The link between Dilantin and cerebellar degeneration has been a concerning correlation in the medical community since the mid-1990s, with numerous patients reporting serious movement and speech problems.

The Dilantin and cerebellar degeneration connection was noted in 1994 when diagnostic images showed Dilantin patients had significantly smaller cerebelli compared to non exposed patients.

The study was initially conducted to observe how Dilantin’s treatment mechanism affects the brain during the onset of a seizure, but unintentionally exposed a potential correlation between Dilantin and cerebellar degeneration.

There have been several studies conducted since then showing similar results, with one study suggesting that even short-term exposure may induce cerebellar degeneration.

One of the most recent studies indicating a link between Dilantin and cerebellar degeneration was published in 2013, in the online version of the Indian Journal of Pharmacology. Researchers had observed a case study of a 16-year-old patient prescribed Dilantin to treat his epilepsy who had to be hospitalized for virus treatment.

During the course of the patient’s hospitalization, MRI images were taken and showed signs of cerebellar atrophy. Upon this discovery, the patient had been taken off Dilantin and was prescribed valproic acid to manage his seizures.

Along with these studies, numerous injury reports had eventually spurred the FDA to approve label changes to the phenytoin warning label to include the fact that cerebellar atrophy had been reported.

Overview of Dilantin and Cerebellar Atrophy

Dilantin is one of the oldest and most relied upon antiepileptics in the United States, entering the market in the 1950s and has been prescribed to millions of patients since. Dilantin is typically prescribed to treat various forms of epilepsy and works by slowing down the electrical signals in the brain to prevent the onset of seizures.

However, this treatment mechanism has allegedly induced cerebellar degeneration in patients, which has led to the widespread concern in the patient population and medical community. Dilantin and cerebellar degeneration has been described primarily as focal cerebral atrophy, or cerebellar atrophy.

This condition occurs when the cerebellum begins to deteriorate, possibly due to drug toxicity and along with other unknown environmental factors. When degeneration of the cerebellum occurs, it loses vital neurological connections necessary for speaking and talking. Patients suffering from cerebellar atrophy often experience symptoms akin to a stroke including:

• Unsteady or Lurching Walking Gait
• Slow or Unsteady Movements in Arms or Legs
• Slow and Slurred Speech
• Nystagmus (small rapid eye movements)
• Memory Loss

While cerebellar atrophy can be caused by a number of different factors ranging from traumatic injury to diseases like Alzheimer’s, this condition has become widely associated with Dilantin.

While there have been patients who have experienced a reversal in cerebellar damages after their doctors discontinued Dilantin, this is not a proven resolution. Patients should never discontinue a medication without consulting their medical professional.

Even though this medication can induce potentially permanent brain damage, Pfizer Inc. may have failed to adequately warn the general public against the correlation between Dilantin and cerebellar degeneration. Patients who may have developed cerebellar atrophy as a result of Dilantin toxicity may be eligible to file legal action against the manufacturer.