Risperdal Breast Growth Lawsuit May Be Headed to Trial This Month
Trial may begin later this month for a Risperdal lawsuit filed by the family of a 16 year old boy who allegedly developed breasts after taking the medication for treatment of bipolar disorder, which may become the first of hundreds of similar cases to reach a jury if the drug maker does not reach an agreement to settle the product liability lawsuit.
Risperdal (risperidone) is an atypical antipsychotic medication that was approved by the FDA for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other conditions. It has been widely used by children for autism, irritability, aggression and behavior disorders.
In recent years, information has surfaced that suggests side effects of Risperdal may cause the development of breasts among young boys using the medication, which is a medical condition known as gynecomastia.
Learn More About
Side effects of Risperdal linked to risk of breast growth among young boys, or gynecomastia.
Johnson & Johnson faces a growing number of Risperdal breast growth lawsuits filed in courts throughout the country, which allege that the drug maker failed to adequately research the medication or warn about the risk of boys developing breasts following use of the medication.
Boys have reported developing breasts measuring as large as a 38D cup size after using the medication, according to allegations raised in some of the cases, with breast removal surgery necessary in many of the lawsuits.
According to a report by 6 News in Corpus Christi, a Texas judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson to enter mediation with the family of a 16 year old boy, indicating that if an agreement to settle the Risperdal case is not reached, trial could begin on August 15.
The teen alleges that he suddenly grew breasts after using Rispedal for just 18 months. He is considering a double mastectomy, and claims that the development of breasts has significantly affected his quality of life.
Risperdal Breast Growth Settlements
Johnson & Johnson has been involved in Riserdal litigation for years, but this case could be the first male breast growth lawsuit to go before a jury if the matter is not resolved.
In September 2012, it was reported that Johnson & Johnson reached a Risperdal settlement in a case brought by a 21 year old man, who alleged that side effects of the medication caused him to suffer severe psychological trauma and undergo surgery to have the breasts removed. That agreement was reached shortly before trial was to begin in the case.
Shortly after that, agreements were reached to settle Risperdal claims brought on behalf of at least five other boys who alleged that they experienced unnatural male breast growth.
Most of the litigation pending throughout the United States is filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, but a number of cases are also centralized in the New Jersey court system as part of an MCL, or multi-county litigation, which is centralized before Judge Jessica R. Mayer in Middlesex County.
According to an updated case list (PDF) provided by the New Jersey courts on August 1, at least 463 Risperdal claims are centralized in the state.
As young men continue to discover that their breast growth problems may be due to Risperdal use as a child, the number of lawsuits filed is expected to continue to increase.
1 Comments
FeliciaOctober 3, 2013 at 10:44 am
Sedation, was like a zombie walking around! When he talked his speech was so slow to respond that it sounded robotic! His teachers were very concerned!!! He was constantly made fun of and teased over his breasts and the size of them! He was tortured over it! And still is! He wears his clothes extremely over sized so the you can see them! He even wears a jacket over that! Even if its 100• outside! [Show More]Sedation, was like a zombie walking around! When he talked his speech was so slow to respond that it sounded robotic! His teachers were very concerned!!! He was constantly made fun of and teased over his breasts and the size of them! He was tortured over it! And still is! He wears his clothes extremely over sized so the you can see them! He even wears a jacket over that! Even if its 100• outside! He secluded himself from people to keep from being tortured about it! It even came to the point to where we had to take him out of school, and homeschool him! He suffers VERY severe acne, a very large abdomen, extremely severe muscle spasms to the point where he screams in pain! He developed sugar problems, and was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome! He was so hyper on it that no none knew what to do! He even to the desks apart in school, and they just let him have his own little space and done class while he did what he thought needed to be done! It go to the point, he was having severe erections, and sexual urges at age 6! One of his doctors has suggested a mastectomy, and tubes to be implanted for drainage! It has been a very medical related journey! I wish they'd check these meds out thoroughly before giving them to these children! It was so bad with the sedation then to manic episodes, his teacher retired the yet after she had him in JER class! That was just the first grade!