The degenerative brain condition known as cerebellar ataxia can be incredibly serious. Causes of cerebellar ataxia vary and include injuries, diseases, and medications. For instance, the popular anticonvulsant medication Dilantin is one of the possible causes of cerebellar ataxia.

What is Cerebellar Ataxia?

Essentially, cerebellar ataxia is the loss of brain cells over time. This degenerative brain condition targets the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain responsible for a number of basic movements like coordination, speech, posture, and balance.

A person who suffers from cerebellar ataxia may experience a number of serious side effects as the condition progresses, including unstable eye movement, lack of bodily control, and balance problems. These side effects may not be life-threatening, but they can certainly make the ordinary tasks of daily life difficult, impossible, or even unnecessarily dangerous.

As the condition gets worse, symptoms become more serious, and may include dementia, seizures, difficulty speaking, and loss of comprehension or reading ability.

Causes of Cerebellar Ataxia

So what are the main causes of cerebellar ataxia? One common cause is brain injury. Indeed, strokes or other traumatic brain injuries have been reported as causes of cerebellar ataxia.

Other major causes of cerebellar ataxia is neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s, or dementia, which have all been linked with cerebellar degeneration side effects. Brain infections like AIDS and encephalitis can also be causes of cerebellar ataxia issues.

Certain medications have also been linked as possible causes of cerebellar ataxia, including the popular anticonvulsant medication known as Dilantin.

Dilantin (phenytoin) is a popular anticonvulsant. Despite its popularity, Dilantin has been linked with serious cerebellar ataxia side effects. According to a study, patients are exposed to a greater risk of developing cerebellar ataxia when they take Dilantin for longer periods of time or at higher dosages.

Of course, patients who suffer from multiple risk factors (such as a brain condition and the use of Dilantin) may be far more likely to develop cerebellar ataxia issues.

Treatment of Cerebellar Ataxia

There is currently nothing available to cure cerebellar ataxia. Instead, treatment focuses on ridding patients of the symptoms of cerebellar ataxia rather than the condition as a whole.

For patients whose cerebellar ataxia was caused by a medication such as Dilantin, stopping intake of the drug may lead to alleviation of some symptoms. For others Dilantin patients, however, symptoms of cerebellar ataxia may have worsened to the extent where they are untreatable, and can become a permanent part of daily life.

Dilantin Cerebellar Ataxia Lawsuits

Filing a Dilantin lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of cerebellar ataxia or its symptoms, but it can help to compensate for the financial expenses incurred by medical bills and lost wages.

If you or someone you love has developed cerebellar ataxia after using Dilantin or a similar drug, you may be able to file a lawsuit.