Louisiana Plaintiff Files Risperdal Lawsuit Alleging Gynecomastia Side Effect

LegalHerald.com reports on another Risperdal lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in December of 2014, pursued by a mother on behalf of her son. Her 17-year-old son was diagnosed with gynecomastia after taking the drug Risperdal, an atypical antipsychotic drug used in the treatment of schizophrenia and manic bipolar disorder. It was FDA approved in 1993 and has since been approved for the treatment of several other disorders.

Gynecomastia is a swelling of the breast tissue in men which is caused by a hormone imbalance. Some studies, such as the one published in 2009 in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, have found Risperdal to increase the levels of prolactin in users significantly. Prolactin is a hormone which stimulates the production of breast milk and breast growth. Many lawsuits such as this one, claim that Risperdal caused the user to develop gynecomastia. While the condition is not considered medically serious, it can cause those that suffer with it great emotional distress, which could be compounded for those who already have a compromised mental state.

Risperdal has also been linked to several other side effects such as high blood sugar and diabetes, medically serious weight gain, tardive dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements), and heart attacks.

There are currently over 1,000 Risperdal-related lawsuits filed by plaintiffs who allege that the drug manufacturer failed to adequately inform consumers about the potential side effects associated with the drug. Many of these complaints have been centralized in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by the Court of Common Pleas for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

The attorneys of Banville Law understand well how concerning these side effect allegations can be for patients who have taken or are currently using Risperdal. Banville Law wishes to assist individuals who would like to explore legal options after having suffered adverse effects which they believe were caused by the drug. The firm is offering free consultations to affected parties. These individuals may be entitled to substantial compensation.

To ask questions or obtain more information on Risperdal lawsuits, please contact Banville Law by calling (888) 997-3792.