Some medical case studies suggest that while Dilantin can treat and prevent seizures, over the long term it can lead to a different type of movement disorder related to cerebral atrophy.

What is Cerebral Atrophy?

Cerebral atrophy is a general term that refers to a loss of brain cells and the connections between them. It can be either generalized or focal. In generalized cerebral atrophy, the entire brain shrinks.

In focal cerebral atrophy, the tissue loss is limited to one area of the brain. Focal cerebral atrophy symptoms manifest in the functions that are governed by the affected region of the brain.

The type of brain atrophy that scientists believe can be associated with Dilantin is a focal cerebral atrophy that affects the cerebellum, the pair of lobes situated at the bottom of the back of the brain.

Cerebral Atrophy Symptoms

Since the cerebellum has a lot of control over muscle coordination and movement, atrophy of the cerebellum causes problems with those particular functions. Cerebral atrophy symptoms are often grouped under the term ataxia.

Patients with cerebellar brain atrophy may have problems with posture and balance. Even ordinary movements like walking can become difficult – or even dangerous, since they may be at an increased risk for stumbling and falling.

Problems with fine motor skills can affect many personal and work-related tasks like writing, typing, eating, preparing food, or putting on clothes. Some patients with ataxia say they have to concentrate harder on their movements.

If movement of the mouth and throat is affected, speaking and eating can be impaired. Speech may become slower, unclear, and harder to understand. Swallowing may become so uncoordinated as to put the patient at risk for choking.

The loss of coordination can also cause fatigue. With less coordination, muscle activity in performing even ordinary tasks becomes less efficient, so just getting through an ordinary day can require a greater expenditure of energy.

On top of the physical symptoms, patients with cerebellar ataxia may also suffer from cognitive and emotional impairment. Since the cerebellum also plays a role in these functions, some patients may suffer from impaired recall, difficulty with executive functions like making plans, or disorders of mood like anxiety, irritability and depression.

The Link to Dilantin

Perhaps ironically, these symptoms can be associated with one of the oldest and most widely prescribed medications for a movement disorder. Dilantin, also known as phenytoin, was first developed in the early 20th century as a remedy for the convulsions associated with electroshock therapy.

In the United States, Dilantin use began to grow in the 1940s and 1950s when its anticonvulsant properties found effective use as a treatment for the seizures associated with epilepsy.

Today, while Dilantin is no longer the treatment of choice for many types of seizures, it’s still one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world. Yet despite its popularity, several case studies have led to the conclusion that long-term Dilantin use may lead to atrophy of the cerebellum, causing further movement disorders in persons who already live with the risk of epileptic seizures.