Three lawsuits involving the antipsychotic medication Risperdal have recently been rescheduled by the Philadelphia Court if Common Pleas. Such lawsuits allege that the use of Risperdal by boys and men resulted in a condition known as gynecomastia, or male breast growth, and they may be of interest to California families considering a Risperdal lawsuit.
New Start Dates For Risperdal Lawsuits
A court order dated September 24, 2014 reschedules that start of a Risperdal lawsuit, Goldenburg vs. Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, Etal, from September 29, 2014, to November 3, 2014. The start of PP Etal vs. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen-Pharmaceuticals, Inc., has been moved back from November 3, 2014, to January 3, 2015. A third trial, WC Etal vs. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Etal, is now set to commence on an unspecified date in February 2015. A total of more than 700 Risperdal lawsuits are now pending in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania alone.
About Risperdal
Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic drug that is commonly used in the treatment of various psychiatric conditions like bipolar mania, schizophrenia, and autism-associated irritability. The FDA warns that the medication may cause serious side effects, including gynecomastia. However, the drug is FDA-approved for use in California and other U.S. patients under the age of 18, as well as with adults.
Risperdal can block the body’s regulation of prolactin, and this can lead to elevated levels of prolactin in the bloodstream. This is turn can promote male breast enlargement in some boys and men. Tenderness, swelling and nipple discharge may occur as well. The emotional and social aspects of gynecomastia can be damaging to patients, and a Risperdal lawsuit has been filed in some cases.
The effects of gynecomastia are permanent, and breast reduction surgery has followed in some cases. There is no known treatment that can reverse male breast enlargement related to Risperdal use.
$2.2 Million Fine in 2013
In November 2013, an agreement was reached between the United States Department of Justice and two manufacturers, Johnson & Johnson and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. The companies agreed to pay a fine of $2.2 million related to their Risperdal marketing practices. They also pled guilty to a criminal misdemeanor at the time.
A Recent Study Regarding Risperdal and Children
A study recently discussed in the May 2014 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry addressed the issue of diabetes and weight gain in males under the age of 18 that had received antipsychotics. The 12-year study of 48,299 youth in Denmark concluded that antipsychotic medications did increase the incidence of type 2 diabetes.
Want to File a Risperdal Lawsuit in California?
California patients who believe they have suffered from Risperdal side effects like gynecomastia may qualify for compensation for medical expenses, emotional distress and other losses pertaining to their condition. Please contact Attorney Group for California to discuss any questions that you may have. An initial, no-cost consultation can help you determine if you have a claim. A Risperdal lawsuit may be filed on your behalf. Contact us today to find out more.
