The number of Risperdal lawsuits tripled in just 6 months. From January to June, almost 4,000 cases were filed in Pennsylvania. The cases involve males using the drug to treat mental health and ADHD issues. Instead of helping them, the medication caused a condition called gynecomastia, which causes breast tissue enlargement in males.
About Risperdal
Approved in 1993 and manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Risperdal is an “atypical” antipsychotic, because it targets serotonin plus dopamine. Intake can be as a tablet, liquid or injectable form. It isn’t just for the treatment of mental and autistic issues, Risperdal is regularly prescribed to children with ADHD — a condition related to excessive motor activity, inattention, and impulsive behavior.
When this occurs, a medication is off-label, which means doctors prescribe it for uses not directly approved by the FDA. There are no laws against this, and it is very common in the medical community. Currently, 3.5 million children diagnosed with ADHD take Risperdal. Millions of children take this medication every day unaware that researchers linked Risperdal to gynecomastia, a condition in which young boys develop large breasts.
Risperdal & Gynecomastia
Risperdal greatly increases the levels of prolactin in more than 90% of users. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates the production of milk in pregnant women. This causes breast development regardless of sex. Growths usually begin as a small lump under the nipple, while the nipple gradually grows larger and tenderer. This condition could affect either breasts or just one.
Risperdal Lawsuits
In 2016, a Pennsylvania jury awarded $70 million to the family of Andrew Yount. Yount developed breasts at the age of five from taking Risperdal. This is the fifth verdict in favor of the families harmed by the drug. All five juries who decided the cases found that Johnson & Johnson failed to provide adequate warnings to patients and doctors about the risks associated with the medication.
Plaintiffs may file more Risperdal cases in the wake of the United States Supreme Court’s recent jurisdictional decision in Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. Superior Court of California, San Francisco County. The case surrounds 600 plaintiffs sued Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) for injuries caused by their drug Plavix. However, 592 plaintiffs were not California residents.
BMS manufacturers and has their main headquarters in New York and New Jersey. The company just sells Plavix in California. The United States Supreme Court found that plaintiffs need to file in a state where the injury occurred. Janssen Pharmaceuticals has research and business offices all over Pennslyvania. Therefore, more plaintiffs will most likely choose Pennsylvania to file, and the number of new cases could triple again in the second part of the year.
Your Rights
When manufacturers produce unsafe products that create pain and suffering, you deserve compensation. Although no amount of money will change the fact that you have suffered a serious injury as a result of manufacturer irresponsibility, compensation will help offset your current and future medical costs, as well as provide for the pain and suffering you have experienced. By filing, you may also help protect other men and their families from needless distress.
If you or someone you know has suffered an adverse event after using Risperdal, you may be eligible for compensation to ease the financial and emotional burdens you are experiencing. Contact us today to set up a free consultation, during which we will listen to your story, answer any questions you may have and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.