Phenytoin (also known as Dilantin) is a commonly prescribed antiepileptic medication, but it is also known to have serious neurological side effects in some cases.

Long term phenytoin use has been linked to a condition known as cerebellar ataxia.

What is Cerebellar Ataxia?

Patients who have been taking Phenytoin long term should be aware of what cerebellar ataxia is, as well as the causes and treatment of the syndrome. The cerebellum has an important function in the human brain.

It receives information from the body’s sensory systems and effects voluntary movements, balance, and speech. When this part of the brain degenerates a person will often experience a loss of balance, tremors, and unstable eye movements.

Cerebellar ataxia causes problems with voluntary motions, posture, balance, speech and coordination. Cerebellar ataxia causes slow, unsteady jerky movements, slurred speech, lurching walking, and rapid uncontrolled eye movements.

While symptoms are usually dose dependent and usually reversible, permanent cerebellar dysfunction has been documented following severe phenytoin intoxication.

What Causes Cerebellar Ataxia?

While there are several ways to address what causes cerebellar ataxia, medical professionals believe one means of developing the condition is through the buildup of cerebral toxins. Toxins can build up in the brain from ethanol, chemotherapy treatments, and possibly long term phenytoin use.

A study published in 2003 asserted that toxin build up from extended and long term phenytoin use was linked to cerebellar ataxia.

In addition, a 2013 a case study looked at the history of a patient who began to suffer from slurring of speech, blurring of vision, excessive sleep and imbalance after beginning to take phenytoin.

Suspecting phenytoin toxicity based on medical testing, the medical professionals discontinued the patient’s use of phenytoin. Once the medication was stopped, the patient became less drowsy but continued to suffer from her other symptoms.

In some rare cases, the effects of phenytoin cerebellar ataxia are permanent. While many patients may see a lessening or reversal of symptoms after stopping phenytoin, this is not the case for some.

Patients should only stop taking the medication after consulting with their medical professional. A doctor will generally monitor a patient through their withdrawal of the medication.

Phenytoin Cerebellar Ataxia Lawsuits

Product liability attorneys are currently investigating medications such as Phenytoin (Dilantin) and are seeking potential plaintiffs to bring lawsuits against the medication’s manufacturers. The decision to bring a phenytoin lawsuit should be made with careful consideration of all the facts and circumstances of each individual’s case.

A legal professional can help an individual determine the merits of his or her case. Successful plaintiffs may receive monetary compensation for their past and future medical bills as well as the pain and suffering they were forced to endure due to taking the medication.

Lawsuits like these can also help hold pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors responsible for their actions.