Consumers who experienced Dilantin cerebellar degeneration after being treated with the seizure medication may be eligible to take legal action and recover compensation via a Dilantin lawsuit.

Dilantin (phenytoin) is a seizure drug used in the treatment of patients with grand mal seizures and partial complex seizures. Additional uses for the drug include seizure prevention before or after brain surgery and the treatment of mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, aggressive behavior, Tourette’s syndrome, and ADHD.

The drug works to prevent seizures by stabilizing the body’s response to external stimulation such as flashing lights, which are common triggers for seizures.

Reports suggest that the versatile seizure medication may cause Dilantin cerebellar degeneration, also known as cerebellar atrophy. Cerebellar atrophy is a degenerative condition characterized by damage to the cerebellum. The condition is often caused by brain damage or conditions including stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, seizures, and other cerebellar disorders.

Dilantin Cerebellar Degeneration

Dilantin cerebellar degeneration causes poor neurological connections in the cerebellum, a small structure found at the base of the brain. The cerebellum controls movements and regulates balance, coordination, and speech. When the cerebellum is damaged, movements can become unstable and often mirror symptoms of a stroke. Common symptoms of Dilantin cerebellar degeneration include lack of balance, slow movements, lurching or unsteady walk, tremors, shaking, unstable eye movements, slurred or slow speech, and memory loss.

The potential for Dilantin cerebellar degeneration has allegedly been known since the 1990s, when studies first began to explore the link. In 1994, a study examined the link between Dilantin use and cerebellar atrophy, taking into account that cerebellar atrophy can be caused by seizures, the condition Dilantin is prescribed to treat. This study analyzed the data accordingly and found that even when compensating for seizure damage, patients taking the seizure drug were far more likely to develop Dilantin cerebellar degeneration.

Since then, further studies have shown that Dilantin cerebellar degeneration can occur in children and is more likely in all patients when used long term. Studies have also shown that Dilantin cerebellar atrophy is more common when drug serum levels are above the recommended range, but the condition can occur when drug serum levels are within the recommended range.

Research shows that symptoms of Dilantin cerebellar degeneration can stop after treatment with the drug is ceased. Patients have the potential to recover from the neurological damages sustained form the condition, but complete recovery is not always ensured. Some patients may experience long term symptoms from Dilantin cerebellar degeneration, especially a persistent lack of muscle coordination.

If you or a loved one experienced Dilantin cerebellar degeneration after being treated with the seizure drug, you may be eligible to take legal action against drug manufacturers. Lawsuits regarding Dilantin cerebellar degeneration often claim that manufacturers should have warned consumers about the potential risks of taking the drug. Dilantin cerebellar degeneration lawsuit may be able to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, past and future loss of wages, permanent disability, pain and suffering, and more.