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Risperdal Male Breast Growth

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The antipsychotic drug, Risperdal, may result in excessive male breast growth, especially when taken by young boys. This condition, known as gynecomastia, can result in pain and embarrassment for its victims, and often requires extensive surgery to remove excess breast tissue.

Legal Help for Risperdal Victims

Bernstein Liebhard LLP provides legal assistance to men and boys who may have experienced the growth of female like breasts due to their use of Risperdal. If you or someone you love were diagnosed with gynecomastia while using this medication, please contact our Firm by calling (888) 994-5118.

How Dose Risperdal Cause Male Breast Development?

Risperdal was initially approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.  In 1969, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals sought to have the drug approved for certain pediatric indications, but the FDA declined due to lack of evidence regarding its safety. In 2006 and 2007, Risperdal’s approved uses were expanded to include the treatment of bipolar disorder in adults and children, schizophrenia in children, and certain behavioral symptoms in children with autism.

Risperdal (risperidone) works by blocking the activity of dopamine in certain areas of the brain, which in turn impacts the pituitary gland. Among other things, the pituitary gland is responsible for the production of prolactin, a hormone which plays a role in female breast development and lactation. In recent years, research has accumulated that links Risperdal to excessive levels of prolactin and the development of gynecomastia in boys and men.

• 1999: A case study published in Psychopharmacology detailed a patient who experienced excessive male breast growth while taking 0.5mg of risperidone in conjunction with fluoxetine (an antidepressant sold under the brand name Paxil).
• 2006: Research appearing in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacologyreported that teens treated with Risperdal were found to have elevated levels of prolactin. The higher prolactin levels persisted for as long as two years once the drug was stopped.
• 2009:”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,” according to a study in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology.

What is Gynecomastia?

Gynecomastia is a condition in which men or boys develop female-like breast. The excess breast tissue is not related to weight gain, and will not go away even if the individual loses weight. In addition to the growth of mammary tissue, those suffering from gynecomastia might experience:

• Pain in the breast
• Tenderness
• Nipple discharge
• Lactation

Gynecomastia will not go away on its own, even once a patient stops taking Risperdal. Mild cases of male breast growth may resolve with liposuction. But more serious cases will require extensive surgery, up to and including mastectomy. Once the tissue has been removed, reconstructive surgery of the skin may be needed.

Risperdal Lawsuit News

The pain and emotional trauma suffered by victims of gynecomastia is very real. If male breast growth is the result of Risperdal, victims may be entitled to compensation from Johnson & Johnson and Janssen. A successful lawsuit could provide financial damages to cover:

• Medical bill for surgery and other treatments
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress

Hundreds of Risperdal lawsuits have been filed in U.S. courts on behalf of gynecomastia victims. This includes more than 1,600 cases that are currently pending in a mass tort program underway in the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia. That litigation convened several male breast growth trials in 2015, three of which resulted in substantial verdicts for plaintiffs. Read More

Learn More about Your Legal Options

If you or a loved one experienced male breast growth that could be associated with Risperdal, now is the time to learn more about your possible legal options. To do so, please call (888) 994-5118 to contact an attorney at Bernstein Liebhard LLP.