In 1993 the way we treat mental illness was revolutionized. Until this point the only drugs that were available were typical antipsychotics (those that only treat the serotonin or dopamine levels in the body, but not both), and there was one atypical antipsychotic (a drug that helped manage both the serotonin and dopamine levels), but it had the dangerous side effect of lowering one’s white blood cell count. In 1993 the drug Risperdal hit the market. As an atypical antipsychotic it worked fantastically well, but it didn’t have the potentially deadly side effects that its precursor had. Unfortunately, it does have one major flaw: it can lead to gynecomastia in young men . What is Gynecomastia Gynecomastia, simply put, is the development of breasts in males. This condition cannot be reversed by stopping the drug, and the breasts must be removed through surgery. When taking the drug Risperdal, the body blocks certain chemicals. The natural response is to over produce the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is a naturally occurring hormone that is found in elevated amounts in young mothers: it stimulates breast growth and milk production. This is a good thing for a young mother; it is not a good thing for a young man. A young man suffering from mental illness will likely already be teased and bullied. That taunting and shaming will only be compounded as a young man suffering from a mental illness that now has breasts. The emotional scars may last his entire life. If you have used Risperdal and you have suffered from gynecomastia, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of the drug for failing to warn you about this serious side effect. Contact a dangerous drug attorney for your free initial consultation.
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