Risperdal Linked to Breast Growth in Boys

Risperdal, an atypical anti-psychotic drug, has been linked to breast growth, and even lactation, in boys under 18. The condition is known as gynecomastia (male breast growth), and is usually permanent.

Risperdal causes a release of prolactin from the pituitary gland. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates breast development and lactation. According to a recent CBS report, a four-year old boy, began developing a breast on one side of his body after he began taking Risperdal. At that young age, his breast had even begun producing milk. The child has undergone mastectomies to correct the problem.

In 2008, Duke University psychiatrist P. Murali Doraiswamy told The Wall Street Journal that Risperdal had the strongest link with gynecomastia in children and adolescents of any of the newer antipsychotic drugs-accounting for 70% of the cases analyzed. He has also found that some girls taking Risperdal begin to lactate before they reach puberty.

What is Risperdal?

Risperdal's approved uses were expanded after it's original FDA approval for treatment of schizophrenia, to include irritability associated with autistic disorders in children from 5 to 16 years of age, treatment of schizophrenia in adolescents aged from 13 to 17, and the short term treatment of manic or mixed episodes of bipolar I disorder in children aged between 10 and 17. It is prescribed "off-label" as a treatment for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD).

Nationwide Risperdal Lawsuits

If you or a loved one experienced breast growth after using Risperdal, you may be entitled to financial compensation.  Fill out the form on the right-hand side of this page and an attorney will contact you to discuss your claim.  Or you can call the Allen Law Firm today for a free case evaluation at 1-888-345-LAW1. 

The attorneys at the Allen Law Firm are evaluating claims on behalf of individuals throughout the United States who have used Risperdal and experienced breast growth. 

The initial consultation is free of charge.  In personal injury cases where individuals have been injured by potentially defective products like Risperdal, it is important to act quickly to preserve evidence and investigate the the injury.  Further, you must file a lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires.  If you delay filing your claim, and the statute of limitations expires, you may lose your rights to compensation.