that juries have agreed with a number of plaintiffs, awarding substantial compensation to them and their families in more than one Risperdal lawsuit.

Risperdal Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia is caused by an imbalance of hormones in males, leading to the swelling of breast tissue. Although it is not life-threatening, it can be difficult to cope with, cause physical pain and social isolation, and may require surgery.

Risperdal is a powerful antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The drug maker allegedly knew Risperdal posed specific health risks to children, including elevating a hormone called prolactin which stimulates breast growth and milk production.

J&J is also purported to have known that this particular gynecomastia side effect was far more common in adolescent males than any other demographic, but chose to focus its marketing efforts on pediatricians, claiming the drug was safe and effective for a number of childhood disorders and even paying doctors to prescribe the drug to its adolescent patients.

During this time, however, Risperdal was only approved to treat adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Risperdal Lawsuit Wins

In the first of four Risperdal gynecomastia trials, J&J was ordered to pay $2.5 million to an autistic boy who was prescribed Risperdal at age seven to manage mood swings.  The jury found that his Risperdal use directly led to the victim’s development of size 46-DD breasts.

In the next trial, the jury awarded $1.75 million to the plaintiff, who allegedly took Risperdal to treat schizophrenia starting at the age of nine.  The jury sided with the plaintiff, agreeing that the plaintiff’s Risperdal use caused him to develop male breasts and subsequently suffer mental anguish and physical disfigurement.

The third verdict was for $500,000 awarded to a plaintiff who took Risperdal for nearly three years, beginning at the age of 11 to treat symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome.  In just one year’s time, the victim developed male breasts and had to undergo gynecomastia surgery.

Other Risperdal Violations

Additionally, Johnson & Johnson has been hit with billions of dollars in marketing violation settlements. The Department of Justice levied a $2.2 billion fine against the drug maker to resolve criminal and civil investigations into Risperdal. Federal investigations found the company paid doctors and pharmacies to prescribe the drug for uses not approved as safe or effective by the FDA.

The government charged that, from 1999 to 2005, J&J marketed Risperdal to control the behavior of children and those with mental disabilities.  The drug maker instructed its salespeople to call on child psychiatrists and other providers that primarily treated children, to market the use of Risperdal for a myriad of childhood disorders.

Although Risperdal was approved only to treat schizophrenia in adults, J&J told doctors it was safe and effective for ADHD, autism, Tourette’s syndrome, and OCD, despite repeated warnings from the FDA not to promote Risperdal to children.

More than 1,600 Risperdal lawsuits are currently pending in Philadelphia court, all of which allege the antipsychotic drug caused male breast tissue development in young men.

If you or someone you loved was harmed by using Risperdal, you may be eligible to file a Risperdal lawsuit.  An experienced drug injury attorney can review your case at no charge and help you to determine if filing a Risperdal lawsuit is the best course of action for you.