Risperdal: Facts and Risperdal Legal Help
Risperdal is the most popular antipsychotic medication in the United States today. Since its FDA approval to treat schizophrenia in 1993, Risperdal has been prescribed to over 10 million people, generating over 2.1 billion in sales annually for its manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceutica and its parent company Johnson and Johnson. A decade later, the FDA approved Risperdal to treat bipolar disorder, and a new market for an already-successful drug was born.
Risperdal works by blocking the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical that is associated with motivation, pleasure, movement, and frontal cortex function. An imbalance of the chemical can result in a number of conditions such as psychosis and schizophrenia, and drugs such as Risperdal help victims of these terrible diseases live a normal and healthy life. Older drugs, while effective, often left victims physically shattered with a number of coordination and balance difficulties. These side effects were termed “extrapyramdial symptoms” after the name of neural network in the brain they affected. Victims of this side effect on exhibited issues similar to Parkinson’s disease such as tremors, muscle rigidity, and slow movement.
Part of Risperdal’s popularity derives from the fact that it is an “atypical antipsychotic”, which means it allegedly produces fewer side effects than older, less advanced drugs. These side effects include extrapyramidal symptoms as well as a potentially fatal condition called neruoleptic malignant syndrome.
Another important aspect of Risperdal’s popularity is that it can be used to treat a number of other neurological conditions such as autism, attention deficit disorder and senile dementia. These so called “off-label” uses were never studied under clinical conditions, but nevertheless generated sales for Risperdal and increased profits for Johnson & Johnson while increasing the public’s awareness for this “wonder” drug.
Unfortunately news outlets and medical agencies began to report on the serious and unexpected side effects of reckless Risperdal prescriptions. Risperdal was suspected in 37 incidents of stroke-like events in elderly patients undergoing treatment for senile dementia, and tragically, 16 of these innocent people died. Because Risperdal was not yet tested on the aged population and the potential side effects could not be properly anticipated, Janssen Pharmaceutica sent a letter to Canadian doctors in 2002 warning them of this risk. Strangely however they waited until 2003 to warn American doctors of the same danger.
Whether or not Americans were at risk of the same potentially fatal risks as Canadians is no longer the issue. Risperdal is also linked to blood clots and severe weight gain, and has even caused people from both genders to develop lactating breasts. Despite these clear dangers Risperdal remains the number one prescribed antipsychotic in America. The off-label uses of Risperdal continue to increase revenues for both Johnson & Johnson and Janssen regardless of the risk to the health and safety of the public at large.
If you or someone you love has suffered because of the effects of Risperdal usage, you should take a stand and send a message to the pharmaceutical corporations who valued their profits more than your safety. Let our team of dedicated, experienced, and knowledgeable legal professionals fight for you and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.
What is Risperdal?
