Risperdal

July 17, 2018

Five of the Most Dangerous Prescription Drugs on the Market Today

Pharmaceutical companies develop, test, market and sell prescription medications that are supposed to treat a litany of medical conditions, from asthma and acne to heart disease and high blood pressure. Pharmaceutical companies are phenomenal at marketing and selling their products, but what about testing? All drugs have unintended side effects, but some can be life-threatening. Without proper testing, medications often enter the market carrying excessive, and unknown (at least to the general public) risks. Below are five such prescription medications, and information about victims’ lawsuits.

Invokamet

More than 28 million Americans have type 2 diabetes. Many are suffering from risks associated with this disease, including blindness, kidney failure, and neurological damage. A medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, Invokamet, helps these patients manage insulin levels by regulating the liver’s glucose production. Unfortunately, Invokamet is linked to multiple health issues, from bone fractures to ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by excessive amounts of acid in the blood.

Onglyza

Also for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, Onglyza has its own set of serious health risks. In fact, the FDA recently warned that Onglyza, and other drugs in this class, increase the risk of heart failure and could cause death. A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been harmed by a dangerous or defective medication.

Xarelto

Marketed aggressively as a low-maintenance alternative to warfarin, the anticoagulant (blood thinner) Xarelto quickly grew in popularity when it hit the market. Although all blood thinners carry an increased risk of excessive bleeding, Xarelto’s predecessor warfarin has an antidote. To date, no antidote exists to stop excessive bleeding caused by Xarelto. As a result, thousands have been seriously injured, some fatally. Xarelto manufacturers, Janssen and Bayer, are facing mounting lawsuits from patients who claim they were never warned of these life-threatening side effects.

Zofran

Originally developed to treat nausea in chemotherapy patients, Zofran soon gained popularity with moms-to-be who were suffering from morning sickness. Unfortunately, the drug was never approved for use in pregnant women, and serious birth defects occurred as a result. Nearly 500 lawsuits are pending in federal court against Zofran’s manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline. A MA drug injury lawyer can help you recover damages if you’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective prescription drug.

Risperdal

Young men who use Risperdal to treat emotional and cognitive disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism, may develop a painful—and embarrassing—condition known as gynecomastia. In layman’s terms, this antipsychotic drug can cause breast enlargement in young men. Even though Risperdal’s manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, knew about this risk, it failed to warn patients. Making matters worse, the drug was never approved for adolescent use. In addition to painful procedures to remedy this condition, many young men suffer severe emotional trauma as a result of their breast development. A Philadelphia jury recently awarded $70 million to one such victim. Continue reading

July 21, 2017

Risperdal lawsuits abound for Johnson and Johnson

by Altman & Altman

Have you been negatively affected after taking Risperdal as a child or as an adult? Have you suffered humiliation due to enlarging breasts, and never received warning that such a side effect could occur from taking Risperdal? You are not alone, and you may be entitled to financial compensation.

Lawsuits filed by patients who took the antipsychotic medication, Risperdal, now number in the thousands, worth potentially billions of dollars in settlements to be paid by drug manufacturer, Johnson and Johnson. One case involving Risperdal netted a plaintiff a $70 million settlement last summer in Philadelphia.

Plaintiffs claim that the drug caused a rare condition called Gynecomastia, which results in breast enlargement in males, causing humiliation and mental anguish for those affected. In some cases, the enlargement is so severe that those affected may actually need breast reduction surgery in order to correct the condition. Others allege that they were prescribed the medication as juveniles despite the drug not being approved by the Food and Drug Administration for anybody under the age of 18.

June 28, 2017

Which Pharmaceutical Companies are Facing the Most Lawsuits?

by Altman & Altman

Many people assume that prescription drugs and medical devices are always tested before they hit the shelves. Unfortunately, this is not always true. In many cases, the FDA may approve a new drug if it has the same mechanism of action, form and strength as an existing drug that has already been approved. Sometimes the drug proves just as safe as its predecessor…but not always. The same can be said for medical devices that haven’t been tested properly, or for an adequate period of time. Read on for more information about dangerous and defective prescription drugs, and how you can avoid the risk of serious injury or death.

The Top Offenders

Fluoroquinolones are the nation’s most commonly used type of antibiotic; about 33 million people take these drugs annually. Unfortunately, fluoroquinolones may cause multiple serious medical conditions, including peripheral neuropathy, a potentially-permanent form of nerve damage. Cipro, Avelox and Levaquin are the most popular of the fluoroquinolones on the market today. The manufacturers of these drugs – Merck, Johnson & Johnson, and Bayer – are facing a tidal wave of lawsuits from patients who say they weren’t adequately warned about the associated risks. In addition to peripheral neuropathy, fluoroquinolones are linked to aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection, which combined cause approximately 15,000 deaths annually in the United States.
Anticoagulants are blood-thinning medications used to treat a number of disorders, including atrial fibrillation and deep vein thrombosis. Up until recently, warfarin was the only treatment option. In 2011, Xarelto was introduced as a lower-maintenance alternative, and it quickly grew in popularity along with Pradaxa and Eliquis. Patients being treated with the new drugs have the same risk of excessive and uncontrollable bleeding as those who take warfarin, but with one major difference. There is an antidote for excessive bleeding caused by warfarin. No such antidote exists for Xarelto. As such, the drug’s manufacturers, Bayer and Janssen (a division of Johnson & Johnson), are at the center of thousands of lawsuits claiming serious injury and death. A Boston drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to proceed if you’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective drug.
Antipsychotics are prescribed by doctors to treat conditions such as schizophrenia, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. However, some antipsychotic medications have recently been linked to disturbing side effects, such as sexual promiscuity, excessive gambling, and breast development in males. Ability’s manufacturers, Otsuka and Bristol-Myers Squibb, are facing a growing number of lawsuits from patients who claim they couldn’t control the urge to gamble or over-eat, or that they developed hyper sexual behaviors. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Risperdal’s manufacturer, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, alleging that the drug caused young men to develop breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia.
Patients with type 2 diabetes need help regulating their blood sugar levels. Invokana is a popular and effective medication for lowering blood sugar and improving glycemic control for these patients. Unfortunately, it’s also linked to several life-threatening medical conditions. The most serious conditions associated with Invokana use are kidney failure, amputations, and a potentially-fatal condition called Ketoacidosis. As a result, Invokana’s manufacturer, Janssen, is facing multiple lawsuits alleging that the company failed to warn physicians and patients of the serious side effects linked to its drug. A MA drug injury lawyer can help you determine how to recover damages if you’ve been injured by a dangerous or defective drug.

If you are currently taking any of these drugs, it is in your best interest to discuss the risks with your physician. Continue reading

October 25, 2016

Risperdal Lawsuit Updates

by Altman & Altman

For a while, Risperdal seemed to be the solution to a very challenging problem. Young men and boys with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia were finding greater relief from their symptoms than they had experienced with any other medication. In addition to treating these disorders, Risperdal also proved effective at reducing aggressive behavior and irritability in children with autism. Unfortunately, as time passed, some very serious side effects began to appear. The most disturbing of these side effects is the enlargement of male breasts, a condition known as gynecomastia. As troubling reports of serious, and often traumatic, side effects began to rise, so did Risperdal lawsuits.

Since complications including male breast enlargement and problems with sexual function were first reported, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Risperdal manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Breast enlargement is the result of an increase in levels of prolactin, a hormone responsible for milk production in humans. Risperdal use in boys with autism is linked to gynecomastia at double the rate of boys without autism. These same children are 14 percent more likely to experience sexual dysfunction, linked to Risperdal, as well. If you child has developed any of these side effects, contact a MA injury lawyer.

Substantial Jury Awards

Due to the nature and severity of these side effects, some awards have been substantial. Earlier this year, Andrew Yount, a boy who developed gynecomastia after taking Risperdal, was awarded $70 million by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. According to reports, evidence showed that Janssen manipulated data within Risperdal studies to downplay the risk of gynecomastia in adolescent boys. In fact, the pharmaceutical giant may have known about the link to male breast enlargement as early as 2003, but failed to warn physicians and patients. Had this risk been made public, patients would have had the option to take another drug with no such side effects. If you have developed side effects after taking Risperdal, contact a Boston drug injury lawyer today.

The recent lawsuit mentioned above is not Risperdal’s first run-in with litigation. In 2012, Janssen’s parent company, Johnson & Johnson, settled a Medicaid fraud lawsuit for $158 million. Prosecutors claimed J&J misled the public about Risperdal’s cost, effectiveness, and safety. And in 2011, J&J and Janssen paid more than $300 million in fines for a letter sent to physicians which stated that Risperdal was superior to its competitors, among other violations.

Emotional Trauma

Risperdal is linked to a wide array of side effects, but gynecomastia can be especially traumatic. In addition to physical symptoms, gynecomastia can result in emotional trauma for young boys. In some cases, reconstructive surgery is necessary to reverse male breast enlargement. If your child has suffered from gynecomastia, he may need counseling and therapy to overcome emotional distress. Continue reading

July 19, 2016

Risperdal, Xarelto, Among Dangerous Drug Lawsuits

by Altman & Altman

We are fortunate to live in a time when medical technology and pharmaceuticals can save us from injuries and illnesses that would have killed us a half century ago. Medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes were death sentences in the not-so-distant past. Today, with prescription drugs, and certain diet and lifestyle changes, patients with these conditions can live long, healthy lives. Unfortunately, prescription drugs can also be harmful, even fatal.

Most medications have side effects, and some of these side effects can be especially dangerous. When pharmaceutical companies fail to warn about side effects, or neglect to perform proper testing on drugs before marketing them for certain uses, it can result in injury and death. Contact a Boston Drug Injury Lawyer Today.

Top 5 Dangerous Drugs

Most prescription drugs can be dangerous if used incorrectly. However, some drugs are associated with a significantly higher risk of injury and death. Below are the top 5 drugs currently involved in litigation for their link to deadly side effects.

Invokamet: Designed to treat patients with type 2 diabetes, Invokamet is linked to multiple serious side effects. The drug is successful at managing insulin levels in patients by regulating the levels of glucose released by the liver. However, Invokament use can also cause urinary tract infections, nausea and vomiting, as well as an increased risk of bone fractures.

Onglyza: Also prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes, Onglyza is linked to even more serious side effects than Invokamet. In fact, the FDA has recently released a warning that medicines like Onglyza “may increase the risk of heart failure, particularly in patients who already have heart or kidney disease.”

Risperdal: In patients with bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism, Risperdal may reduce aggressive behaviors. Unfortunately, it is also linked to gynecomastia, a condition that results in breast enlargement in male patients. Lawsuits allege that Risperdal manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, failed to warn patients and physicians about the risk of gynecomastia. Furthermore, the drug wasn’t even approved for use in adolescents, the group most affected by side effects. As a result, Johnson & Johnson recently paid $70M in penalties, fines, and victim compensation.

Xarelto: Anticoagulants (blood thinners) have been used for decades to prevent blood clots and strokes in at-risk patients. For a long time, Coumadin was the main option for treatment. Although successful, Coumadin requires constant monitoring, a major inconvenience for patients. Recently, however, a new category of anticoagulants entered the market. Xarelto is included in this new category. This lower-maintenance alternative requires little to no monitoring but, unfortunately, is linked to life-threatening medical conditions. Although hemorrhaging is a risk with all anticoagulants, Coumadin has a reversal agent that stops excessive bleeding in its tracks. Unfortunately, the same is not true for Xarelto and similar drugs.

Zofran: Designed to treat nausea in chemotherapy patients, Zofran’s manufacturer began marketing Zofran to pregnant women as a treatment for morning sickness. Unfortunately, the drug had never been tested on pregnant humans, and its use is now linked to severe birth defects.

July 6, 2016

Risperdal Manufacturer Agrees to Pay $70 Million to Male Patient Who Developed Breasts After Using the Drug

by Altman & Altman

Risperdal is an antipsychotic drug manufactured by Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson. The drug is used to treat bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, among other conditions. Risperdal is also used to treat aggression in some patients with autism. Although it is FDA approved, Risperdal is linked to some serious side effects. In fact, a jury recently awarded $70 million to a boy who experienced physically and emotionally harmful side effects from using the drug. Contact a Boston Drug Injury Lawyer Today.

What is Gynecomastia?

Risperdal use is associated with gynecomastia, a condition characterized by breast enlargement in male patients. A hormone called prolactin is responsible for milk production in women who are breastfeeding. Risperdal may stimulate the production of prolactin in males, resulting in some very undesirable side effects.

Risperdal Doubles the Risk of Breast Enlargement in Young Males

In 2012, a study of autistic boys was conducted to determine side effects of Risperdal in these patients. The results revealed that common side effects included diminished sexual functioning and gynecomastia. In fact, autistic boys between the ages of 10 and 20 had twice the risk of breast enlargement if they were on the drug, and a 14% greater chance of suffering from at least one form of sexual dysfunction.

Did Johnson & Johnson Destroy Evidence?

The $70 million lawsuit was awarded to a boy who developed breasts after using Risperdal. The jury found that material evidence was destroyed, falsified, and/or concealed during the investigation. Previous verdicts have ranged between $500,000 and $2.2 million. This latest verdict may signal a trend of higher verdicts.

Failure to Warn

According to several lawsuits, Janssen may have known about the risk of gynecomastia beginning in 2003. Despite this knowledge, the pharmaceutical company failed to warn physicians and patients. Had they done so, physicians could have chosen an alternative treatment for some of their patients. There are other antipsychotics on the market with similar benefits to Risperdal, but without the emotionally-scarring side effects. In addition, there is evidence that Janssen may have manipulated reporting data to downplay the risk of gynecomastia in young boys. Continue reading

July 2, 2015

Risperdal Use May Result in Male Breast Development

by Altman & Altman

Risperdal is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is used to treat various disorders, including autism, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. Manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, Risperdal has been linked to breast development in young boys, a condition known as gynecomastia. Recently, a former sales manager for Johnson & Johnson reported that the pharmaceutical giant didn’t wait for FDA approval before marketing the drug for use in children. Continue reading

March 5, 2015

First Risperdal Injury Jury Trial Against Johnson & Johnson Results in $2.5M Verdict

by Altman & Altman

Johnson & Johnson must pay the family of Austin Pledger $2.5 million for complications he sustained while taking Risperdal as a boy at age seven in 2002. Pledger, who was Autism, developed Gynecomastia. At one point, because of the abnormal breast growth, Austin’s breasts grew to a size 46 DD.

This Risperdal injury case is the first one to go to trial. J & J’s Janssen unit, however, is adamant that unlike what Pledger’s family and other plaintiffs are claiming, the medication’s Food and Drug Administration-approved label did properly warn about the possible risks. They maintain that Pledger was helped and not hurt by taking the medication. Risperdal is approved to treat certain mood and mental disorders, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, as well as irritability linked to autism.

Aside from the abnormal breast growth, Gynecomastia may cause mental and emotional issues, uneven breast growth, and lactation. It can be especially traumatic for adolescent males. Someone with this type of abnormal breast growth may have to undergo breast reduction surgery, liposuction, chest reconstruction or a mastectomy. There have been at least 1,200 drug defect cases involving Risperdal.

November 19, 2014

Hundreds of Risperdal Lawsuits Blame Drug For Causing Gynecomastia in Males

by Altman & Altman

The number of Risperdal lawsuits continues to grow, with many of the plaintiffs blaming the drug for causing gynecomastia, which is male breast growth. Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson are accused of hiding the serious health risks involved with taking Risperdal and improperly marketing the drug for uses that are considered “off-label” for kids. Janssen is a J & J unit.

In Massachusetts, please contact our Boston Risperdal injury lawyers if you think that you or your child suffered serious side effects from taking this medication. The drug, launched in the United States in the 1990’s, was approved for use by children in 2006. It is indicated for use to treat schizophrenia in adults and kids, irritability in children between the ages of 5 and 16, autism, and bipolar disorder in adults and children, ages 10 to 17. Off-label purposes include treatment of kids with ADHD.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology in 2006 reported that risperidone, which is Risperdal’s generic form, can strongly up the prolactin levels in adolescents, with gynecomastia as a possible side effect. In 2009, researchers in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology cautioned that prolactin levels could be elevated for up to two years in users of Risperdal.