Adolescent, Teen Boys Say Risperdal Gave them ‘Man Boobs’

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There’s no getting around the fact that one of the potential side effects of Risperdal is embarrassing — especially for a teen boy. The anti-psychotic drug, which is often prescribed for schizophrenia and other disorders, can cause gynecomastia (“man boobs”) and many critics say that the drug maker didn’t properly warn about the risks. Some of the early symptoms of gynecomastia include nipple sensitivity, discharge or pain in the chest.

So far dozens of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of Risperdal, Johnson & Johnson. At the core of many Riserdal lawsuits is that the drugmaker did not warn about these risks and many men who took the drug between the ages of 10 and 18 may not have been properly diagnosed with gynecomastia.

Male breast growth isn’t something that many young men are quick to point out to their parents, and if the adolescent was heavy or was carrying some “baby fat,” it’s possible that a diagnosis was completely missed by physicians. Having “man breast” as a youth is troubling enough, but many people don’t realize that it may have actually been a Risperdal side effect.

There are a number of men joining Risperdal class action lawsuits each month as media coverage about the disorder is growing. When they Google “get rid of man boobs,” many men are surprised to learn that they’re not as alone as they thought. In fact, taking Risperdal can result in a man growing up to the equivalent of a D-cup bra size.

Gynecomastia isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can be ostracizing and lead to being outcast from peers, depression and generally damaging a person’s self-esteem and social life. Stopping Risperdal doesn’t get rid of male breasts, and surgery is usually required. This is both costly and dangerous. It may be considered an elective surgery by many insurance providers, resulting in a medical bill that’s thousands of dollars. Many young men and/or their families simply can’t afford this. Joining a Risperdal multidistrict litigation (MDL) can help these victims get the financial compensation they deserve.

Gynecomastia is often misdiagnosed as pseudogynecomcastia and lipomastia, which is fat deposits that happen to be in the breast area — usually of obese men. However, gynecomastia is the result of the growth of breast tissue and glands. There’s a big difference between the growth of fat deposits and the growth of breast tissue. Young men in puberty are most at risk for gynecomastia when hormone changes work hand in hand with the drug.

The biggest symptom of gynecomastia is, of course, the growth of breasts but this can be difficult to catch since the growth may be very slow. However, the growth is also usually symmetrical, which makes it even more challenging to identify. Sometimes the nipple can feel rubbery and less common, the enlargement is bigger on one size. Tenderness and sensitivity are also common symptoms, but actual pain is very rare.

The good news is that gynecomastia doesn’t seem to have a correlation to male breast cancer. Male breast cancer is a completely different, unrelated disorder that usually includes a lump that feels hard, skin dimpling and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the armpit area. Only one percent of all breast cancer victims are men, and they don’t tend to have “man boobs” more than average. However, gynecomastia is still a very embarrassing disorder that critics say wasn’t properly addressed on any warning labels.

Unsuspecting Victims

The fact that Risperdal is an anti-psychotic prescribed to young men can exacerbate the occurrence of man boobs. The patients and their families are already handling a difficult situation and trying to find the right balance of medications. Add in what some boys describe as a shameful side effect, and the teen years for these young patients are even more trying. High school is challenging enough without adding male breasts into the mix.

Sadly, many men are now well into their 20s and even 30s and have yet to discover that a drug was the cause of their male breasts. They may not be able to afford surgery. Their social and romantic lives may have taken a heavy beating. By joining a class action lawsuit, they can finally get the compensation they so deserve.

Did You or Your Son Get Male Breasts from Risperdal?

If you or your son developed male breasts from Risperdal after taking the drug between the ages of 10 and 18, you might have a Risperdal legal claim. Find out more by visiting the Risperdal Side Effects, Male Breast Growth Class Action Lawsuit Investigation today. After submitting your information, an attorney will be in touch if you qualify for a free Risperdal claim review.