Dilantin is one of America’s oldest and most popular antiepileptic drugs, treating patients who suffer a variety of different seizures.

Unfortunately this drug has been associated with a number of severe side effects including Stevens Johnson Syndrome, focal cerebral atrophy, and cerebellar ataxia.

Cerebellar toxicity is one of the most dangerous side effects allegedly associated with Dilantin, as there is no known cure. In addition, the chronic pain and immobility associated with cerebral damage effects the patient’s every day life, with no way to reverse it.

In a 2013 study researchers examined the extent of the nerve damage Dilantin (phenytoin) can induce in the brain. More specifically the study examined Dilantin’s association with cerebellar ataxia, which is a condition that occurs when the cerebellum becomes inflamed or damaged in some way.

This often results in the patient’s gait being unstable, due to loss of muscle coordination. While cerebellar complications have long been a concern associated with Dilantin focal cerebral atrophy, irreversible cerebellar dysfunction conditions like cerebellar ataxia is quite rare.

Focal cerebral atrophy occurs when brain tissue becomes damaged or loses neurons, which disrupts the travel path of the electrical signals. Oftentimes when this condition occurs, cerebellum damage can be expected, which ultimately effects the patient’s voluntary movements, balance, coordination, and speech.

Dilantin Focal Cerebral Atrophy Complications

The 2013 study examined a female patient who had been prescribed Dilantin, and had suffered this severe complication. Symptoms that came along with her cerebellar ataxia included: reduced attention, slow responses, dulled speech, and executive dysfunction.

The patient started experiencing these side effects two weeks after she was prescribed Dilantin, with diagnostic images indicating that she suffered long-term cognitive and physical dysfunction from focal cerebral atrophy six months later.

The study ultimately indicated that Dilantin was most likely the cause for the patient’s coordination issues and cerebellum damage. There are several cerebral atrophy treatment options, with minor cases being possible to cure from simply ceasing Dilantin.

In severe cases, the only option of focal cerebral atrophy treatment available could be chronic therapy to help patients contend with the symptoms. While there are a number of focal cerebral atrophy causes, using Dilantin has been indicated as one of the triggers.

Studies indicate that long-term exposure of this drug significantly increases the risk of focal cerebral atrophy, but this condition has appeared in cases of normal exposure levels.

It is important to note that seizures are also a part of the possible cerebral atrophy causes, according to a 1994 study. This is interesting as patients are often prescribed Dilantin to treat seizures, which prompted researchers to conduct the study.

Researchers found that patients suffering from seizures and not on Dilantin, could also be at risk for focal cerebral atrophy.

At this time, Dilantin patients are encouraged to speak with their physicians if they start experiencing any adverse side effects.