An increasing amount of medical research has linked long-term use of the anticonvulsant drug Dilantin (phenytoin) to an alleged increased risk of permanent cerebral atrophy (atrophy of the brain).

Dilantin was the first modern anticonvulsant drug developed and is commonly prescribed to individuals diagnosed with epilepsy to help treat and prevent seizures by slowing down impulses in the brain that cause seizures.

What is Cerebral Atrophy?

Cerebral atrophy is medical condition characterized by degeneration of the the brain. In cerebral atrophy, the whole brain may be targeted, or a specific part may be targeted, which is called focal cerebral atrophy.

With Dilantin use, the cerebellum is targeted- the part of the brain that is responsible for posture, balance and voluntary muscle movements. Individuals diagnosed with focal cerebral atrophy symptoms  involving the cerebellum may experience unsteady gait, trouble speaking or swallowing, and poor muscle control, which may onset slowly or rapidly, depending on the cause of the cerebellar degeneration.

In some cases, focal cerebral atrophy may result in debilitating complications like weakness on one side of the body or difficulty controlling the hands for tasks requiring fine motor skills. Other possible focal cerebral atrophy symptoms may include:

• Slow and slurred speech
• Slow, unsteady, jerking movements in the arms or legs
• Unsteady, lurching walk
• Back and forth tremors in the main part of the body
• Small rapid movements in the eyes (nystagmus)

Cerebral Atrophy Causes

Cerebral atrophy may have a number of possible causes, including degenerative neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis and transmissible spongiform encephalitis, or strokes and brain injuries that injure or kill brain cells in large numbers.

In some cases though, cerebral atrophy causes may due to exposure to certain pharmaceutical drugs like Dilantin (phenytoin), an anticonvulsant medication manufactured by Pfizer and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982.

A study was published  involving 56 epilepsy patients who used phenytoin for more than two months and the results found that focal cerebral atrophy or cerebellar atrophy is frequently associated with long-term use of phenytoin (Dilantin). They also report that patients with moderate/severe atrophy were those with longer exposure to phenytoin, which included a longer duration of treatment and higher total dosage.

Additional studies suggest that individuals who take Dilantin for long periods of time as a treatment for epilepsy or other seizure disorders may face a significantly increased risk of suffering irreversible deterioration of the cerebellum.

There is no cure for cerebral atrophy, although damage to the brain can sometimes be slowed or stopped altogether with a combination of medication therapy, surgery and nutritional support. Treatment for cerebral atrophy symptoms involves identifying the cause of the degeneration and providing support to help the patient adjust to the damage.

Dilantin Lawsuits

Dilantin is one of the first-line anticonvulsant medications prescribed to individuals struggling with epileptic seizures, and research has shown that long-term exposure to the anti-epileptic drug may be connected to focal cerebral atrophy causes, possibly caused by an accumulation of phenytoin in the cerebral cortex over long periods of time.

Studies linking long-term Dilantin therapy to an increased risk of focal cerebral atrophy date back more than two decades, and as more and more consumers become aware of the potential for phenytoin (Dilantin) to cause cerebellar atrophy symptoms, it is expected that Dilantin lawsuits will be filed.

Filing a Dilantin lawsuit may help you obtain compensation for your medical expenses and suffering. If you have taken Dilantin and were diagnosed with focal cerebral atrophy or cerebellar atrophy, an experienced product liability attorney can assist in advising you of your legal options at no cost.