Claims and Allegations in Risperdal Lawsuit

Risperdal was approved by FDA for medical schizophrenics use in 1994. From that point until December 2003, Janssen (sister concern of Johnson & Johnson) has been the sole manufacturer of the drug. Unfortunately there were already hundreds of reports about the adverse side effects of the drug. Still, Johnson & Johnson maintained their marketing tactics and tried to widen the drug’s appeal various deceptive advertising and misbranding options.

Risperidone is an antipsychotic medication which is used for the treatment of behavioral disorders such as attention deficit disorder (ADD) in children, dementia in adults, anxiety, depression, and autism in children. But they have been linked with various health hazards that led to the filing of risperdal class action lawsuit.

The main concern in risperdal lawsuit is gynecomastia which is a medical condition that cause male breast growth. This happens as a hormone called prolactin is stimulated with the consumption of Risperdal for a long time. This creates fatty tissue growth and unwanted lactation both in males and females.

Some other complications reported in the lawsuit include:

•    Dry mouth
•    Rash
•    Cough or sore throat
•    Headache or dizziness
•    Weight gain
•    Anxiousness
•    Fatigue or insomnia

Plaintiffs in risperdal class action lawsuit have blamed Janssen Pharmaceuticals, the maker of teh drug, of the following misconducts:

•    Illegally marketing and advertising Risperdal as a safe and effective medication for children suffering from autism spectrum disorders without doing any reserach
•    Deliberately concealed the details regarding the drug’s negative side effects
•    Misbranded and misrepresented Risperdal for use in children and adolescents

The victims can claim for the following in the lawsuits:

•    Expenses for the pain and suffering
•    Expenses for the ongoing and future medication
•    Expenses for loss of wages and inability to earn in future
•    Punitive award, if any

Understanding how defective drugs work and that you can be eligible for financial compensation is not an easy topic. To find out about the complications and how they can be used to file a lawsuit against the drug manufacturer to demand the damage awards, get in touch with the expert team of risperdalsideeffect.com. Visit Risperdalsideeffect.com or dial 1 (855) 631-1491.

Common and Rare Side Effects of Risperidone

Risperidone is often prescribed by the doctors to treat symptoms of schizophrenia in teenagers and adults. It is also used to treat bipolar disorder. Risperidone is the generic version of Risperdal and was first approved by the FDA in 1993. Risperidone is known to treat the disorders as mentioned, it is not free from side effects. Though Risperidone side effects are mostly controllable, there are many which are serious and in rare cases, life-threatening.

Common side effects

There can be several reasons why Risperidone is prone to causing side-effects. Since the drug has antihistaminic properties, it may have a sedating effect in some people. It also acts as an alpha-adrenergic blocker, meaning that it interferes with certain hormones that regulate blood flow and blood pressure. Risperdal also has anticholinergic effects that can alter how smooth muscles (those that make up the internal organs) function.

Because of these properties, Risperdal may cause the following common side effects:

•    Agitation
•    Amenorrhea (absent period)
•    Anxiety
•    Arthralgia (joint pain)
•    Asthenia (physical weakness and lack of energy)
•    Blurred vision
•    Constipation
•    Cough
•    Diarrhea
•    Epistaxis (nosebleeds)
•    Dizziness
•    Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
•    Excessive salivation
•    Fatigue
•    Galactorrhea (milky breast discharge)
•    Gynecomastia (male breast enlargement)
•    Hirsutism (abnormal hair growth in women)
•    Increased appetite
•    Indigestion
•    Myalgia (muscle pain)
•    Nausea and vomiting
•    Nasal congestion
•    Painful intercourse in women
•    Rash
•    Retrograde ejaculation (ejaculation of semen into the bladder rather than out of the body)
•    Seborrhea (a scaly, patchy skin condition)
•    Somnolence (sleepiness or drowsiness)
•    Sore throat
•    Sleep disturbances
•    Suicidal thoughts
•    Weight gain
•    Upper abdominal pain
•    Upper respiratory tract infection
•    Urinary incontinence
•    Xerostomia (dry mouth)

Extrapyramidal Side Effects

Extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) are those that affect the central nervous system and cause movement problems. Tardive dyskinesia is among the most common EPS experienced by Risperdal users. It is characterized by involuntary and repetitive movements, including those of the face, mouth, tongue, arms, or legs.

EPS include:

•    Akasthisia (a feeling of inner restlessness and inability to stay still, often referred to as the "rabbit syndrome")
•    Akinesia (loss or impairment of voluntary movement)
•    Dystonic reactions (intermittent and involuntary contractions of the muscles of the face, neck, trunk, pelvis, and extremities)
•    Parkinsonism (a group of neurological disorders that cause movement problems similar to Parkinson's disease, including tremors, slow movement, and stiffness)

Serious Side Effects

Exposure to the drug on rare cases might result in potentially life-threatening reaction, which is known as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). Condition includes:

•    Altered mental state
•    High fever (over 100.4 F)
•    Loss of bladder control
•    Muscle rigidity
•    Profuse sweating
•    Respiratory problem
•    Seizures
•    Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)

Other Complications

There are few more complications, which are rare but potentially life-threatening. These happen due to overuse or long-term use of the drug.

Complications include

•    Diabetic ketoacidosis (a dangerous build-up of acids in the blood)
•    Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
•    Pulmonary embolism (the formation of a blood clot in the lungs)
•    Stroke
•    Sudden cardiac death

Though there is no such addiction of the drug, a withdrawal symptom might occur if it is discontinued for intake. Risperidone side effects are many and can affect patients adversely with mild as well as severe complications, often leading to make them file a lawsuit for their injuries and sufferings.