Drug Safety: Medication Risperdal Has Serious Side Effects

As covered on the CBS Evening News (May 25^th), the drug Risperdal has been found to have severe side effects.  According to the news report, Risperdal was commonly prescribed as a safe treatment for certain psychological problems in children.  The drug was also given to children with behavior problems such as attention deficit disorder or ADHD.  The medication has been found to cause breast growth because it increases levels of the hormone prolactin.  Under normal circumstances, prolactin is released by the pituitary gland and stimulates breast development and milk production in women.  However, prolactin has no known normal function in men, and when introduced into the male body, results in breast growth that cannot be reversed.  Janssen, the company that produces Risperdal, is now being sued by attorney Stephen Sheller on behalf of 10 boys who experienced breast growth due to the drug.