Patients who were prescribed Dilantin (phenytoin) and developed serious movement and speech problems, may be able to file a Dilantin cerebellar atrophy lawsuit. By filing a Dilantin cerebellar atrophy lawsuit, patients can seek compensation for any lost work, missing wages, or medical expenses they suffered due to cerebellar atrophy side effects.

Patients have become increasingly interested in filing a Dilantin cerebellar atrophy after several studies have linked the condition and medication, with phenytoin patients showing a higher likelihood of developing the condition.

Cerebellar atrophy has been linked to Dilantin since the early 1990s, when researchers discovered phenytoin patients had significantly smaller cerebelli compared to other patients.

In addition, it was found that patients who were prescribed Dilantin for longer periods of time were more likely to develop this condition.

Overview of Cerebellar Atrophy Symptoms

Cerebellar atrophy is the focal variant of cerebral atrophy, which is described as the shrinking or atrophy of the brain. Cerebellar atrophy specifically describes the process of the cerebellum deteriorating, and causing speech and movement problems in the patient.

The cerebellum is part of the brain that controls voluntary movements like speech and movement, making it a vital part of the central nervous system. Cerebellar atrophy occurs when the neurological connections in the brain become damaged or deteriorated due to traumatic injury or disease, but different factors like drug toxicity have also been linked to this condition.

Patients who develop cerebellar atrophy often develop problems like walking or slurred speech, which varies between patients depending on the patient. Dilantin cerebellar atrophy symptoms patients should be wary against include;

• Slow or Slurred Speech
• Slow, Unsteady, or Jerky Movements in Arms or Legs
• Unsteady or Lurching Walking Gait
• Back and Forth Tremors in the Body
• Nystagmus (small rapid eye movements)

Dilantin patients who develop early stage cerebellar atrophy will experience problems like dizziness while walking, movement difficulties, and difficulty in judging distances.

During the middle stages of this condition, patients will experience issues controlling their body posture and gait, slurred speech, and difficulty writing things due to deteriorating muscle control.

If the condition is allowed to progress, advanced stage cerebellar atrophy will produce symptoms like cognitive impairments, speech difficulty, and not being able to stand. There is currently no cure for cerebellar atrophy, but the progression of the disease can be slowed or halted with different treatment methods.

Physical therapy is sometimes prescribed to improve control and movement, with the goal of the treatment to help restore those function. Even though cerebellar atrophy can cause a multitude of problems for patients, Pfizer Inc. allegedly failed to disclose this potential side effect to the public.

Patients who opt to file a Dilantin cerebellar atrophy lawsuit often point out damages like negligence and failure to warn, with the company failing to reach out to them or their medical providers. Dilantin is one of the oldest and most reliable antiepileptic medications in the United States, prescribed to millions of epileptic patients to prevent the onset of seizures.

Each of these patients relied on the safety instructions and disclosures on the medication warning label, and are eligible to file a Dilantin cerebellar atrophy lawsuit if they were not warned of such symptoms.