Risperdal and Invega are antipsychotic drugs manufactured by Johnson & Johnson that were designed to be used by schizophrenia patients. These drugs are dangerous and can cause devastating consequences for their users including causing strokes in the elderly, breast growth in young men, and facial tics and muscle spasticity.
At present, Risperdal is FDA-approved to treat schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and aggression in autistic individuals. Invega is approved to treat schizophrenia and schizo-affective disorder. Doctors, however, have also prescribed these drugs for a wide variety of non-FDA-approved conditions, including dementia, “conduct disorder,” oppositional-defiant disorder, intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, other mood behaviour disorders and many other conditions.
One reason Risperdal and Invega are prescribed for all these various conditions is that antipsychotics are major tranquilizers. They are great at keeping difficult patients quiet. The problem is that these drugs don’t actually treat the disease, and have extremely negative side effects. Despite being aware of these side effects, Johnson & Johnson concealed them, and aggressively marketed Risperdal and Invega to children and the elderly, in violation of federal law.
Risperdal and Invega frequently cause breast growth in men, or gynecomastia. This is more than an embarrassment: gynecomastia in men can be a disfiguring condition that can ruin lives unless corrected with major surgery. The drug companies knew this was a risk yet actively worked to conceal this fact from consumers and physicians. If you or someone you know has suffered from breast growth after taking medication such as Risperdal or Invega, you may have a claim for money damages.
These drugs also cause other issues. According to the FDA, using Risperdal with dementia patients increases the risk of death. Risperdal may also cause stroke or tardive dyskinesia (a disease involving uncontrollable movements). Other side effects include somnolence, confusion, and fatigue.
If you or a loved one suffered serious side effects after taking Risperdal or Invega, you should consult an attorney to evaluate your potential case. The Dysart Law Firm P.C., is an experienced products liability firm that can provide a free evaluation.