A Risperdal lawsuit filed in Philadelphia settled recently only hours after the trial began. The plaintiff was a young male and the defendant was Johnson & Johnson, one of the largest corporate entities in the entire world. As is usually the case with settlements, the specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The Risperdal lawsuit was filed because the plaintiff claimed that using the medication led to the development of gynecomastia. Gynecomastia, or the enlargement of male breasts, is a commonly alleged Risperdal side effect. There are still a large number of Risperdal lawsuits that are currently active in Pennsylvania.
What is Risperdal?
Risperdal was originally approved for use in the United States by the FDA in 1993. At that time, the FDA only approved Risperdal for treatment of schizophrenia in adults. Risperdal is known as an atypical antipsychotic. The drug proved to be an enormous success in terms of its sales and revenue figures that it generated for Johnson & Johnson. There were several years since 1993 when Risperdal generated billions of dollars in revenue. Unfortunately, it wasn’t too long before allegations of Risperdal side effects began to surface.
Risperdal and Gynecomastia
One of the most common side effects linked to Risperdal is gynecomastia. These allegations arose after Risperdal began to be prescribed for younger people. Gynecomastia is an otherwise rare condition where the breasts on males begin to enlarge. Given that the people dealing with this alleged Risperdal side effect are already facing psychological challenges and that the gynecomastia patients were young men, this presented a very difficult situation. While many patients saw their symptoms dissipate when they stopped using the medication, some required surgery to reduce the size of their breasts.
Risperdal and Other Legal Settlements
In 2013, Johnson & Johnson agreed to a $2.2 billion settlement with the United States Justice Department. This settlement was paid in order to satisfy both civil and criminal fines levied against the company. The crux of that issue was that Johnson & Johnson was allegedly marketing Risperdal to older patients who were suffering from dementia. Risperdal was never approved for this purpose, and this is known as an ‘off-label’ use of a medication.
Risperdal Lawsuits
The case mentioned above is just one of more than 1,300 that are currently pending in state court in Pennsylvania. Parties from both sides of this issue are watching these developments closely, as these early results could influence what plays out going forward. The first Pennsylvania Risperdal trial resulted in the awarding of a verdict of $2.5 million for the plaintiff. The second trial led to a verdict for the defense, although the jury in that trial found that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn the public about the risks of gynecomastia that were linked to the use of Risperdal.
Risperdal Gynecomastia and Your Legal Rights
If you or someone you love has used this medication and you’ve suffered as a result, you need to seek legal help as soon as possible. Contact the Risperdal side effects lawyers at Parilman & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation. You can either email the firm or call 800-800-DRUG.
