About Risperdal

About Risperdal

Hundreds of plaintiffs who filed a Risperdal lawsuit received good news several months ago when Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay more than $2.2 billion for illegally marketing their antipsychotic drug for off-label use. The FDA first approved Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal for the treatment of schizophrenia in 1993. A decade later, the FDA approved the drug for the treatment of bipolar disorder. In 2006, autism-related irritability was added to the conditions treated with Risperdal.

However, the U.S. Department of Justice says that Risperdal had been prescribed to elderly patients and adolescents before gaining FDA approval. By 2005, it had become the most popular antipsychotic drug — prescribed to over a million patients.

The product liability lawyers at The Sanders Firm are here to help victims of male breast growth tied to Risperidone and those who suffered other serious side effects of J&J’s controversial drug.

 

 

 

Seeking damages in a Risperdal lawsuit

Boasting a highly-credentialed team of personal injury attorneys, The Sanders Firm offers more than 45 years of trial experience. We have gone up against major pharmaceutical companies like Merck and pursue justice for those injured by reckless, profit-seeking corporations that negligently fail to warn consumers of risks and side effects associated with their products. Over the years, we have won over $100 million in settlements and successful jury awards for our clients.

Risperdal side effects

 

Like most antipsychotic drugs, the risk of serious side effects from Risperdal should always be weighed against the intended benefits. Common complaints include:

  • Weight gainIn 2011, an FDA advisory panel recommended monitoring Risperdal side effects after a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry found that patients gained 11 to 13 pounds in less than two months after taking antipsychotics. According to the NY Times, a three-year-old boy taking the drug reached 49 pounds – nearly 20 pounds overweight for a child that age. Along with obesity, come the risks of high cholesterol, heart disease and diabetes. A University of Massachusetts study found that kids on antipsychotic drugs were four times more likely to develop diabetes. In 2004, Risperdal packaging was updated to include the risk of diabetes for all patients.
  • GynecomastiaMale breast growth is one of the most life-altering side effects associated with Risperdal. In addition to experiencing abnormal tissue growth, other symptoms include inflamed and enlarged nipples, pain and discharge. In some instances, boys have developed breasts up to a 38D cup in size. A 2012 study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry concluded that risperidone-using males ages 10-20 were 72 times more likely to have elevated prolactin levels than those who were not taking the drug.
  • StrokeAt least 31 children have died and more than 1,200 children suffered serious health problems after taking Risperdal. Cardiac arrest and stroke were the most common causes of death. A 2003 study published in the British Medical Journal found that antipsychotics cause a higher risk of stroke in all patients. A 2013 study linked risperidone to strokes in patients over the age of 64.
  • Neuroleptic Malignant SyndromeThere have been at least 14 reported cases of Risperdal patients experiencing a fatal syndrome marked by muscle rigidity, fever, altered consciousness, irregular pulse, and blood pressure fluctuations.

Other less serious side effects include: tremors, dizziness, sedation, insomnia, restlessness, dry mouth, congestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and fatigue.

Compensation available to victims

 

Big pharmaceutical cases can lead to compensation for victims that may cover:

  • Past and future medical expenses
  • Loss of income or productivity
  • Emotional pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages

To recover compensation, an attorney must prove that your specific injuries were associated with the use of the product and that the manufacturer was somehow negligent in promoting the prescription to your demographic without adequate warning of the risks involved.

One of our experienced product liability attorneys will assemble your medical records, conduct discovery, obtain medical expert witnesses, prepare paperwork and litigate your case – seeking the maximum damages for your injuries.

At The Sanders Law Firm, Success Is A Tradition

Founded in 1967, The Sanders Law Firm has flourished into one of New York’s most successful personal injury practices, with an accomplished team of attorneys, paralegals, health care consultants, and support staff. Our trial attorneys take new cases on a contingency basis, which means there is no cost to the client unless we secure monetary damages on your behalf.

Our personal injury law firm continues to make its industry-leading legal services even better, and hire attorneys and staff that enable us to serve a more diverse population.

At The Sanders Firm, there is never any charge to evaluate your case. We have helped thousands of injured clients throughout New York City, Long Island, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island, and we’re prepared to help you too. In just the last five years we have procured over $100 million dollars on behalf of our clients, thanks to our vast resources and experienced attorneys. Our personal injury law firm continues to make its industry-leading legal services even better, and hire attorneys and staff that enable us to serve a more diverse population.

To set up your free, no-obligation case review with a New York personal injury lawyer, please call (516) 591-3208 or contact us using our online form. Our friendly staff is standing by to take your call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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The Sanders Law Firm is a New York personal injury practice with offices in Long Island, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.