Risperdal Lawsuit Attorney
A Risperdal lawsuit attorney may be able help patients who took the drug and suffered serious complications. Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic medication used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability caused by autism. However, the use of Risperdal has been linked to gynecomastia, or the enlargement of male breast tissue, specifically seen in young boys who are taking the medication. Affected patients and their families may be able to file a lawsuit and recover compensation with the help of a dangerous drug attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Risperdal lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Have You Seen Risperdal Lawsuit Commercial?
You may have seen a Risperdal lawsuit commercial on television and wondered whether you or a loved one have been affected by Risperdal and, if so, whether you are eligible to pursue a claim against the manufacturer or others. The purpose of this article is to provide you with additional information so that you have a better understanding of your options.
What is Risperdal?
Marketed and manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, Risperdal, or risperidone, is used to treat irritability in those with autism, mixed and manic states associated with bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia, and adolescent schizophrenia. However, the use of the medication, particularly in young men, has been linked to gynecomastia, a condition in which males develop enlarged breast tissues. Although the condition is non-cancerous, the growth of breasts in males may lead to lasting psycho-social harm due to severe embarrassment. In some cases, surgery may be required to correct the condition.
Risperdal may significantly increase levels of prolactin in the body, a hormone typically released to stimulate milk production and breast growth. In females, the medication may cause a spontaneous production of milk while in males, the drug may cause enlargement of the male breast tissue.
A 2006 study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology concluded that adolescent boys taking the medication for treatment of psychotic symptoms could lead to an increase in prolactin levels, with clinical consequences including galoctorrhea and/or gynecomastia.
Since the long-term effects of antipsychotic drug-induced hyperprolactinemia have not yet been well-documented, particularly in terms of pubertal delay, growth, infertility and osteopenia, the drug should only be administered with caution to adolescents and children.
Lauren A. on May 16, 2016
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Risperdal Side Effects
According to plaintiffs working with a Risperdal lawsuit attorney, the medication has been linked to many adverse side effects such as:
- Weight gain
- Irregular heart rhythm, heart attack, cardiac complications
- Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS)
- Increased risk of death in those with dementia
- Tardive dyskinesia (involuntary movement disorder)
- Pituitary tumors
- Sexual dysfunction
- Bone loss (demineralization)
- High blood sugar, diabetes (hypoglycemia)
- Galactorrhea (milk production from breasts)
- Gynecomastia (growth of male breasts)
Risperdal Lawsuit Claims
A number of lawsuits have been filed against drug maker Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries alleging personal injuries caused by the medication. Likewise, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has included numerous warnings on the drug’s label.
Lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson also allege that the medication did not perform as the manufacturer promised, and that the company recklessly put the health of the disabled, the elderly and young children at risk. Additionally, plaintiffs working with a Risperdal lawsuit attorney allege that the medication caused gynecomastia, among other serious side effects. Claims also allege that the manufacturer promoted the use of the medication in children and those with mental disabilities, even though it did not receive FDA approval to market to children until 2006.
One Risperdal lawsuit alleges that the drug makers falsely advertised the safety and effectiveness of the drug and “improperly minimized [its] adverse effects.” The defendants are accused of marketing Risperdal for unapproved uses and of continuing to market the drug as safe and effective “despite patient reports of adverse events and warnings from the [FDA].” Risperdal lawsuit attorneys are seeking damages for negligence, breach of warranty, inadequate warnings, and violations of federal regulations with respect to the drug.
The United States government has also filed a separate action against the drug makers, claiming that they illegally promoted Risperdal for unapproved uses.
Has There Been A Risperdal Settlement?
In November 2013, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries reached a Risperdal settlement with the federal government. The companies admitted wrongdoing with respect to Risperdal promotion and agreed to pay more than $2.2 billion to resolve civil and criminal charges relating to Risperdal and other drugs. At the time, the agreement was the third-largest settlement involving a pharmaceutical company in U.S. history.
In addition to the settlement with the federal government, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries have been sued by several state governments over marketing practices for the drug. Some of these cases proceeded to trial, including in Arkansas where a court imposed a $1.2 billion judgment (which was subsequently reduced on appeal and later settled) and Texas, where a $158 million Risperdal settlement was reached in the middle of a trial.
Other cases have resulted in millions of dollars in verdicts to plaintiffs who claimed the drug maker failed to provide adequate warnings and that Risperdal led to their development of gynecomastia.
Settlement of state and federal lawsuits do not impair the ability of affected patients and their families to bring individual Risperdal lawsuits. Several cases have gone to trial and resulted in substantial verdicts against the drug companies. A large-scale Risperdal settlement has not been announced as of January 2017, but it is anticipated that settlements will be discussed as more cases prepare for trial.
How a Risperdal Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who are injured by Risperdal may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- The permanency of the injury
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Scarring as a result medical treatment for their injuries
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Risperdal, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Risperdal lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
