Approximately 3,000 new claimants have filed product liability claims against Johnson & Johnson, alleging serious Risperdal side effects.

Johnson & Johnson, and subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals, will be facing these claims alleging long term Risperdal side effects including gynecomastia and type-2 diabetes. According to Forbes, these new Risperdal lawsuits were filed in 2017 and brings the total number of claims over 5,500.

According to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, plaintiffs filed the Risperdal lawsuits in the first three months of 2017 and that 80% of cases are from out of state claimants. Philadelphia’s Complex Litigation Center representatives would “deal with the lawsuits in due course,” Forbes reports.

Attorneys explain the sudden increase in Risperdal lawsuits is due to Johnson & Johnson reportedly canceling the tolling agreements on thousands of Risperdal lawsuits. Tolling agreements impose pauses on the statute of limitations to give potential claimants the chance to file legal action. Johnson & Johnson reportedly canceled these agreements after paying a 2016 verdict of $77 million.

Critics say Johnson & Johnson did this to increase the number of Risperdal lawsuits filed, further straining the court’s legal resources. Johnson & Johnson representatives denied this, stating the company did not have the “insight into plaintiffs’ choices regarding when and where they initiate lawsuits,” Forbes says.

Overview of Risperdal Side Effects

Each of these claims alleges Johnson & Johnson failed to warn the claimant against Risperdal side effects. Many young boys reportedly grew man boobs soon after taking the powerful antipsychotic. Risperdal works by balancing the brain’s dopamine levels, which is the brain chemical directly responsible for pleasure and reward sensations.

While many patients prefer this drug as a way to avoid the side effects of traditional antpsychotics, there have been a number of severe Risperdal side effects reported in younger male patients. Gynecomastia is described as male breast tissue developing due to a hormone imbalance, particularly an overproduction of prolactin.

Prolactin is the hormone primarily responsible for breast development in adolescent girls and pregnant women. It is naturally produced in small amounts in males, but an overabundance can lead to significant male breast growth. Risperdal reportedly causes prolactin production to significantly increase, which results in man boobs and significant weight gain.

Significant weight gain may also lead to type-2 diabetes development, as Risperdal can cause severe changes in blood sugar levels. Risperdal was initially approved by the FDA in 1993 to be for adult patients with psychiatric conditions, but was eventually approved to treat children in the mid 2000s.

A massive investigation by state and federal authorities led to allegations that Johnson & Johnson marketed the drug for pediatric use before being approved for such a use by the FDA. Each of the men who suffered Risperdal side effects alleges severe emotional trauma, and some say they were forced to undergo surgery to remove the unwanted breast tissue.

Patients who allegedly suffered Risperdal side effects may be able to file legal action against Johnson & Johnson.