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Risperidone, sold under the trade name Risperdal among others, is an antipsychotic drug that has been linked to severe complications and side effects in children, including growth of female breasts on boys known as gynecomastia.
It is mainly used to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and irritability in people with autism. Thousands of boys and children have had to suffer through what would otherwise have been unnecessary surgeries and long-term medical care for these potentially permanent side effects.
Serious Risperdal side effects include: Gynecomastia, Lactation, and Pituitary Tumors
Risperdal has been shown to increase the activity of a hormone known as prolactin which is produced by the pituitary gland. Prolactin levels are often at high levels in pregnant and nursing women which contributes to the creation of additional breast tissue and milk production. Risperdal has been shown to stimulate the pituitary gland and increase prolactin levels in males as well as females.
Risperdal appears to cause breast tissue development in males. This is known as gynecomastia. Risperdal has been reported to have caused gynecomastia in both male adults and children.
Premature breast tissue development has also been seen in girls, along with lactation developing in girls and women who are not pregnant. As with gynecomastia, premature breast tissue development in girls is permanent and may cause emotional trauma.
Risperdal has also been connected to the development of pituitary tumors. Increases in the size of the pituitary gland and tumor development caused by Risperdal can disrupt production of other hormone systems within the body. Risperdal use may be the cause of as many as 70% of all pituitary tumors that have been reported.
Gynecomastia is the growth of female breasts on young males. The tissue is not cancerous, but it can be painful and can be embarrassing, especially for teenage males on whom it can have serious adverse psychological effects. For these reasons, surgery is often recommended. Severe gynecomastia may require a surgical procedure called a mastectomy, which involves the removal of breast tissue and excess skin. Because it involves glandular tissue, liposuction alone is usually not an effective treatment.
Researchers from the University of British Columbia examined a database of more than 400,000 young men between the ages of 15 and 25. They found that current users of Risperdal, including children and adolescent males, were five times more likely to develop breast tissue (gynecomastia) than those that did not take Risperdal or a similar drug. The findings were published in the August online edition of the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology.
More recently, data from a review of national health claims found that older men also were linked to these issues. They had a 69-percent higher likelihood of developing gynecomastia if they took Risperdal. That study, also conducted by researchers from the University of British Columbia, looked at data from one million men in the United States.
The Monroe Law Group is accepting cases now for those who suffered from side effects following use of Risperdal. The physical and emotional effects of these Risperdal side effects like gynecomastia can be devastating.
Alert: Due to statute of limitations, the time you have to pursue a Risperdal claim is limited. Call us right away at 866-308-1092, email us at intake@monroelawgroup.com, or complete the form on this page now.
