Many of the Risperdal lawsuits now pending in courts around the country were filed on behalf of children who allegedly developed serious side effects, including male breast growth and Type 2 diabetes, due to their use of this medication.
New York, New York (PRWEB) January 04, 2014
As Risperdal lawsuits (http://www.risperdallawsuitcenter.com/ ) involving allegations that the atypical antipsychotic medication caused patients to develop gynecomastia (male breast growth) and other serious side effects continue to move forward in courts around the country, Bernstein Liebhard LLP notes that findings from a recent study suggest that the use of Risperdal could benefit some children with ADHD who exhibit severe aggression. The research, which is published in the January issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, involved 168 children between the ages of 6 and 12 who had been diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional-defiant disorder or conduct disorder, and who had experienced recent episodes of serious physical aggression.*
Among other things, the study found that the children who were treated with Risperdal in addition to their stimulant medication saw some moderate behavioral improvements compared to those treated with a stimulant alone. However, in an interview with HealthDay News, one of the study authors cautioned that use of drugs like Risperdal for this patient population should be undertaken with great care, due to their uncertain safety profile and risk of side effects. **
“Many of the Risperdal lawsuits now pending in courts around the country were filed on behalf of children who allegedly developed serious side effects, including male breast growth and Type 2 diabetes, due to their use of this medication. Parents considering Risperdal treatment for their child must be fully apprised of its potential risks, and they should know that the drug is not currently approved to treat children with ADHD,” says Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationwide law firm representing the victims of defective drugs and medical devices. The Firm is evaluating Risperdal lawsuits on behalf of young men and boys who may have developed gynecomastia due to their use of the drug.
Risperdal Lawsuits
According to court documents, a growing number of Risperdal lawsuits have been filed in a consolidated litigation underway in Pennsylvania’s Court of Common Pleas on behalf of individuals who allegedly suffered serious side effects as a result of the medication. Dozens of these lawsuits allege that the use of Risperdal caused gynecomastia in young boys. Plaintiffs further claim that Johnson & Johnson concealed Risperdal side effects, and improperly marketed the drug for off-label use in children. (In Re: Risperdal Litigation, Case Number 100300296).
Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adult and adolescent schizophrenia, bipolar disorder in adults and children ages 10-to-17, and irritability in children (5-to-16 years of age) with autistic disorder.*** Recent research indicates that off- label use of Risperdal to treat ADHD is also on the rise.****
In December, an investigation published by Consumer Reports revealed that the use of Risperdal and similar antipsychotic drugs has tripled among children in the last 10 to 15 years. Among other things, the report noted that many children have been prescribed these powerful medications off-label to treat behavior problems, rather than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Finally, Consumer Reports voiced concerns that this trend may be harmful to children, as a mounting body of evidence indicates that drugs like Risperdal could carry more risk than first thought.*****
On November 4th, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that Johnson & Johnson had agreed to pay $2.5 million to resolve criminal and civil charges stemming from its marketing of Risperdal and other drugs. Among other things, federal prosecutors had alleged that the company marketed Risperdal for pediatric uses long before it was approved for such indications in 2006. According to court documents filed in the case, the Justice Department had also charged that the company concealed side effects associated with the medication, including an association between Risperdal and male breast growth. (U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 04-cv-1529)
Alleged victims of Risperdal and gynecomastia may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. To learn more about filing a Risperdal lawsuit, please visit Bernstein Liebhard LLP’s website. For a free case review, please call 800-511-5092.
*jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567%2813%2900785-5/fulltext#sec3, Jaacap.com, January 2014
**health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2014/01/02/study-kids-with-adhd-aggression-may-benefit-from-2nd-med, HealthDay News, January 2, 2014
***http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/020272s056,020588s044,021346s033,021444s03lbl.pdf, Risperdal Prescribing Information, FDA, 2009
****health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/08/07/more-kids-taking-antipsychotics-for-adhd-study, U.S. News & World Report, August 7, 2012
*****consumerreports.org/cro/2013/12/are-too-many-kids-taking-antipsychotic-drugs/index.htm, Consumer Reports, December 201
About Bernstein Liebhard LLP
Bernstein Liebhard LLP is a New York-based law firm exclusively representing injured persons in complex individual and class action lawsuits nationwide since 1993, including those who have been harmed by dangerous drugs, defective medical devices and consumer products. The firm has been named by The National Law Journal to the “Plaintiffs’ Hot List,” recognizing the top plaintiffs’ firms in the country, for the past 11 consecutive years.
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