In 2015, we alerted you to the dangerous side effects of Risperdal, a bipolar drug. Now, it has been reported this month that 13,000 men are suing the drug’s manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, saying it gave them breasts through a condition known as gynecomastia (breast growth).
If you or a family member taken Risperdal as a child or adolescent and developed gynecomastia as a result? If so, you may want to learn more about dangerous side effects and the potential for filing a lawsuit.
Background
Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication sold by Johnson & Johnson and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat schizophrenia. Eventually, the FDA approved Risperdal for additional uses, including bipolar disorder and autism. It is also used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, insomnia and depression. Unfortunately, Risperdal can cause serious side effects.
Risperdal and Gynecomastia
A growing body of research has shown a disturbing link between Risperdal and gynecomastia, which is the enlargement of a man's breasts, sometimes due to hormone imbalance or hormone therapy. With Risperdal, the problems stem from an overabundance of the hormone prolactin. Hundreds of boys who took Risperdal suffered breast tissue enlargement; some were forced to have surgery to remove the tissue.
Even more disturbing, Johnson & Johnson may have tried to conceal information that indicated Risperdal could cause male breast growth in boys in order to protect sales of the drug. Risperdal lawsuits also claim that the company illegally marketed this powerful antipsychotic drug to children.
In 2006, after more than a decade of Risperdal’s availability on the market, Johnson & Johnson added gynecomastia as a side effect on the drug’s label.
Other Side Effects
Risperdal can also cause movement disorders, diabetes and even death. As a result of these side effects, a number of patients and their families filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson.
No-Cost Evaluation
Hundreds of young men and boys have filed Risperdal lawsuits seeking compensation from Johnson & Johnson for the pain and suffering they endured after developing gynecomastia. Since the drug first went on the market in 1994, Johnson & Johnson has paid out in excess of $2 billion in penalties and complaints.
Risperdal gynecomastia is a devastating condition that can have far reaching effects on a boy’s social development and quality of life. The Risperdal attorneys at Nager, Romaine & Schneiberg are here to advocate on your behalf. Call us for a free, no obligation Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuit consultation to ensure you are treated fairly and receive all of the compensation the law allows. We are here to passionately advocate on your behalf.
Call us at 216-289-4740, or toll-free at (855) GOT-HURT. You can also fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
