This is Michael Brady Lynch, lead trial attorney for The Michael Brady Lynch Firm.
This is truly a sad story of big business at its very worst.
The popular drug Risperdal is the focus of mounting filings around the country on behalf of men and boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia, or male breast growth, due to their use of the antipsychotic drug. In fact, as of October 2012, Johnson & Johnson had already settled a handful of Risperdal claims, even as the litigation surrounding the medication continued to grow. Just a little over a year later, the company reached a settlement with the federal government to resolve charges that it improperly marketed a number of drugs, including Risperdal.
The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is investigating potential Risperdal lawsuits on behalf of men and boys who suffer from gynecomastia that may be linked to Risperdal. If you or a loved one took Risperdal, you may be eligible for compensation if you experienced:
Male breast growth
Lactation
Liposuction, mastectomy or other surgical procedures to remove excess breast tissue
Some background on Risperdal:
Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic that is used to treat adolescents and adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, as well as irritability associated with autistic disorder in children ages 6-to-16. Risperdal is also being used more and more as a treatment for ADHD, even though this is an off-label use that has not been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). While Risperdal has been on the market since 1996, it wasn’t until 2006 that the FDA approved the use of Risperdal in children.
The active ingredient in Risperdal is risperidone, which works by affecting the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These neurotransmitters are known to affect mood and behavior. Another atypical antipsychotic, called Invega, is made with an active ingredient that is a metabolite of risperidone. Because it behaves in much the same way as Risperdal, The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is also evaluating risperidone lawsuits on behalf of men and boys who used Invega and developed gynecomastia.
A number of studies have indicated that use of Risperdal may cause male breast development. In 2006, one such study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that the use of risperidone in children was associated with excessive levels of the hormone prolactin, which is tied to female breast development and lactation. Three years later, research published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology revealed that these high levels of prolactin could persist for as many as two years.
According to risperidone lawsuits, symptoms of male breast growth associated with Risperdal or Invega may include:
Swollen breast tissue
Tenderness in the breast
Pain in the breast
Nipple discharge from one or both breasts
Risperdal Litigation and Children
Many Risperdal lawsuits involve children, especially boys who allegedly developed gynecomastia due to their use of the medication. In addition to claiming the use of Risperdal caused male breast growth, lawsuits filed on behalf of children allege that Johnson & Johnson improperly marketed the drug for pediatric use before the FDA cleared it for such purposes.
In October 2012, Bloomberg.com reported that Johnson & Johnson had settled five lawsuits over children who allegedly suffered from male breast growth. Terms of those settlements were not revealed, and additional Risperdal children litigation claims continue to make their way through the courts.
In November 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay $2.2 million to settle charges levied by the federal government that it improperly marketed certain drugs, including Risperdal. Among other things, the U.S. Department of Justice had alleged that Johnson & Johnson promoted off-label use of Risperdal in children, elderly dementia patients, and the mentally disabled.
If you or a loved one was prescribed Risperdal and developed abnormal breast growth, please contact The Michael Brady Lynch Firm for a free, no obligation evaluation of your claim.
About the Firm: The Michael Brady Lynch Firm is a trial firm with a focus on pharmaceutical mass tort cases involving SSRI and Anti-Seizure Medication Birth Defects including Lexapro, Zoloft, Effexor, Prozac, Celexa, Paxil, Depakote and Topamax, Xarelto bleeding injuries, Mirena IUD, Actos Bladder Cancer, Testosterone heart attack and stroke injuries and medical device cases including DePuy Hip and Trans-Vaginal Mesh cases. Contact us today if you or someone you know has experienced side effects involving these products.