Risperdal Lawsuits – Information, Risks and Assistance
About Risperdal
Risperdal is an antipsychotic prescription drug manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. It is prescribed for the treatment of various psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder, acute mania, schizophrenia, autistic disorders and other mental illnesses.
However, studies have linked the use of Risperdal (generic: Risperidone) to a condition called gynecomastia, which is breast growth in men. This is caused by stimulated production of prolactin, the hormone that controls breast growth for milk production. In women, it can cause spontaneous lactation. There have also been reports that Risperdal use leads to diabetes.
If you or your son took Risperdal during and subsequently developed gynecomastia, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact one of the Risperdal injury attorneys in this directory for a free claim evaluation.
Risks and Effects
Information linking Risperdal to gynecomastia made it to the public domain in 1999, where a study developed a link when the drug was used in combination with Prozac (generic: fluoxetine). Another study indicated the same increase in prolactin levels for Risperdal administered to adolescents, a condition that persisted for two years following discontinuation.
Gynecomastia can affect one or both breast tissues, often unevenly. While it does not have further health threats, breast growth in a boy could have serious psychological and emotional effects, especially given that subjects on the drug are mentally unstable to begin with.
Unethical and Illegal Marketing Tactics by J&J
It is alleged that Johnson & Johnson, through its sales force, actively encouraged psychiatrists to prescribe Risperdal to children even though it lacked data to show that it was safe for children. In addition, it is alleged that J&J actively concealed important safety information from studies about Risperdal that use could lead to diabetes.
Legal Action Against Risperdal
Numerous lawsuits have been filed against J&J The first Risperdal lawsuit was concluded in February 2015 in Philadelphia with a verdict of $2.5 million against J&J. The jury determined that J&J failed to adequately warn the patient and physicians about the increased risks of hormonal imbalance and resulting gynecomastia.
The boy had been given Risperdal to treat autism-related symptoms from 2002 when he was seven to 2007. At the time the boy began taking the drug, it was only FDA-approved for use with adults. Labels at the time indicated occurrence of gynecomastia as being rare, which the manufacturer argued was the result of intentionally manipulated data.
If you or your son has developed gynecomastia after the use of Risperdal, you may be entitled to financial compensation. If that is the case, we urge you to browse our directory of attorneys to find a Risperdal – Gynecomastia Attorney near you to evaluate your case. All of the defective drug lawyers in this directory offer free claim evaluations.