Would you take a drug if one of the side effects was possible death? Most wouldn’t take that risk. Would you take a drug if you knew that one of the side effects for young men was the risk of breast growth? Few would take that risk as well. However, Risperdal—an atypical antipsychotic medication—has been seen to cause serious and dangerous side effects, such as breast growth and childhood diabetes. These side effects have resulted from promotion of “off-label” purposes such as treatment for young men with ADD, OCD, anxiety, and autism among many others. Many young men who took Risperdal now have a condition called Gynecomastia, or male breast growth. This breast growth in boys has been said to cause negative psychological effects of these young children, negatively impacting their quality of life. These “off-label” uses were promoted by a company Johnson & Johnson, and may also stem from suppressed evidence in early clinical trials of Risperdone—the active ingredient in Risperdal. The hidden data gave evidence to negative outcomes of Risperdone, in some cases, death. The drug has been falsely promoted and J&J has given inadequate warnings of the risks for the consumer and the medical community. In light of these claims, there has been a recent 2.2 billion dollar Risperdal settlement between Johnson & Johnson and the federal government. Click here to watch a video discussing more about this civil suit.
Legal Commentary
From a civil standpoint, our firm has represented numerous families who are the victims of Risperdal’s dangerous side effects. Although the use of Risperdal in young boys has not widely resulted in death, the breast growth has been said to be the cause of many psychological symptoms which impacts their quality of life. If you or a loved one have taken Risperdal and have experienced abnormal breast growth, we encourage you to consult with one of our Risperdal attorneys as soon as possible. A successful civil claim that is pursued against the responsible party will ensure the victims are not burdened with costly medical expenses, and hopefully will compensate them for their pain, suffering, and lost wages for time missed from work. Further questions can be directed to the Fears | Nachawati Law Firm by emailing the lead Risperdal lawyer, Majed Nachawati atmn@fnlawfirm.com, or by calling our office at 1.866.705.7584.
About the Author
Majed Nachawati is a preeminent Pharmaceutical Products Liability Lawyer with a focus on representing Risperdal victims and families harmed by dangerous drugs on a nationwide basis. Mr. Nachawati has resolved numerous cases through trials and settlements that have resulted in seven and eight figure confidential settlements. He is on the Grievance Committee for the State Bar of Texas. He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of Texas and Arkansas, and is in most federal courts in the nation and holds specific licenses in the Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of Texas. Mr. Nachawati is a member of the Board of Directors of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association, the Board of Directors for Public Justice, a Leaders’ Forum and PAC member of the American Association for Justice. Mr. Nachawati has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly Magazine for the past four consecutive years for legal excellence, in connection with pharmaceutical injury cases. Mr. Nachawati is also a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum. Mr. Nachawati can be reached by email at mn@fnlawfirm.com or by calling 1.866.705.7584.