Study Reveals Risperdal Used To Often In Foster Care
If you believe you have Gynecomastia due to Risperdal you may be eligible to file a Risperdal lawsuit. For a free legal consult contact Wright & Schulte LLC at yourlegalhelp.com or call 1-800-399-0795
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) April 23, 2014
Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced law firm representing clients in Risperdal lawsuits, notes that a recently published study has raised concerns about the off-label use of Risperdal and other atypical antipsychotic drugs among children in foster care. According to a report from HealthDay News, the study drew data from more than 260,000 children, ages 2 to 17, who were enrolled in one state's Medicaid program in 2006. Among other things, the authors of the study found that atypical antipsychotics, including Risperdal, Abilify, and Seroquel, were prescribed to nearly one-third of foster care youth who had been diagnosed with ADHD. None of these medications have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat children with ADHD.
[philly.com/philly/health/topics/HealthDay686601_20140410_Too_Many_Foster
_Kids_With_ADHD_Treated_With_Antipsychotic
_Drugs__Study.html, April 10, 2014]
Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic drug approved to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and irritability in autism patients. According to court documents, the medication is currently the subject of more than 350 lawsuits that have been filed in a mass tort proceeding underway in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, all of which allege use of the medication caused patients to suffer serious Risperdal side effects, including gynecomastia (male breast growth). Among other things, the Risperdal lawsuits claim that Johnson & Johnson and its Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit improperly promoted the drug for unapproved, or off-label, indications, including for use in children. The Risperdal lawsuits also allege that the companies concealed potential side effects, including the association between Risperdal and gynecomastia in men and young boys. (In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case ID. 100300296)
Bloomberg News reported in October 2012 that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen had reached undisclosed settlements in five Risperdal gynecomastia claims filed in the Pennsylvania litigation just before the cases went to trial. Since then, court records indicate that some 80 Risperdal gynecomastia cases have been resolved in Pennsylvania, though dozens remain unresolved and filings continue.
[Bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-04/johnson-johnson-agrees-to-settle-five-rispersal-suits.html, Bloomberg News, October 10, 2012]
The federal government has also accused the manufacturers of Risperdal of illegally marketing the drug for off-label uses. On November 4, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Johnson & Johnson and Janssen agreed to pay $2.2 billion to resolve criminal and civil charges involving the off-label marketing of Risperdal and other medications. The Justice Department had also alleged that the two companies concealed risks associated with Risperdal, including gynecomastia.
[justice.gov/opa/pr/2013/November/13-ag-1170.html?source=email_rt_mc_body&app=n, DOJ, November 4, 2013]
Victims of gynecomastia allegedly associated with the use of Risperdal may be eligible to file their own Risperdal lawsuit. To learn more, or to arrange for a free legal consultation with an attorney at Wright & Schulte LLC, please visit yourlegalhelp.com, or call 1-800-399-0795.
Wright & Schulte LLC, an experienced personal injury firm, is dedicated to the belief that America’s legal system should work for the people. Every day, the attorneys of Wright & Schulte LLC stand up for the rights of people who have been injured or wronged and fight tirelessly to ensure that even the world’s most powerful corporations take responsibility for their actions. If you’re looking for a law firm that will guarantee the aggressive and personal representation you deserve, please do not hesitate to contact Wright & Schulte LLC today. Free Risperdal lawsuit case evaluations are available through yourlegalhelp.com or by calling 1-800-399-0795.
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