Risperdal is an antipsychotic, also known by its generic name, risperidone. The drug is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. In some cases, it can be used to treat irritability in children with autism, says Psycom.

Less commonly, it can be used to treat major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, delusional parasitosis, or psychosis or agitation that can be associated with dementia. However, the FDA has not approved it for these purposes.

How does Risperdal work?

Risperdal is part of a class of drugs known as atypical antipsychotics. They are also known as second-generation antipsychotics. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, explains that Risperdal works by rebalancing dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain. This helps to improve mood, behavior, and thinking.

Are there side effects of Risperdal?

Like many drugs, Risperdal has some side effects. Common side effects of Risperdal include:

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Breast enlargement
• Constipation
• Decreased sexual ability
• Diarrhea
• Dry or discolored skin
• Dry mouth
• Heartburn
• Increased appetite
• Increased saliva
• Late or missed menstrual periods
• Muscle or joint pain
• Nausea
• Restlessness
• Stomach pain
• Trouble sleeping
• Trouble urinating
• Weight gain
• Vision problems

Are the side effects serious?

Some side effects may be manageable, but other side effects may be more cause for concern. Heart problems are possibly connected to Risperdal and may be a long-term side effect.

Child Mind Institute says that the drug is somewhat controversial because it has been linked to substantial weight gain and to neurological effects that could be serious.

Can Risperdal cause gynecomastia?

One of the side effects of Risperdal may be breast enlargement. Unfortunately, this may be the case for both men and women and can be a source of significant distress. Thousands of patients have filed lawsuits against the makers of Risperdal saying that the drug can cause gynecomastia, or male breast growth. According to the patients, they were not informed of the gynecomastia risk.

Patients claim that Risperdal may increase the amounts of prolactin produced in the user of the drug. Prolactin is a hormone that causes breast development.

When produced in men, it can cause breast growth as well. Some symptoms of the condition may include pain in the breast or nipple pain, as well as nipple discharge. Another side effect of elevated prolactin levels in males is decreased sperm production, says Child Mind Institute.

A study published in 2006 in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology suggests that the drug does indeed increase prolactin — to a dramatic degree. According to the study, this was the case in use of Risperdal by adolescents. 

Another study, published in 2014 by University of British Columbia researchers, suggested that compared to men who took no drugs, males who took Risperdal were 67 percent more likely to develop gynecomastia.

Child Mind Institute reports that of second-generation antipsychotics, Risperdal shows the greatest increase in patient prolactin levels.

Happily, gynecomastia is uncommon. Child Mind Institute goes on to explain that only around 1 to 10 percent of patients with hyperprolactinemia, or elevated prolactin levels, develop gynecomastia.

Can Someone with Gynecomastia Ever Get Rid of It?

The embarrassing impact of developing breasts due to taking a medication like Risperdal can be mostly emotional in nature. However, plenty of patients concerned about the effects of gynecomastia want to know whether or not there’s a way to reverse this condition after they get it.

While in most cases stopping the root of the problem is the best way to end the development of breast tissue for a young boy or man, this is not always the only way to end the embarrassment. Some men who develop breast tissue have to contemplate going through more advanced measures to remove the problem, including surgery.

As a result of these serious and lasting Risperdal side effects, especially when the male develops more breast tissue on one side than another, research studies have recommended that doctors exercise caution in deciding whether or not to administer Risperdal to men and younger boys in particular.

Studies published in both the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology and the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology both show that there are concerns in the medical community about the connection between Risperdal and the development of gynecomastia.

Even if the condition of gynecomastia is ultimately reversed, a man who had to incur the surgical costs of going through that removal will have medical expenses and other damages could be owed to the patient. In that case, filing a class action lawsuit against the maker of Risperdal could be the victim’s way of holding the manufacturer accountable.

Have Risperdal Lawsuits Been Filed?

In 2019, a jury awarded $8 billion in damages to Nicholas M., a Maryland man who said that he developed breasts after using Risperdal — he had claimed that the company should have warned him of this potential risk. The decision was made against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

The Philadelphia Inquirer noted that this verdict was an uncommonly large one for punitive damages. The large amount of damages was reportedly awarded because of the company’s failure not only to warn the man who filed the Risperdal lawsuit, but because of its allegedly “pervasive nationwide effort to illegally market Risperdal and downplay its very serious risks on a systemic level.” 

Despite this notable decision, the Risperdal patient will never see $8 billion in damages. Since the 2019 decision, Philadelphia County Judge Kenneth Powell drastically reduced the verdict. Now, the verdict stands at $6.8 million. This amount is ten times the compensatory damages established at $680,000.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Judge Powell provided only two sentences in articulating the verdict reduction. Allegedly, this did not include any explanation for why the verdict was so drastically reduced.

Nicholas aims to appeal this new decision, arguing that the reduced amount serves as basically no punishment for the company. He also protested the reversal of what he called a valid jury decision. Ultimately, he hopes to have the original verdict reestablished.

Janssen, on the other hand, expressed approval of the reduction, saying the judge’s decision was appropriate. Company spokesperson Andrew Wheatley said that the company had not been able to present “a meaningful defense” against Nicholas’ claims, because the court had chosen to exclude important evidence. The company reportedly insisted that the Risperdal label provided all necessary information about the drug’s risks and benefits, and argues that they were not able to sufficiently show this in court. 

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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