Get a Risperdal Lawyer to Get Justice
What is Risperdal?
Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic medication linked to the development of gynecomastia in males. Although Risperdal is an anti-psychotic drug, it has been prescribed to many patients of all ages to treat a variety of other health conditions. In fact, the drug has been aggressively marketed for “off-label” conditions such as:
- Autism (even absent irritability)
- ADHD
- Conduct Disorder
- OCD
- PTSD
- Oppositional-Defiant Disorder
- Disruptive Behavior Disorder
- Pervasive Developmental Disorder
- Tourette’s Syndrome
Who’s Responsible?
Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. and its parent company Johnson & Johnson were hit with a $1.2 billion penalty, for trying to minimize the risks associated with the drug Risperdal. Thus, a dedicated Risperdal lawyer is required to get the compensation that is justly deserved.
What Are The Risks?
For young males who have taken the drug Risperdal, side effects that require the assistance of a Risperdal lawyer include the following:
- Gynecomastia (male breast growth) which often requires surgical repair
- Elevated female hormone levels which impair sexual development and maturation
- Weight gain, which is an indication of increased female hormones and the onset of estrogenic side effects (gynecomastia)
How Bad is it?
The Wall Street Journal Health Blog wrote in 2008 on Risperdal’s “Troubling Side Effects in Boys,” urging that the drug could cause “the growth of breasts in some male patients.” Following then, the FDA petitioned to promptly revoke the pediatric indication for Risperdal until the long-term safety of the drug is demonstrated. Risperdal’s the warning label has been revised to include the risk of “hyperprolactinemia” (excessive prolactin levels) that result in “galactorrhea” (lactating), amenorrhea, gynecomastia, and impotence.
The drug’s manufacturer has been cited and accused of erroneously declaring that the levels of prolactin only fluctuate within the first couple of months, but then return to a normal range within three to five months. Moreover, the manufacturer of Risperdal also continuously underreported the frequency in which young boys suffered from gynecomastia, as a result, of ingesting the drug.
Call the Testa Law Group at 877-780-9052 to talk with an experienced Risperdal lawyer to begin your path to recovery with a free consultation today.