Last fall, Johnson & Johnson settled with 6 of the males suing the company due to their affliction with gynecomastia following use of the prescription drug Risperdal. Although the amount of compensation received in these settlements is confidential, an attorney reported to several media outlets that plaintiffs were satisfied with what they received. Thousands of additional Risperdal Gynecomastia Lawsuit claims have been filed as the number of men, teenaged males, and boys as young as four are diagnosed with this unwarned side effect of breast growth. Bloomberg News reported that as of September 2012, there were around 130 lawsuits filed against J&J relating to Risperdal and Gynecomastia. In the time since then, the number has gone into the thousands.
What is Risperdal?
Risperdal (generic name risperidone) is a psychiatric medication known as an atypical antipsychotic drug. Usually, this product is prescribed in the treatment of schizophrenia, adolescent schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, as well as irritability and aggression in autistic patients.
Although it was approved for the treatment of schizophrenic adults in 1993, Risperdal was not approved for use in children until 2007. Following this FDA approval, its use in children has increased rapidly. Johnson & Johnson, the company that manufactures and markets Risperdal, has been accused of promoting risperidone (Risperdal) for unapproved uses including dementia, anxiety disorders, and even anger management. Patients taking Risperdal for the unapproved use of dementia were determined to have an increased rate of mortality as determined by the US Food and Drug Administration.
What is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is the medical term given to the swelling and growth of breast tissue in males, and this condition can affect either one or both of the breasts. Despite the lack of serious health threats, gynecomastia often results in significant emotional and psychological injuries to those it afflicts. Not only do males experience breast growth, sometimes they will also experience painful swelling and/or discharge from one or both breasts.
In some cases, gynecomastia is the result of changes in hormones during different physical development stages (infancy, puberty, between ages 50-80) due to changes in hormones. However, many prescription medications, including Risperdal, can cause this embarrassing and emotionally damaging condition.
Does Risperdal Cause Gynecomastia in Young Males?
As early as 1999, the Psychopharmacology Journal published a study implicating Risperdal in the development of male breasts when used with the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac). In June of 2006, Risperdal alone was linked to gynecomastia in young males by a study at Duke University. In this research scientists discovered both an increased risk of gynecomastia in males taking Risperdal and that many females taking the drug began to lactate before even reaching puberty. This link between males developing enlarged breasts and taking a risperidone antipsychotic medication is believed to be due to the drug’s property of increasing levels of prolactin, a hormone that regulates both breast growth and lactation.
File a Risperdal Lawsuit: Speak to a Gynecomastia Lawyer Today
If you or a loved one is experiencing the growth of breast tissue in males following use of the prescription antipsychotic medicine Risperdal, call the Willis Law Firm today, so we can properly evaluate your claim. This condition should not have happened to you, and the attorneys at our nationally recognized firm want to help you and your family obtain the settlement you deserve.
Located in Houston, TX, the Willis Law Firm and Team are currently pursuing over 500 cases of Risperdal Gynecomastia nationwide. Contact us as soon as possible because the window of time to pursue legal action is limited.
Free Risperdal Lawsuit Evaluation – Call Nationwide 1-800-883-9858