Dilantin has been a staple treatment for seizures for generations. Some patients who respond well to Dilantin end up taking it on a long term basis, sometimes for decades.

Though the drug may give them good seizure control, it may also put them at risk for certain side effects that are particular to long term Dilantin use.

Some side effects noted withlong term use of Dilantin include weakened bones, nerve damage in the legs, and overgrowth of the gums. Other patients have reported an increase of acne or growth of excess body hair. These Dilantin side effects tend not to appear until a patient has been taking Dilantin for a few months or years.

Dilantin Side Effects And Cerebellar Atrophy

One of the rarer but more problematic side effects of long term Dilantin use is a degradation of brain tissue that controls the patient’s ability to move. This condition is known as cerebellar atrophy, also known as cerebellar degradation.

It’s a type of focal cerebral atrophy that affects the cerebellum, the mass of tissue at the back of the brain that controls physical movement. Degradation of the cerebellum can lead to a set of movement-related symptoms known clinically as ataxia.

Ataxia can interfere with all of a person’s activities of daily living. Persons with ataxia may have trouble merely standing up and keeping their balance. Walking or running may be risky; the person may end up tripping or falling.

Fine motor skills are also affected such that the person may have trouble doing many personal or work-related tasks. Things like writing, typing, sewing, preparing food, or playing sports may become difficult, or they may no longer be an option. Speech may become slurred or indistinct, and even swallowing food may become challenging.

Fatigue can be a problem for patients with cerebellar atrophy, because the loss of coordination makes movement less efficient. Some patients also report cognitive or emotional problems like anxiety, depression, or difficulty keeping their thoughts in order.

Studies of Dilantin Side Effects

While a given patient’s movement disorder may be attributable to the underlying epilepsy, some scientific studies conclude that Dilantin itself may be the cause.

One study looked at cerebellar atrophy in five patients with high levels of phenytoin, the generic name for Dilantin. The researchers concluded that while the lack of oxygen associated with seizures can be a cause of cerebellar degeneration, the cases they studied suggested that Dilantin side effects can also be a cause.

A review published decades prior identified cerebellar syndrome and a few different movement disorders as side effects associated with long term use of Dilantin. Epileptic children with brain damage and who take multiple drugs are particularly susceptible to these Dilantin side effects. These children may suffer from balance disturbance that gradually progresses into loss of locomotion.

The review notes that many experts avoid long term Dilantin use precisely to avoid the dangers associated with phenytoin toxicity.