Sage Datko  |  July 11, 2020

Category: Legal News

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

A physical therapist helps a woman on a stationary bike.

The cerebellum is the movement center of the brain, and if it suffers damage, it can shrink and decrease in functionality. This occurrence is known as cerebellar atrophy or cerebellar degeneration.

How Does Cerebellar Atrophy Occur?

Cerebellar atrophy can be caused by a range of factors. In some cases, people who have a stroke, multiple sclerosis, and tumors may develop cerebellar atrophy.

The condition can also develop if the brain is exposed to a range of toxins, including those present in ethanol, chemotherapy treatments, and medications. One of the drugs that may be associated with cerebral atrophy is Dilantin, an anti-epileptic drug.

The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center notes that cerebellar degeneration can also be inherited. One form of cerebellar degeneration is spinocerebellar ataxia, a term characterizing degeneration of not only the cerebellum, but the brain stem and spinal cord that causes movement problems. 

What Is Ataxia?

Ataxia is one symptom of cerebellar degeneration, says the Mayo Clinic. This term refers to an abnormal lack of coordination. This can cause a problem with fine motor skills, vision problems, speech problems, and stumbling. Symptoms of ataxia may include poor coordination, difficulty with speech or swallowing, involuntary eye movements, and difficulty performing fine-motor tasks including writing or buttoning a shirt.

What Are the Symptoms of Cerebellar Atrophy?

The cerebellum is the movement center of the brain, so if it suffers damage in the case of cerebellar atrophy or cerebellar degeneration, voluntary movement may be affected. This can lead a person to exhibit the following symptoms:

  • Unsteady, lurching walk, which often includes a back and forth tremor in the main part of the body
  • Slow, unsteady, jerky movements in the arms or legs
  • Slow and slurred speech
  • Nystagmus: small rapid movements in the eyes.
  • Memory loss

Additionally, cerebellar deregulation may be associated with psychiatric problems that require treatments of their own.

How Is Cerebellar Atrophy Treated?

Unfortunately, cerebellar atrophy is a serious condition. In some cases, cerebellar atrophy can be reversed. However, it can sometimes be permanent, depending on the extent of the damage to the cerebellum.

The Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center explains that inherited forms of cerebellar degeneration currently have no cure.

If the cerebellar atrophy is caused by medications like Dilantin, the condition may sometimes be reversible if a patient stops consuming that toxin. This may mean stopping a medication that may be linked to the condition, under the advice of a doctor.

What Is Dilantin?

Dilantin is the brand name for an anticonvulsant drug meant for the treatment of seizures and epilepsy. The generic for Dilantin is phenytoin. The drugs work by slowing down brain impulses that lead to seizure activity. Dilantin is often prescribed to patients who suffer from epilepsy or other seizure conditions to improve their quality of life. It may also be prescribed to brain surgery patients to prevent seizures.

However, Dilantin may also increase the risk of patients developing cerebellar atrophy. Many patients who have taken Dilantin and experienced cerebellar degeneration or atrophy have filed lawsuits against the drug manufacturer for these alleged permanent and disabling side effects.

Cerebellar atrophyWhat Studies Have Been Conducted on the Effects of Dilantin?

According to a study conducted on 56 patients who suffered from epilepsy and took phenytoin to treat the condition for at least two months, a significant percentage of people who take Dilantin may be at risk of experiencing cerebellar atrophy.

The study, which was published in the medical journal Seizure in 2003, followed 56 people with a mean age of 33 and a mean duration of phenytoin treatment of 17 years. The researchers used MRI scans to examine the subjects and calculate the total cerebellar volume in their brains. In addition to the 33 people who had taken phenytoin, 20 volunteers who had not taken the drug were used as a control group.

According to the results of the study, long term phenytoin use corresponded to the likelihood of experiencing cerebellar atrophy, with the length of time spent taking phenytoin increasing the risk. Almost 36 percent of the patients in the study suffered from some degree of cerebellar atrophy, with around 45 percent of these patients exhibiting mild atrophy. Another 45 percent suffered from moderate atrophy, and 10 percent were deemed to have experienced severe atrophy.

The study also indicated that older patients were more likely to have cerebellar atrophy, although it is unknown whether this is directly linked to their age, or is due to the possibility that they had been taking phenytoin for a longer period of time than the younger people in the study.

How Can Ataxia Linked to Cerebellar Atrophy Be Treated?

Johns Hopkins notes that medication usually does not work to slow the progression of ataxia, as would likely be the case with ataxia linked to cerebellar degeneration.

However, some drug therapies may help reduce some cerebellar tremors and leg spasticity. says the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.

Additionally, physical therapy and occupational therapy may help those with movement problems related to cerebellar degeneration. Those suffering from the condition may benefit from proper diet, mental and physical exercise, and quality sleep, says Johns Hopkins.

Patients with ataxia may require adaptive devices like wheelchairs or walkers to help them move around. Patients with ataxia may be at risk for falling or having other accidents, so adapting a patient’s environment to help them be safest may be helpful.

Additional adaptive devices may include modified utensils for eating, and communication aids or devices to help with speaking. Additionally, some patients may benefit from speech therapy to increase their control over their muscles and improve their speaking and swallowing skills.

As there is no current cure for ataxia and cerebellar atrophy, patients may also benefit from therapy or support groups to help them to learn to cope with their condition. Group or individual therapy, as well as support groups, may aid patients struggling with anxiety or depression due to their cerebellar atrophy diagnosis.

In general, phenytoin lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Dilantin lawsuit or Dilantin class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

Learn More

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.


Get Help – It’s Free

Join a Free Dilantin, Phenytoin Cerebral Atrophy Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or a loved one were injured by Dilantin/phenytoin side effects, you may have a legal claim. Fill out the form for a free case evaluation.

An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to participate in this investigation, it is imperative that you reply to the law firm if they call or email you. Failing to do so may result in you not getting signed up as a client or getting you dropped as a client.

Oops! We could not locate your form.

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.