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A mass tort Risperdal litigation in Pennsylvania state court recently began its sixth trial over allegations that Risperdal causes male breast growth.
Plaintiff Tommy M. alleges he developed male breast growth, known clinically as gynecomastia, after four years of Risperdal treatment for anxiety, depression, and oppositional defiant disorder. He was diagnosed with gynecomastia in 2010 according to his Risperdal litigation.
Tommy now attributes his gynecomastia to the Risperdal he took. He argues that defendant Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the makers of Risperdal, didn’t do enough to warn the medical community and patients like himself about the risk of gynecomastia associated with Risperdal.
This Risperdal Lawsuit is Case No. 130501076 in the Court of Common Pleas for Philadelphia County.
Risperdal, also known as risperidone, is a psychiatric medication originally approved by the FDA in 1993. It’s now approved as a treatment for schizophrenia, bipolar mania and irritability associated with autism spectrum disorders. Doctors may prescribe Risperdal for other uses on a case-by-case basis.
Scientists believe that by dampening the effect of the neurotransmitter dopamine, Risperdal could also be causing male patients to grow breasts.
A reduction in dopamine activity can cause the pituitary gland to produce more prolactin, a hormone generally associated with breast growth and milk production in pregnant and nursing women.
Artificially elevated levels of prolactin can have the same effect in a male’s body, causing male patients to develop breasts that may grow as big as any woman’s.
Thousands Join in Risperdal Litigation
Tommy’s claim is one of around 2,000 similar claims that have been consolidated into the Risperdal mass tort program in Philadelphia, which has now been going on for about three years.
Another Risperdal litigation in Los Angeles now hosts around 16,000 claims. The first trials in that litigation are scheduled to begin in July 2017.
Generally, the plaintiffs in these Risperdal lawsuits claim Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately warn about the risk of gynecomastia associated with Risperdal.
Plaintiffs also note that Janssen Pharmaceuticals was subject to a $2.2 billion settlement with the federal government and several states’ attorneys general over allegations that, among other things, the company illegally promoted Risperdal for use in younger patients at a time when it was approved for use only in adults.
It wasn’t until 2006 that the FDA finally approved Risperdal for use in younger patients. Before that time, Janssen Pharmaceuticals allegedly promoted Risperdal as a treatment for several conditions other than those approved by the FDA.
At the same time, plaintiffs claim, Janssen Pharmaceuticals knew about Risperdal’s potential for causing gynecomastia, yet didn’t bother to put an adequate warning about that side effect on the drug’s label.
Evidence revealed in the course of the Risperdal litigation has shed some light on what Janssen Pharmaceuticals knew about the side effects of Risperdal. Corporate emails show Risperdal employees knew the drug is associated with higher levels of prolactin than have been found with some of its competitors.
Previous trials in the Risperdal litigation have yielded substantial victories for the plaintiffs. Jury awards have ranged from $500,000 to as high as $2.5 million.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The Risperdal attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual lawsuit or Risperdal class action lawsuit is best for you. [In general, Risperdal lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.] Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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Join a Free Invega or Risperdal Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you or your son took Invega or Risperdal between the ages of 10 and 18 years old and suffered gynecomastia (male breast growth), male breast pain, nipple pain, or nipple discharge, you may be entitled to compensation. See if you qualify by submitting your information below for a free and confidential case review.
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