Risperdal Lawsuit News: The Rottenstein Law Group LLP Notes Confirmation of Link Between Drug and Gynecomastia

LongIsland.com

The firm is evaluating lawsuits on behalf of men who alleged that they developed gynecomastia or abnormal breast growth from Risperdal use.

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Rockville Centre, NY - March 26th, 2014 - The American Association For Geriatric Psychiatry recently held its annual conference in Florida (PDF) during which the results of a new study were revealed, linking Risperdal to gynecomastia, a condition characterized by abnormal breast growth in some men who take the antipsychotic drug. The Rottenstein Law Group LLP, which maintains an information page at www.risperdallawsuit.us, notes the link, which substantiates the allegations of plaintiffs who have filed Risperdal personal injury lawsuits in state and federal courts.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, which confirmed a link between the drug and the occurrence of gynecomastia. Previous studies performed in animals given Risperdal established a link between the blocking of dopamine receptors in the brain, and the increase in the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for breast growth. Now, the research team at UBC was able to prove the same link in humans. Using information from a U.S. health claims database made up of approximately 1 million men, the researchers found that Risperdal users have a 69 percent higher risk of developing gynecomastia than men who do not take the drug. Although the data used for the study was comprised of older men, the researchers believe that the condition can also occur in younger men and boys.

“If we put this study in context with everything else we know, we can definitely say there is a strong association between the use of Risperdal and gynecomastia,” says Dr. Mahyar Etminan, a UBC epidemiologist and lead researcher in the independent study.

Risperdal is used mainly to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorders in adults and adolescents. Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a division of Johnson & Johnson, pursued an aggressive marketing campaign to expand the use of the drug as a treatment for patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The company failed to publicize dangerous side effects associated with the drug, particularly the occurrence of abnormal breast growth in men and boys. In February 2014, Janssen Pharmaceuticals agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the State Attorney General of Montana (Case No. CDV-2008-164), for $5.9 million. A portion of the money will be used for the creation of a prescription drug abuse prevention program in that state.

The Rottenstein Law Group LLP encourages those who believe they or their loved ones have suffered from the alleged side effects of Risperdal to visit the firm's website to learn about Risperdal lawsuits and side effects. A free information brochure is also available for download.

About The Rottenstein Law Group LLP
The Rottenstein Law Group LLP is a New York-based firm that represents clients nationwide in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, who has more than two decades of experience as a lawyer, to represent clients hurt by defective medical devices and medications. (Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)

For More Information, Please Contact:
The Rottenstein Law Group LLP
Rochelle Rottenstein, Esq.
100 Merrick Road, Suite 226W
Rockville Centre, NY 11570
(212) 933-9500 (office phone)
(212) 933-9980 (facsimile)
rochelle@rotlaw.com
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