Gynecomastia Lawsuit Filed Over Risperdal, Invega Use by Minor

A Louisiana mother has filed a gyncomsatia lawsuit against the makers of Risperdal and Invega, claiming that use of the antipsychotic drugs by her minor son caused him to develop breasts.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Miriam Riley in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana on November 25, seeking damages for injuries suffered by her 13 year old son, who is identified only as R.R. given the nature of the claim.

Risperdal (risperidone) and Invega (paliperidone) are atypical antipsychotic medications originally introduced for adults with schizophrenia. However, the medications have been widely used by children for bi-polar disorders, autism, irritability, aggression and behavior disorders.

In recent years, concerns have emerged about side effects of Risperdal and Invega, which have been linked to an increased risk of boys and young men developing a rare medical condition known as gynecomastia, which is associated with the growth of breasts, often resulting in the need for surgical removal.

Riley’s case joins a growing number of Risperdal gynecomsatia lawsuits being pursued in courts throughout the country on behalf of boys and young men who have experienced problems, with some of the complaints alleging that the drug caused the development of breasts as large as 38D cup size.

Most of the Risperdal litigation has been filed in Pennsylvania state court, where more than 1,000 gynecomastia cases are currently pending in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

In addition to the physical damages, plaintiffs allege that the psychological effects of Risperdal breast growth can have a devastating impact on the boys, greatly impacting their overall quality of life.

Riley’s lawsuit accuses the companies of manufacturing and designing a defective product, failure to warn, breach of warranty, negligence, redhibition, strict liability and violating federal laws. The lawsuit seeks damages for past, present and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost wages and earnings, loss of earning capacity, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.