The antipsychotic medication risperidone has been linked with certain serious complications, including some long-term side effects of taking risperidone.

What is Risperidone?

Risperidone (also sold under the brand name Risperdal) is what’s known as an atypical antipsychotic, and is used to treat a variety of mental and mood disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and more. Risperdal is manufactured by Janssen, a subsidiary of pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, and was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993. It’s intended to help patients think more clearly by restoring the balance of some of the brain’s natural substances.

While risperidone has so far been approved for the treatment of adult disorders, WebMD says that it is sometimes used off-label in children.

What are Common Risperidone Side Effects?

Any medication will come with certain side effects, and risperidone is no different. Common complications of risperidone include:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Drooling
• Nausea/vomiting
• Weight Gain
• Tiredness
• Restlessness
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Stomach pain
• Vision problems
• Late/missed menstrual periods
• Decreased sexual ability
• Anxiety
• Breast enlargement (gynecomastia)
• Others

Is Long-Term Risperidone Use Dangerous?

There are certain long-term side effects of taking risperidone, which develop over time with more exposure to the medication. These long-term side effects can include changes in heart rhythm, weight gain, high blood sugar, and tardive dyskinesia.

Gynecomastia, or male breast growth, can be caused by exposure to risperidone, as the drug causes a dramatic increase in the body’s prolactin levels, a hormone that stimulates breast development, especially in children.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology in 2006 noted that the long-term side effects of taking risperidone with regard to prolactin levels have not been extensively documented.

“Risperidone administered to adolescents at doses commonly used for the treatment of psychotic symptoms can strongly increase prolactin levels, with clinical consequences such as gynecomastia and/or galactorrhea,” the researchers warned. “Given that the long-term effects of antipsychotic drug-induced hyperprolactinemia are not well documented…risperidone should be administered with caution to children and adolescents.”

Has Janssen Pharmaceuticals Been Successfully Sued?

Yes. In 2019, a jury awarded a Maryland man $8 billion in punitive damages, but that was reduced by a judge to $6.8 million. Janssen Pharmaceuticals is appealing the decision to award even the reduced amount.

Plaintiff Nicholas Murray filed his lawsuit in 2013, alleging that he had grown enlarged breasts as a result of taking Risperdal at the age of 9. He said his doctor prescribed Risperdal in 2003 to help with Murray’s autism. In his lawsuit, Murray alleged Janssen had failed to warn the medical community that boys taking the drug could develop enlarged breasts.

Murray was awarded $680,000 in compensatory damages in March 2016.

Does Weight Loss Usually Reduce Risperdal-induced Breasts?

No, losing weight will not help because male breast development is due to hormonal changes that cause glandular tissue to grow. This glandular tissue often is only reduced through the means of surgery.

In 2016, CNN interviewed a young man who said growing breasts was worse than dealing with bipolar disorder, which was the reason he was placed on Risperdal. Eddie Bible told CNN that when he was 13 years old, he thought he might need to get a training bra because his breasts were bigger than those of some of the girls at his school.

Bible said he was so humiliated, he stopped going out with friends. He disliked going to school because he felt people were looking at him, and in the locker room, he would have to deal with boys pointing and staring at him.

Bible, who also filed a lawsuit regarding the long-term side effects of taking risperidone, told CNN, “Looking back on it, I feel like an experiment.”

Can I File a Risperidone Side Effects Lawsuit?

If you or someone you love has suffered long-term side effects of taking risperidone, such as gynecomastia, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. Of course, filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by such complications, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can often be a daunting prospect, especially while you’re dealing with health complications, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

Join a Free Risperdal Side Effects Lawsuit Investigation

If you or your son took Risperdal and experienced any of the following Risperdal side effects listed below, you may qualify to pursue compensation for your injuries:

• Male breast growth
• Man boobs
• Gynecomastia
• Painful breasts
• Nipple pain
• Nipple discharge

See if you qualify by filling out the form on this page for a free case evaluation by a Risperdal gynecomastia attorney. 

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