Dilantin, also known as phenytoin, is an anti-epileptic and anticonvulsant drug that treats seizures and epilepsy by slowing down runaway brain impulses.

However, there have been recent concerns that the use of the anti-seizure drug can result in more serious Dilantin brain side effects, including a type of focal cerebral atrophy known as cerebellar atrophy.

Dilantin Risks and Dangers

Manufactured by Pfizer, Dilantin was the first the modern drug used to treat seizures and was approved by the FDA for treating seizures in 1953. Like most drugs, there are common side effects such as constipation, dizziness, headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

Other commonly reported side effects for Dilantin include difficulty falling or staying asleep, and confusion. However, there are also more serious side effects associated when Dilantin is used long-term.  These possible risks and dangers include:

• Bone Weakening. Long-term use of Dilantin is associated with decreasing bone density, making bones more fragile which can eventually result in fractures. However, this is more likely if the drug is combined with other anti-seizure medications.
• Gingivitis. Up to 40 percent of patients using Dilantin long term, experience an overgrowth of their gums, which is more common in children than adults.
• Neuropathy. People taking Dilantin for many years also can develop sensory peripheral polyneuropathy, or nerve damage, which can cause pain, tingling or numbness in the feet and legs.
• Stevens Johnson Syndrome. This is a rare, serious disorder in which a person’s skin and mucous membranes react severely to a medication or infection, eventually causing the top layer of skin to die and shed. It’s considered a grave medical emergency and can be life-threatening.
• Cerebellar Atrophy. Long-term Dilantin use is also associated with atrophy to the brain’s cerebellum. While it is uncommon for Dilantin users to experience significant problems related to this cerebellar atrophy side effect, more and more studies are linking the use of Dilantin (phenytoin) over an extended period of time to this rare brain disease.

More About Dilantin Brain Side Effects

Cerebellar atrophy refers to the deterioration of neurons in the cerebellum (the area of the brain that controls muscle coordination and balance).

Signs and symptoms of cerebellar degeneration may include a wide-based, uncoordinated walk, a back and forth tremor in the trunk of the body, uncoordinated movements of the arms and legs, slow and slurred speech, and nystagmus.

These Dilantin brain side effects may onset slowly or rapidly, depending on why the patient’s cerebellum is deteriorating.

One study conducted in 1994 found that cerebellar atrophy may be linked to patients with epilepsy who have been exposed to the anti-seizure medication Dilantin long term.

Another study conducted and published in 2004 examined the link between Dilantin and cerebellar atrophy, suggesting that extended Dilantin therapy can cause cerebellar degeneration but did also caution that repeated seizures could also cause cerebellar atrophy.

If you or a loved one suffered Dilantin brain side effects, including a type of focal cerebral atrophy known as cerebellar atrophy after taking the seizure medication or the generic form phenytoin, you may be eligible to join a free Dilantin brain side effects lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation for your injuries.