Increased risks for developing Dilantin induced cerebellar atrophy have been recently associated with the epilepsy medication phenytoin, commonly known as Dilantin.

Dilantin is an antiepileptic or anticonvulsant drug prescribed to decrease the spread of seizure activity in the brain.

Cerebellar atrophy is the degeneration of the cerebellum, part of the brain that controls functions such as coordination, movement, and speech.

Another reported side effect of Dilantin allegedly linked to the medication is also cerebellar toxicity.

If you or a loved one have been injured because of Dilantin induced cerebellar atrophy or other purported side effects linked to the medication, you may be eligible to file a Dilantin lawsuit and pursue compensation for any damages and losses suffered.

Dilantin Induced Cerebellar Atrophy

Cerebellar atrophy is a condition that affects a person’s coordination and voluntary movement due to damage to the brain’s cerebellum. It is characterized as the degeneration of brain tissue and of the loss of neurons and connections between them.

Atrophy can be either general or focal. This means that it can either affect the entire brain as a whole or a particular area of the brain and the functions it controls.

Dilantin is a popular drug prescribed to treat individuals suffering from seizures and epilepsy. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1953 for use in seizures.

According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy is a chronic condition hallmarked by current and unprovoked seizures. The Foundation defines epilepsy as the occurrence of having “two unprovoked seizures (or one unprovoked seizure with the likelihood of more) that were not caused by some known and reversible medical condition like alcohol withdrawal or extremely low blood sugar.”

However, Dilantin induced cerebellar atrophy has been said to occur regardless of adherence to intake instructions or dosage levels. Because of this, it has become an increasingly prevalent concern to the medical community and patient population.

Dilantin induced cerebellar atrophy is a focal degeneration of the cerebellum. The cerebellum, which regulates voluntary movement such as coordination, speech, balance, and posture, sits behind the brain stem and below the cerebrum.

This part of the brain is what is responsible for balanced, precise, and smooth movement, and any damage that results may allow for unstable movements. These movements can range from a lack of balance to tremors, and cause unstable eye movements and shaking.

There are a number of different symptoms that can be ascribed to someone who may have developed Dilantin induced cerebellar atrophy. Some of these symptoms may include: memory loss; slow and slurred speech; Nystagmus, or eyes that move in a small and rapid manner; movements in the arms or legs that are unsteady, slow, and jerky; and a lurching walk.

Other common side effects to Dilantin have also included confusion, unwanted hair growth, difficulty falling and staying asleep, overgrowth of gums, headache, nausea, slurred speech, and slowed thinking.

Published studies have linked prolonged Dilantin use to Dilantin induced cerebellar atrophy. In fact, a study published in the Seizure European Journal of Epilepsy, which looked into adverse side effects of Dilantin, found a correlation between long term Dilantin use and cerebellar atrophy.