Patients taking Dilantin, an antiepileptic drug used to control seizures, may develop significant brain degeneration. However, most individuals taking the drug may not be aware that cerebellar atrophy caused by Dilantin is a potential side effect.

Not only is Dilantin used to control seizures, it is also prescribed in an off-label fashion for many other conditions. Most off-label uses of the medication are for psychiatric purposes. Patients are also prescribed Dilantin for conditions such as bipolar disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, severe depression, anxiety, symptoms of schizophrenia, and more.

Due to its widespread utility in addressing many health conditions, many people assume that the drug is generally safe and effective. However, many patients have developed severe side effects after using Dilantin, only to find out that these severe side effects may be permanent in nature, as the structure of their brains has been affected.

What is Cerebellar Atrophy Caused by Dilantin?

Cerebellar atrophy caused by Dilantin refers to the wasting away or degeneration of the cerebellum. The cerebellum is the part of the brain located near the brain stem that is responsible for the coordination of movement and balance.

In general, if one thinks about the symptoms of severe alcohol intoxication, such as impaired gait, difficulty walking or remaining upright, balance issues, impaired coordination, loss of gross and fine motor skills, stuttering, rapid, uncontrollable eye movements known as nystagmus, slurred or difficult-to-understand speech, these would be nearly the same symptoms of cerebellar degeneration. This is because alcohol intoxication primarily affects the cerebellum.

In fact, patients who complained to their physicians after they began taking Dilantin were thought to be having problems with alcohol, in some cases, before it was determined that cerebellar atrophy was actually the culprit.

Numerous research studies conducted on patients taking Dilantin have concluded that patients taking Dilantin have different brains than their counterparts who take other medications to control their health conditions. Imaging studies have been instrumental in helping to uncover this severe side effect of the drug.

In some cases, stopping the drug may halt the progression of cerebellar atrophy, and in a few cases, some of the lost functioning caused by Dilantin was restored. Yet, for others, the brain continues to atrophy despite the cessation of the pharmaceutical drug.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Cerebellar Atrophy Caused by Dilantin?

If you have been diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy caused by Dilantin, you may be eligible to seek legal compensation for your injuries. Patients who have been injured by pharmaceutical drugs are eligible to file product liability lawsuits against the product manufacturer in order to recover damages that resulted from the drug’s use. Patients may be eligible to recover damages related to medical expenses, pain and suffering, emotional distress, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, loss of spousal companionship and more.