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According to sources, a confidential settlement was reached in a Risperdal breast growth or gynecomastia side effect lawsuit that was set to go to trial earlier in May.

The plaintiff Robert Moffat alleged that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn that side effects of its antipsychotic medication, Risperdal caused male breasts among boys and young men.

Thousands of Risperdal Lawsuits

There are several thousand Risperdal gynecomastia cases pending nationwide. The current case was expected to be the fourth in a series of early “bellwether” trials. The lawsuits have been filed in state court in Pennsylvania and California.

Over the past several years there have been jury verdicts of $2.5 million, $1.75 million and $500,000 in Pennsylvania state court. Several other bellwether trials are scheduled over the coming months.

How does Risperdal Cause Breast Growth?

Risperdal side effects have been linked to an increase in the amount of the hormone prolactin in the blood, which is a protein hormone that causes milk production or lactation in women after they give birth. For boys and young men using Risperdal, research has demonstrated that this may result in the development of enlarged breasts.

In an August 2015 study in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, researchers from the University of British Columbia found that use of Risperdal increase the risk of gynecomastia breast growth in teens and young men by a factor of four.

Johnson & Johnson Quietly Settling Risperdal Claims

Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen Pharmaceuticals subsidiary have been exposed to thousands of Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits over the past 10 years, with settlements reached in many cases in 2012.

Despite the settlements, Johnson & Johnson have denied that their medication cause boys and young men to develop breast growth side effects.

Risperdal Breast Growth Risks

Risperdal (risperidone) is an antipsychotic medication that was approved for use among adults with schizophrenia. But it was also aggressively marketed off label for children and nursing home patients for several medical behavioral problems, including bi-polar disorders, autism, dementia, and aggression.

Risperdal Breast Growth Psychological Impact

Risperdal gynecomastia is a medical condition with the growth of breasts among males who had used Risperdal.

Young men and boys who developed Risperdal gynecomastia can have profound and lasting psychological trauma, manifesting by severe anxiety, shame and mental health issues that affect their quality of life. The breast growth side effects results in the need for mastectomy surgery to fix the excessive breast growth, resulting in extensive scarring.

 

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