Patients taking Dilantin, an epilepsy medication, may be at risk for phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy.

Dilantin (phenytoin) is an epilepsy drug used to treat grand mal and complex partial seizures. Other uses of the drug include seizure prevention during or after brain surgery and treatment of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, aggressive behavior, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, and other disorders.

The drug works to treat the aforementioned conditions by stabilizing the neurological response to stimulation and environmental changes. On this medication, stimuli such as flashing lights would be less likely to trigger an epileptic episode.

Despite the many application of the drug, studies have shown that long term treatment with Dilantin may lead to phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy.

Cerebellar atrophy is a degenerative condition that affects the cerebellum, a round neurological structure at the base of the spine. The most common causes of cerebellar atrophy are stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, seizures, and cerebellar disorders. However, studies have found that patients treated with Dilantin may develop phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy, causing damage to the cerebellum.

The cerebellum helps regulate voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination, and speech. A healthy cerebellum creates smooth and balances movements as well as precise motions. However, when a patient experiences cerebellar atrophy, the neurological connections and pathways in the cerebellum are diminished, resulting in a loss of function.

When a patient’s cerebellum is damaged, from phenytoin cerebellar atrophy or some other condition, previously smooth movements can become unsteady. Symptoms of cerebellar atrophy closely resemble a stroke and include lack of balance, slow movements, lurching or unsteady walk, tremors, shaking, unstable eye movements, slurred or slow speech, and memory loss.

Studies as far back as the 1990s have shown that phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy is a possible side effect of long term Dilantin treatment. In 1994, a study took into consideration that seizures, which Dilantin is taken to treat, can also cause cerebellar atrophy. This study found that compared to non-Dilantin exposed patients, patients on Dilantin were significantly more likely to develop cerebellar atrophy.

A 2003 study found that long term use was related to moderate to severe phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy. Another study found that phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy can also affect children treated with Dilantin.

The exact mechanism by which phenytoin causes the development of cerebellar atrophy is not fully understood. Studies show that phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy occurs after long term use and typically when drug serum levels are above the recommended therapeutic range. However, some cases of phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy have occurred with long term use and drug serum levels within the recommended therapeutic range.

Although studies have shown that phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy can be halted when treatment is stopped, studied also show that not all patients recover from the damage done. Not every patient responds to recovery the same and some injuries, especially a persistent lack of muscle coordination, may be permanent.

If you or a loved one were treated with Dilantin and developed phenytoin induced cerebellar atrophy, you may be eligible for legal action which could recover compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more.