Risperdal and ADD in Children

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Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD is one of the most commonly diagnosed syndromes across the country and around the world. It affects almost four million children under the age of 18 in the United States, and almost 30 - 70% of these people will suffer from this condition into adulthood. The disorder is characterized by a number of different symptoms including extreme hyperactivity, difficulty focusing attention, and restlessness.

Risperdal is used to treat some types of ADD in children despite the fact that it was not designed to treat the syndrome. These “off-label” uses of Risperdal are dangerous because not only was the drug not developed to treat ADD, but also because children are physiologically very different from adults, and using an untested drug on fragile bodies can have devastating consequences.

The Miami Herald reported in as early as 2001 that there were severe side effects from the off label use of Risperdal in attempting to pacify “unruly” children in some Florida foster homes. These children suffered a wide range of conditions from weight gain to lethargy and even the development of lactating breasts in both genders. One girl begged not to have to take the drug, though her cries went unheard. That is, until she took legal action against her caretakers and the drug company responsible for Risperdal.

Although Janssen Pharmaceutica, the company that created Risperdal, did not intend to treat childhood ADD, it did not initially discourage it either because to do so would be to risk losing sales and lowering profits. If your child is a victim of Risperdal use you may have the right to take legal action. Let our team of dedicated legal professionals help you through this difficult time. We are ready to fight for you.