The drug contained high levels of breast growing hormone
Austin Pledger was awarded $2.5 million in a law suit against the drug company. (Picture Courtesy: Facebook)
A 20-year-old man who grew breasts after taking an antipsychotic drug as a boy was awarded $2.5 million in damages earlier this week against the company that makes the pill. According to DailyMail, a jury ruled that Austin Pledger who is now 20 years of age, “was not adequately warned” that he would grow breasts as a side effect of using Risperdal.
A spokesman for drug company Janssen said the firm is 'disappointed' and 'believes this verdict should be overturned,' claiming that Risperdal’s side effects were clearly communicated to Pledger, his family and his physician. The report goes on to highlight that at the time, Risperdal was not approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States for use in children. Pledger, who was diagnosed as autistic, was 8-years-old when the prescription was written.
Picture Courtesy: Facebook
Though the drug’s warning label warned about the risk of gynecomastia, a condition that causes men to grow female breasts, it said the risks were extremely low. In 2006, the FDA approved Risperdal, issuing new label information saying that the drug contained high levels of prolactin, a hormone that promotes breast growth.
By that time, Pledger already had begun to develop breasts. His lawyer stated his breasts – 46 DD – can now only be removed by double mastectomy.
( Source : dc )
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