Dilantin, a popular drug prescribed to treat seizures, may have a destructive side. Dilantin long term side effectsinclude cerebellar atrophy, a condition in which symptoms mimic a stroke.

The brain is made up of billions of neurons, or cells that connect to each other through nerve impulses. When the brain degenerates over time and ages, neurons are lost. Luckily, we are born with far more than are needed.

Other causes of the loss of neurons include stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, seizures, and other cerebellar disorders.

Sometimes, something other than aging or disorders can cause the loss of neurons. A popular and widely used drug, Dilantin, or phenytoin, is a drug that has been connected with neuron loss, or cerebral atrophy.

Cerebral atrophy is a general atrophy of the brain. When brain tissue degenerates and neurons are lost as well as the connections between them, this is referred to as cerebral atrophy.

When this occurs all over the brain, meaning the whole brain has shrunk, this is called cerebral atrophy. Sometimes, just one area of the brain can atrophy. This is called focal cerebral atrophy.

When it occurs to the cerebellum, the part of the brain that lies beneath the cerebrum to the rear of the brain stem, this is called cerebellar atrophy. The cerebellum controls balance, posture, speech, coordination and other voluntary movements. Cerebellar atrophy is a focal cerebral atrophy.

Cerebellar atrophy has been connected with Dilantin long term side effects.

If a patient experiences cerebellar atrophy, certain symptoms may present and these symptoms are often similar to that of a stroke. When the cerebellum is damaged or the patient experiences cerebellar degeneration and atrophy, those voluntary movements are also affected.

The cerebellum controls the smooth and precise movement of the human body, so when this part of the brain is affected, the patient can experience a lack of balance, slow movements of the body, unstable eye movements, slowed or slurred speech or an unsteady walk.

If you experience one or more of the following symptoms that do not go away, you should consult with your physician about the possibility of cerebellar atrophy:

• Uncontrollable eye movements
• Abnormal body movements
• Difficulty falling asleep
• Trouble staying asleep
• Confusion
• Slowed thinking

Dilantin is currently manufactured by Pfizer. It was approved in 1953 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Studies have listed cerebellar atrophy among Dilantin long-term side effects. In fact, in 2003 it was found that cerebellar atrophy can occur as a result of long-term phenytoin use. When a patient’s drug serum levels are high and the patient takes phenytoin for an extended period of time, it is thought that the cerebellum experiences cerebellar toxicity.

People often take Dilantin over time for epilepsy and are unaware of the Dilantin long-term side effects. In fact, many children who suffer from epilepsy take Dilantin and have experienced localized atrophy in the cerebellum region.

If you suspect you or someone you love has experienced Dilantin long term side effects, you may qualify to receive compensation for your injuries.