Many people have taken the popular anti-seizure medication Dilantin. But some have suffered from Dilantin toxicity, which can lead to severe side effects.

Dilantin, generically known as phenytoin, is used for the prevention of tonic-clonic seizures and partial seizures. Its history has been long as phenytoin was created over one hundred years ago; it was then used for the seizure control by 1936. It is one of the most readily available medications in the world.

Common, non-severe side effects of Dilantin include dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, nervousness, tremors, slurred speech, loss of balance or coordination, rash, abnormal eye movement, headache and sleeping problems. Dilantin, however, has been known to cause some severe side effects. Dilantin toxicity is a factor when addressing these more severe side effects.

A severe side effect of Dilantin toxicity is cerebral atrophy. Cerebral atrophy, which essentially is the shrinking of the brain, happens when the tissue in the brain degenerates and loses connections and neurons.

This atrophy, or shrinking, can occur all over the brain or it can be centralized on a particular portion of the brain. When this occurs, the functions in that area of the brain can be lost or lessened.

When this atrophy is focalized on the cerebellum, it is called cerebellar atrophy. Dilantin toxicity has been known to affect this portion of the brain, and a more severe side effect of Dilantin use is cerebellar atrophy.

As the brain tissue in the cerebellum shrinks, the functions that the cerebellum controls are affected. The cerebellum helps regulate those voluntary movements of the body that control posture, balance, speech and coordination. This part of the brain is what helps individuals move precisely and with balance.

If the cerebellum is damaged due to Dilantin toxicity, tremors, lack of balance, slowed movements as well as unstable eye movements can occur. One might compare these symptoms to that of a stroke.

Dilantin toxicity cerebellar degeneration symptoms include slowed and slurred speech, jerky movements in the arms and legs, unsteady walking movements, and nystagmus, which is a condition where there is small, rapid movements in the eyes.

Dilantin toxicity, while rarely fatal, can be serious. It has been found that when Dilantin use is ceased, the brain can regain functioning in the atrophied areas.

Studies have found that long term use of Dilantin which can increase Dilantin toxicity can be the cause of cerebellar atrophy.

In fact, a study that was published in Seizure in 2003 noted that those “patients with moderate/severe atrophy were those with longer exposure to phenytoin (longer duration of treatment and higher total dosage).”

If you or someone you love has been affected by Dilantin toxicity, you may benefit from speaking to a Dilantin attorney to discuss your options.