Dilantin is one of the most commonly prescribed antiepileptic drugs used to control seizure activity in the brain.

The drug is relatively inexpensive and appears to control seizures well, and has other treatment applications beyond epilepsy. However, severe side effects have also been reported with Dilantin use.

A case study reported in the 2013 medical Journal Neurology Asia details an individual case study entitled, “Persistent cerebellar ataxia with cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome due to acute Dilantin intoxication: a case report.”

The Dilantin study indicates that there are many side effects seen with Dilantin use, including side effects that have neurological, hematologic, metabolic and endocrine system consequences. Most of the Dilantin side effects are dose dependent and are lessened with a reduction in dosage and while some side effects may persist, generally the resolve with discontinuation.

However, irreversible Dilantin side effects are also seen as a consequence of long term Dilantin use, more specifically where the use is considered phenytoin toxicity. Usually, toxicity is due to long term use of phenytoin, but in the current case study, toxicity was observed with acute intoxication.

The case study highlights a 20 year-old woman who began taking phenytoin 8 weeks prior after she was diagnosed with right hemiplegia due to a left basal ganglia bleed (this means the right side of her body was paralyzed due to bleeding in her brain). She prescribed the medication as a precaution to control potential seizures, though she had not suffered seizures in the past.

When she presented to the study authors, she had been taking 300 mg per day of Dilantin, which is a normal dosage for adults. The woman had a normal physical exam but was very sleepy, had an abnormal gaze, abnormal speech, tremors, muscle weakness and gait issues.

The researchers suspected Dilantin toxicity and found her blood level of the drug to be very elevated as compared with an expected therapeutic level. They had the woman discontinue the medication and found that she became more awake and alert.

However, she continued to have persistent cognitive and mood changes including a reduced attention span, childish behavior, blunted affect, inappropriate laughter, lack of planning and initiating, reduced abstract thinking and working memory and a reduced ability to care for herself in addition to her cerebellar ataxia (loss of muscle coordination).

Symptoms similar to those experienced by the case study patient have been labeled as “cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome.” It is believed that not only is the cerebellum involved, but other pathways that link different areas in the brain may also be affected.

In short, the researchers summarized that Dilantin toxicity could occur based on acute toxicity of the drug. While long term toxicity has been well-established, they found as few as 8 weeks on the drug with no other physical explanation was enough to cause severe functional deficits in a woman who was taking a typical dose of the antiepileptic drug.

Dilantin Lawsuit Information

Patients who have experienced severe side effects from taking Dilantin have felt that the drug manufacturer did not do enough to inform physicians and patients of the potential risks of taking the drug.

In addition to developing cerebellar ataxia, individuals taking Dilantin have also experienced cerebellar atrophy (a specific type of brain shrinkage specific to the cerebellum, which a form of cerebral atrophy) that affects their ability to control their movement.

If you or a loved one has suffered cerebellar atrophy, cerebellar ataxia, or other severe side effects as a result of using Dilantin, you may have a legal claim. One of our experienced attorneys can provide you a case review at no charge and can assist you in determining your legal options.