"Jury orders Johnson & Johnson to pay $8BILLION in damages over claim that antipsychotic drug Risperdal makes men grow BREASTS"

Jury says J&J must pay $8 bln in case over male breast... | Daily Mail Online

I thought that was interesting. Just an FYI to those who are on Risperdal.

[fern46]

It makes women's breasts grow too. Is it just assumed that women are ok with that? I realize it is more socially acceptable, but I wasn't too thrilled about that side effect when it happened to me.

This has been known as a possibility for a long time. Some lawyers are just jumping on this later rather than sooner. I don't believe it causes that side effect for most men, though, but it's definitely not rare. I think Risperdal and Invega (its very related "brother" med developed by the same company) increased my breast size. That didn't bother me at all, but hyperprolactinemia did. Also, I believe Invega caused me to develop a benign pituitary microadenoma (prolactinoma). [Uncommon side effect.] I happen to see the latter as a much bigger deal than the breast enlargement, but that's just me. But yes, I am a woman. On the bright side, my pituitary microadenoma did eventually disappear after a number of months off Invega, but I have read that's not always the case. If the pituitary tumor grows very large it does require removal. It can affect things like eyesight, not to mention the usual hyperprolactinemia stuff. Hyperprolactinemia is also a condition that disappeared quickly when I discontinued these two medications. I have never experienced hyperprolactinemia from any other medications, but I've read it is possible (though far less common) as a side effect of many bipolar medications, especially antipsychotics.

Of course I can imagine how distressing it must be for men to develop bigger breasts. I don't mean to minimize that.

Risperdal (risperidone) and Invega (paliperidone) were highly effective antimanics for me and stopped psychosis and extreme agitation. They weren't all bad.

[bpcyclist]

Risperdal worked for me, though I certainly did not like it very much. I was zonked all the time. Never got this horrid side effect, thank goodness. Meds have risks.

[~Christina]

I was diagnosed with an adenoma on my pituitary glad that Bird Dancer spoke of also after being in Invega. I don’t know if mine is related. I’m due for a follow up MRI next year to check for any growth, I was seen by a Endrocrinologist and he felt it was benign at the time. So watch and wait

But we had a member her 5 years or so back on here that her son indeed great breasts and it happened so quick , in a matter of a couple months actually. She shared a picture of him prior to Risperadal and Invega it was shocking, even tho medication was stopped right away, they were there. He actually made 2 attempts because of it. I know they were looking into surgery and I do believe they planed to speak with a lawyer.

I have no idea what happened , she just vanished one day. I just said a prayer.

I think as mentioned it happens to women but it’s okay if our breasts enlarge. Causing lactation? No nope nope , I had to stop Risperadal for that reason.

The sad thing is ALL medications can cause a massive list of side effects, I think eventually every drug company will list every single possible side effect 2,987 pages in small print so they will not be responsible for any issues.

[sophiebunny]

Risperdal saved my sanity. I don't care about the elevated prolactin. The effects were actually kind of convenient.

[Moose72]

I got let down when I was on risperdal- i mean like when youre nursing your breast ache just before the ejection reflex. I was wandering around trying to find my baby. "Where's the baby?...I can't find the baby...." Allsilenrly of course. And none of my kids were nursing. I weaned n3 and that was that. Risperdal was years after I had dried up. While on risperdal I had a little bit of milk. And why cant women sue them too- I never have wanted my breasts bigger (except when I very first got them!)