Risperidone, commonly sold under the brand name Risperdal®, is a type of antipsychotic medication used to treat people who suffer from behavioral disorders, mental illnesses, or other developmental disabilities. It’s mainly prescribed to treat symptoms of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability in people with autism.

Risperdal® helps by changing the activity of certain natural substances in the brain to improve thinking, mood, and behavior. Although Risperdal® works to improve symptoms for you or a loved one who suffers from any of these diagnoses, it can also cause some detrimental side effects.

In 2006, clinical studies reveal Risperdal® may increase the risk of developing gynecomastia, a condition that causes male breast tissue enlargment, among male adolscents and children. 

The adverse side effects from Risperdal® also include nipple pain or discharge, one of several symptoms tied to this emotionally damaging condition. To learn more about gynecomastia and the complications associated with Risperdal®, see our Complications page.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice stated the manufacturer of Risperdal®, Johnson & Johnson, illegally marketed the medication. Additional evidence supports the claims that the company did not wait to obtain FDA approval before promoting its use for children. For more information about Risperdal’s® manufacturer and their legal violations, click here. 

As a result, families are filing legal claims against the manufacturer since evidence shows the company deliberately misled the medical community about the extent of the risk of young men developing gynecomastia. Their misconduct affects some of the most vulnerable people in our society: children & adolescents with mental illness, behavioral disorders, and developmental disabilities.

Many have already recieved hundreds of thousands of dollars because Johnson & Johnson paid a $2.2 billion settlement to the US government to resolve charges of its illegal promotion of Risperdal® to children and the elderly. See our Lawsuits page for information on the lawsuits that have been settled and those still pending, as well as details on what you need to do if you have been injured and believe you may have a claim.

The development of gynecomastia in young male adolescents can be a humiliating, emotionally damaging condition. Thousands of men suffer from Risperdal’s® adverse side effects. 

To learn more about Risperdal®, why it is used, and some of the consequences it has caused, click here.

If you or a loved one developed breasts after taking Risperdal®, you may be entitled to compensation. Recovery may include past and future medical bills, lost wages, diminished quality of life, and pain and suffering.

To find out if you have a claim, please call Avram Blair & Associates P.C. at (800) 480-6438 or out our online contact form for a free consultation.