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Johnson and Johnson’s recent Risperdal settlement with the Justice Department has created new awareness about Risperdal lawsuits. While the November 2013 settlement involved the government fining Johnson & Johnson for improper marketing practices, the recent headlines have people buzzing about Risperdal lawsuits and the side effects of Risperdal.

Risperdal was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1993 for the treatment of psychiatric disorders. In 2006, it was approved to treat minors suffering from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). However, prior to approval, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Representatives had been marketing Risperdal to doctors and facilities treating children for behavior disorders, according to an article published last November in The New York Times.

While Johnson & Johnson led doctors and parents to believe that Risperdal was a safe and effective treatment for ADHD and OCD, the company failed to warn users that Risperdal could increase prolactin levels, which could ultimately stimulate abnormally large breast growth in boys and young men. Johnson and Johnson knew children going through puberty were more susceptible to these Risperdal side effects, and that one of the Risperdal side effects in boys could very likely be Gynecomastia, which is the development of male breasts.

During a November press conference, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said, “Through these alleged actions these companies lined their pockets at the expense of American taxpayers, patients and the private insurance industry.”

Each state limits the amount of time a person has to file a lawsuit. Although Risperdal lawyers have been filing Risperdal gynecomastia lawsuits for a few years, the statute of limitations has not expired for everyone.

Every individual’s situation is different, however, so it’s important for Risperdal gynecomastia victims to speak with a lawyer immediately to discuss their legal rights.

One Comment

  1. Gravatar for Janet (ocdtalk)
    Janet (ocdtalk)

    My son was on Risperdal for severe OCD, and it did nothing but cause him problems. At the very least, lawsuits such as these will bring attention to the myriad of side-effects that doctors somehow always forget to tell their patients about.

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