Autistic Males Treated with Invega May Experience Breast Growth
Imagine that you are a teenage male with autism. It is hard enough being a teenager; add the fact that you have a mental illness and you are subjected to even more bullying and teasing. Now imagine that you took the drug Invega to help clear your thoughts and let your brain function normally. But the drug causes you to grow breasts. You are now a teenage male with a mental illness and breasts. The shaming and taunting would be too much for most people to handle. If you, or a loved one, have used Invega, and you have suffered from breast growth (breast growth in males is a condition known as gynecomastia), you may be able to file an Invega lawsuit to collect compensation for medical expenses and other damages. Contact a dangerous drug attorney from Arentz Law Group P.C. today by calling 1-800-305-6000, or by filling out the contact form on this page, to schedule your free case review.
Invega is an Atypical Antipsychotic
There are two forms of drugs that are used for mental illnesses: typical and atypical. The term atypical does not mean that it is odd, or strange, but rather it affects the brain’s chemical production differently. Typical antipsychotics help to block dopamine; atypical antipsychotics help to block dopamine and serotonin. These two chemicals must maintain a strict balance in order for humans to think clearly and rationally.
Atypical antipsychotics are relatively new to the market. The first to find success was Clozapine back in the early 1970’s. Unfortunately it had the major side effect of reducing the body’s white blood cell count, and thus was largely removed from the market. The next drug to find major success was Risperdal.
Risperdal was approved by the FDA in 1993. Over the next decade and a half the drug shot to popularity earning Janssen Pharmaceuticals (a branch of Johnson & Johnson) billions of dollars. Just before the patent on this drug ran out, the manufacturer came out with a new, very similar, drug called Invega.
Invega is a metabolite of Risperdal. This means that as Risperdal breaks down in the body, it metabolizes into different chemicals. One of those active chemicals is what composes the drug Invega. Since both drugs are essentially the same, they also have the same devastating side effects.
Invega Causes Breast Growth
Males who take Invega are at an increased risk of suffering from a condition known as gynecomastia. This condition is more likely to affect younger men, such as those who are going through puberty, but it has been known to be present in older generations as well. Janssen Pharmaceuticals never fully disclosed that growing breasts was a side effect of their drug.
The risk is not just for young men with autism either. While irritability in children with autism is one of the mental illnesses that Invega is used to treat, the drug is also prescribed to those with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and children with ADD/ADHD. No matter the illness, they are all at equal risk.
Contact Arentz Law about Filing Your Invega Lawsuit
Have you used Invega? Have you suffered from gynecomastia? If so, you may be able to file an Invega lawsuit against Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Fill out the contact form on this page, or call 1-800-305-6000 to schedule your free consultation with an attorney from Arentz Law.
A dangerous drug attorney from the Southern California offices of Arentz Law can handle your Invega case no matter what state you live in.