Dilantin, one of the more popular anticonvulsants on the market, has unfortunately been linked with certain serious Dilantin adverse effects, including cerebellar atrophy. Though many patients may not be aware of the risk of cerebellar atrophy, this neurological condition can cause dramatic and even permanent problems for patients.

Dilantin Background

The anticonvulsant Dilantin (also known by its generic name, phenytoin) is commonly used to treat epilepsy, working to stop seizures in their early stages. During a seizure, neurons fire more rapidly than usual, which can cause a number of problems, including uncontrollable movements.

Dilantin works to prevent seizures from getting too extreme by slowing down the speed at which neurons are fired during an epileptic seizure. Dilantin is one of the most popular drugs of its kind currently available on the market.

Dilantin is inarguably popular, but it also carries with it certain risks that Dilantin users may not have been made adequately aware of. Dilantin is becoming increasingly linked with cerebellar atrophy, one of the most serious Dilantin adverse effects.

What is Cerebellar Atrophy?

Essentially, cerebellar atrophy is a neurological condition that causes brain tissue to degenerate over time. Cerebellar atrophy occurs when the brain tissue in the cerebellum (located at the back of the skull) loses neurons over time, causing the tissue—and the brain’s functions—to deteriorate progressively.

This can be an extremely serious condition, considering that the cerebellum is the part of the brain that is responsible for many of the body’s most basic movements, including coordination, speech, posture, and balance.

When the cerebellum’s tissue degenerates through cerebellar atrophy, a person’s movements can be seriously affected. This can manifest as unstable eye movements, uncontrollable bodily movements, body tremors, and balance problems, all of which can have devastating effects on a person’s daily life.

Dilantin Adverse Effects

Studies of Dilantin adverse effects and their severity in relation to factors such as time and dosage show that the length of time a person uses Dilantin drastically affects how likely they are to subsequently develop extreme Dilantin adverse effects like cerebellar atrophy.

For instance, a long-term Dilantin patient is more likely to develop cerebellar atrophy than a patient who has only used Dilantin for a short time. Similarly, if a patient takes a higher dosage of Dilantin, they are more likely to develop serious Dilantin adverse effects. Therefore, long-term Dilantin users who take a higher dosage of the drug are at an even more increased risk of developing serious side effects like cerebellar atrophy.

It should be noted that while a person’s risk of developing cerebellar atrophy is greater the longer they take Dilantin and the higher the dosage, the condition has also been reported in short-term users at a lower dosage as well.

Dilantin Adverse Effects Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has suffered from cerebellar atrophy symptoms or other Dilantin adverse effects after using Dilantin, you may be able to file a lawsuit. A Dilantin lawsuit cannot make up for the pain and suffering caused by cerebellar atrophy and its symptoms, but filing a lawsuit can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.