Long term Dilantin (phenytoin) patients should be wary of cerebellar atrophy symptoms, with several studies and injury reports indicating a correlation. The first cerebellar atrophy symptoms that typically manifest are moving and speaking difficulties, with studies indicating phenytoin toxicity inflicting damage to the patient’s cerebellum.

Due to the severity of the condition, patients should report cerebellar atrophy symptoms to their doctor as soon as possible to minimize the damage and to maximize treatment options. If left untreated, cerebellar atrophy can leave patients with limited movement and speech patterns and may increase chances of degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease.

Cerebellar atrophy is the focal variant of cerebral atrophy, which is the degeneration of the cerebellum and occurs when the connective brain tissue deteriorates. This causes the loss of neurological connections within the brain, resulting in problems in balance, coordination, and speech.

Cerebellar atrophy symptoms are similar to what patients would suffer during a stroke, with patients most likely to experience:

• Unsteady or Lurching Walking Gait
• Slow, Unsteady, or Jerky Arm or Leg Movements
• Slow and Slurred Speech
• Nystagmus (small rapid eye movements)
• Memory Loss

Cerebellar atrophy is one of the most serious complications a Dilantin patient can develop, with studies indicating a correlation dating back to the 1990s. One study was conducted in 1994, initially conducted to analyze how phenytoin affected the brain while preventing seizures. Researchers became concerned when they noticed phenytoin patients had significantly smaller cerebella compared to other patients.

Overview of Dilantin Cerebellar Atrophy Correlation

While cerebellar atrophy can be caused by a number of other factors ranging from multiple sclerosis to traumatic injury, phenytoin toxicity has been linked to the condition in a number of other studies.

One of these studies was published in 2003, when researchers noticed cerebellar atrophy was more likely in patients on long term Dilantin prescriptions. The study found that even moderate exposure may put patients at risk, with other studies finding that children could also potentially develop the condition when prescribed Dilantin sodium.

Dilantin is one of the oldest and most reliable antiepileptic medications in the United States, with the drug added to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) List of Essential Medicines.

This drug is prescribed to numerous patients on a regular basis, for patients suffering from a variety of epileptic conditions. This drug works by slowing down the electrical signals in the brain, which prevents the onset of seizures.

However, the correlation to cerebellar atrophy has spurred major concern in the medical community and patient population. Patients considering stopping Dilanitn should only stop their prescriptions after talking to their doctor and under strict medical monitoring. Treatment for cerebellar atrophy ranges from physical therapy to drug treatment depending on the severity.

Even though Dilantin cerebellar atrophy can cause major difficulties for patients, the drug maker, patients may not have been adequately warned about this problem. Dilantin patients who develop cerebellar atrophy could be eligible for legal action, and might be able to seek damages for negligence and failure to warn.