In the early 1990’s the treatment of mental illnesses was revolutionized. The drug Risperdal hit the market and was a highly effective way of controlling both the serotonin and dopamine receptors. Until this time there was only one drug that was able to accomplish this, and it came with some deadly side effects. Risperdal was used to treat a wide variety of mental illnesses, even though it was originally only approved to treat schizophrenia in adults. Over time the patent was beginning to run out on the drug, so a new drug was “invented.” This new drug, called Invega, is just a metabolite of Risperdal. It treats the same mental illnesses, and it has the same dire side effects. Consequences of Invega When a male takes Invega, the body goes through a number of changes. One of these changes is that the body overproduces the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that is commonly found in new mothers. The physical effects are to cause the body to grow breasts and produce milk. This is a great thing for a mother; it allows her to produce the milk necessary to care for her new child. This is not a great thing for a young male. Young men who take Invega can start to grow breasts. This side effect is not physically harmful, and the results are not specifically deadly, but there are a number of consequences that can result. Breast growth in young men (a condition called gynecomastia) is irreversible. Stopping the medication will not reverse the problem, instead the only way to get rid of the breasts is to have them surgically removed. Until that can be done the young man suffering from this condition is subjected to taunting, teasing, and bullying. These emotional scars can last forever; the physical scars will be a constant reminder of those scars. If you have used Invega and you have suffered from breast growth, you do have options. You will likely have accumulated medical expenses, and you have probably had to undergo therapy to help you work through the emotions. Your first step is to contact a personal injury attorney to determine if you have an Invega case.
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