Epilepsy is an unfortunate disease that renders a sufferer unable to control their brain waves and movements of their body, depending upon the type. More unfortunate still is the alleged connection between long-term use of Dilantin—a common epilepsy treatment medication—and cerebellar atrophy ataxia.

Cerebellar atrophy ataxia is a condition that also affects the ability of the patient to control major and minor muscle movements.

The cerebellum is the lowermost lobe of the brain which is located behind the brain stem. This lobe is responsible for organizing and coordinating muscle movements that are within the voluntary control of the individual unlike the brain stem which handles involuntary life processes such as heartbeat and respiration.

When cells in any region of the brain—also known as neurons—die off or lose their connections to one another, an overall shrinkage of gray matter occurs. When it happens to the cerebellum, it is known as cerebellar atrophy ataxia.

According to an online article recently published at www.sciencedaily.com, there are many possible causes of this condition. These causes may include genetic inheritance, chronic Vitamin E deficiency, gluten intolerance, glutose transporter type 1 deficiency, a metabolic disorder of cholesterol and bile acid known as cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis, chronic alcohol abuse, and long-standing use of common drugs such as lithium for bipolar disorder and Dilantin for seizure disorders.

These various forms of cerebellar atrophy ataxia may be able to be treated and progression arrested if identified early. The treatments will vary and might include prescribing high doses of Vitamin E, chenodeoxycholic acid, or intravenous immunoglobulin.

It also might include moving to a complete gluten-free diet or low-carb ketogenic diet. The variety of cerebellar atrophy ataxia caused by long-term exposure to certain prescription drugs might be able to be addressed merely by removing the medication from the system and replacing it with an alternative regimen.

Studies Linking Dilantin Use with Cerebellar Atrophy Ataxia

A 1994 study was the first to show a relationship between shrinkage of the cerebellum and the popular epilepsy drug, Dilantin. This study controlled for the fact that seizure activity can, in and of itself, cause this atrophy.

Patients that had been exposed to Dilantin as opposed to other treatment protocols, however, were noted to have overall smaller cerebellums as identified through various diagnostic methods. In 2003, another study further verified the connection between cerebellar atrophy ataxia and long-standing Dilantin use.

What are the Symptoms of Cerebellar Atrophy Ataxia?

This focused atrophy of the brain is most easily identified by a slow, unsteady walk. The patient frequently swings their torso from side to side in an unbalance lurch when ambulating. The trunk is also often noted to tremor and arms and legs can jerk.

It would be easy to misidentify an ataxia sufferer as drunk because often speech is difficult and slurred, and memory can be challenged. Finally, it is not unusual for an ataxia patient to have unusual rapid movements of the eyes that he or she cannot control.

What is the Outlook for a Dilantin-induced Ataxia Patient?

Removal of the drug from the system may or may not alleviate the symptoms associated with this focal brain atrophy. Some have shown a good response to the drug’s removal and other patients have suffered permanent neurological losses.

Have you or a loved one developed cerebellar atrophy ataxia secondary to long-term Dilantin use? You may have a legal claim.