Dilantin is the brand name of phenytoin, an anti-seizure medication prescribed to treat epileptic seizures. While this drug is widely used and has a reputation for being effective, Dilantin brain side effects can include deterioration of the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination.

The cerebellum is located at the base of the brain just above the brain stem and consists of two sections of folded tissue. The right side of the cerebellum initiates movement on the right side of the body, and the left side of the cerebellum controls movement on the left.

Posture, balance, coordination and speech are all functions that can be affected when the cerebellum is damaged.

A swaying or stumbling walk can be indicative of cerebellar atrophy, which means that part of the brain has shrunk. This degeneration causes the brain to lose neurons and the connections between them.

Indications that someone is suffering from Dilantin brain side effects include uncoordinated movements of the limbs or trunk, accompanied by tremors or shaking. Other symptoms can include a loss of coordination of the arms and legs. An affected person might undershoot or overshoot the intended position of their hand, arm, leg or eye.

Slurred speech and fast, abnormally rapid eye movements along with a headache can be Dilantin brain side effects.  Other symptoms include trouble sleeping, a rash, nausea or swollen, tender gums. Difficulty swallowing or even completing fine motor tasks such as eating, writing, brushing teeth or buttoning clothes all can be indications of cerebellar damage.

Researchers Study Dilantin Brain Side Effects

Seizures alone can cause brain atrophy, but studies from the mid-1990s allowed for this fact when researchers compared patients who took Dilantin with those who had never taken it.

The cerebelli of those treated with Dilantin appeared much smaller than that portion of the brain in non-treated patients. The incidence and severity of cerebellar deterioration were linked to the number of doses of Dilantin.

Dilantin brain side effects are more likely after long-term use of the drug and when drug serum levels climb beyond the therapeutic range.

Still, Dilantin brain side effects have been diagnosed in patients whose drug levels remained within a normal range.

Studies show elderly patients are more at risk of side effects. Medications that treat abnormal heart rhythms, alcoholism, ulcers and tuberculosis can also increase the chances of toxicity.

The incidence of Dilantin brain side effects prove the medication is potent, with even a small increase in the dose potentially leading to toxic levels.

If you have experienced Dilantin brain side effects, you should contact a doctor immediately to see if reducing or eliminating the medication is an option. Withdrawal must be monitored by a doctor. A CT scan or MRI can determine cerebellar damage.

If you have experienced Dilantin brain side effects after taking the anti-seizure medication, you could benefit by speaking with a lawyer regarding your options for compensation.