Risperdal is one of the so-called second generation antipsychotic drugs, touted to be safer than the older anti-psychotics.
Manufactured by Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen Pharmaceutical unit, it is approved for schizophrenia treatment and bipolar disorder in teenagers and adults, and autism spectrum disorder in children and teens. It has also been used off-label for ADHD, sleep problems and even depression.
This drug is a huge moneymaker for pharmaceutical companies, with $4.5 billion made in their peak year of 2007. In 2013, even though generics had appeared on the market, Johnson & Johnson still made $1.5 billion from the drug.
Common Risperdal Side Effects
Some of the more common side effects of this antipsychotic include:
- Fatigue and sedation
- Dizziness or blurry vision
- Indigestion, nausea, vomiting
- Constipation
- Increased production of saliva
- Irregular or increased heart beats
- Tremor, anxiety or restlessness
- Trouble sleeping
- Increased hunger and consequent weight gain
- Prolonged erection of the penis
Horrific as these common side effects are, there are some even worse, including breast development (which can include lactation) in men and young girls. Partial mastectomies are sometimes the only option for the men. Nerve damage can result, and the muscle tissue can be out of balance in the chest even after surgical repair.
Even if health insurance companies paid for the Risperdal drug treatment, they are not eager to pay for the breast surgery required to handle this side effect.
Johnson & Johnson Pays Damages in 2013
Johnson & Johnson was alleged to have paid kickbacks to doctors and to pharmacies for recommending and prescribing both Risperdal and Invega (another antipsychotic drug) and Natrecor, which is a heart failure drug.
In 2013, Johnson & Johnson was forced to pay $2.2 billion as a result of criminal and civil allegations that they promoted them for off-label use.
Zane Memeger, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania stated:
“J & J’s promotion of Risperdal for unapproved uses threatened the most vulnerable populations of our society – children, the elderly and those with developmental disabilities.”
Johnson & Johnson had to issue recalls related to manufacturing and shipping contamination. They also faced thousands of lawsuits related to side effects in children as well as some irreversible side effects.
Psychiatry Ignores 2013 Lawsuit
But as recently as April of 2015, The Psychiatry Advisor stated, “Adding the antipsychotic risperidone and parental training to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication treatment reduces disruptive behavior in children with severe aggression.”
While Johnson & Johnson did receive a heavy slap on the wrist for off label promotion of Risperdal, the pseudoscience of psychiatry is still recommending it for treatment in children.
Yes, two years after Johnson & Johnson was publicly chastised for their promotion of Risperdal to treat children, psychiatry continues to recommend it. Are those in the psychiatric industry stupid, ignorant or arrogant? Many would assert these adjectives are much too mild.
Defend your Family against Psychiatric Abuse
The only defense against psychiatric abuse is education. One must learn what the actual side effects of their recommended drugs are, including the many irreversible and even fatal ones.
Only then can the drug-prescribing psychiatrist be seen for what he or she actually is: one who destroys in the name of help.
SOURCES:
http://www.drugwatch.com/risperdal/http://www.drugdangers.com/risperdal/side-effects.htm
http://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/adhd/adding-risperidone-can-help-in-treating-aggressive-adhd/article/410166/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/johnson-johnson-to-pay-22b-in-us-health-care-fraud-settlement/
http://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/adhd/adding-risperidone-can-help-in-treating-aggressive-adhd/article/410166/http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/11723-risperdal-side-effects-men-can-require-partial-mastectomies/
Risperidone ruined my life. I gained 40 lbs & got off it. Now I can’t lose the weight. I eat healthy & I go to the gym 7 days a week & I can’t lose the weight. I’m so insecure about my body & depressed because of the weight gain. I’ve never been this heavy in my life.
I took this drug when I was a kid and let me tell you it has ruined my life as well my appetite greatly increased and still persists to this day and I grew breasts as well this drug needs to be taken off the market
Risperidone, the generic of risperdal also ruined my life. This medication made me 100% asexual for 6 years, incapable of any arousal or desire of any kind, incapable of responding sexually (not even to my own touch), but when I complained to Drs everyone ignored me and denied this could be caused by the medication. Then when I came off of it that triggered the opposite, PGAD (Persisant Genital Arousal Syndrome) which is a whole new level of misery. It’s the female equivalent to male priapism, but there is no effective treatment and most medical professions have never heard of it. I cannot do anything but isolate myself from others. My life has been completely destroyed and I have no hope of ever feeling normal again thanks to what this drug did to me. It was incredibly sedating yet I still feel sedated off of it.
This is truly the most horrible drug I have ever taken I had severe pain in my legs feet hands and arm. Burning hot then freezing cold for 10 days. I was too sick and disoriented to even seek medical attention. Finally my psychiatrist put me on Valium and it not only calmed down the terrible withdrawal anxiety but it dramatically helped the nerve pain. Tread carefully with this on it’s a very powerful drug.