In multiple studies, long term use of Dilantin has been linked with cerebellar atrophy symptoms.

Dilantin (phenytoin) is a seizure medication used to treat epilepsy in individuals who experience grand mal seizures and complex partial seizures. Dilantin treats seizures by controlling and stabilizing the brain’s response to stimulation and environmental changes which may be triggers for seizures.

Dilantin is also approved for use in brain surgery patients to prevent seizures before or after surgery. The drug is also used as a treatment for mental health disorders including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, aggressive behavior, Tourette’s syndrome, and ADHD.

Although Dilantin has a wide range of uses, the drug has repeatedly been linked to cerebellar atrophy symptoms.

Cerebellar atrophy is a condition involving damage and degeneration in the cerebellum. Common causes of cerebellar atrophy symptoms include stroke, multiple sclerosis, tumors, seizures, and other cerebellar disorders which may cause degenerative neurological damage. This damage can cause poor neurological connections, resulting in various cerebellar atrophy symptoms.

Cerebellar Atrophy Symptoms

The cerebellum is a small portion of the brain found at the base of the brain stem. When healthy, the cerebellum creates smooth and balanced movements by regulating posture, balance, coordination, and speech. When the cerebellum is damaged by cerebellar atrophy or another condition, movements can become unstable.

Depending on what areas of the cerebellum are damages, symptoms may vary. However, common cerebellar atrophy symptoms often resemble symptoms of a stroke, including lack of balance, slow movements, lurching or unsteady walk, tremors, shaking, unstable eye movements, slurred or slow speech, and memory loss.

As far back as the 1990s, evidence has been available supporting the link between Dilantin use and cerebellar atrophy symptoms. In 1994, a scientific study showed the link while also considering that Dilantin is used to treat seizures, which may cause cerebellar atrophy symptoms. This study found that, even when compensating for this fact, patients treated with Dilantin were more likely to develop cerebellar atrophy symptoms than patients not treated with Dilantin.

Other studies have found that cerebellar atrophy symptoms can occur in children and are more likely when Dilantin is used long term. Cerebellar atrophy symptoms occur most often when drug serum levels are above the recommended range, but symptoms can occur within the recommended range.

Cerebellar atrophy symptoms have been shown to cease when Dilantin treatment is stopped, and patients have the potential to recover from neurological damage caused by cerebellar atrophy symptoms. However, not every patient recovers fully, and some cerebellar atrophy symptoms, especially a persistent lack of muscle coordination, may be permanent.

Stages of Cerebellar Atrophy

Any patient who suspects they might have cerebellar atrophy should  speak with their doctor immediately. The longer these symptoms go unchecked, the harder it may be to treat the condition.

Depending on how long the patient has been taking Dilantin, and how long they waited to get treatment, the condition could be diagnosed at various stages. Cerebellar atrophy has three stages.

The first stage is noted by dizziness while walking, a lack of coordination, and difficulty judging distance. The middle stage becomes more serious for an affected patient, with symptoms like trouble writing, coordination concerns, and heaviness within the limbs. The most advanced stage of cerebellar atrophy is connected with inability to sit or stand, written words that cannot be distinguished or understood, or even loss of speech.

When attempting to address a treatment plan for a patient with cerebellar atrophy, the doctor will look at the underlying condition to determine next steps. If it is suspected, for example, that the issue was causing by the patient’s long-term use of Dilantin, other medication alternatives might be considered so that the patient can stop taking this medicine right away.

However, stopping the medicine alone might not be enough to address some of the severe symptoms that appear with advanced stage cerebellar atrophy. According to healthline.com, individual treatment options should be explored with a physician based on how the symptoms and side effects are currently impacting the patient’s life.

If you or a family member experienced cerebellar atrophy symptoms after being treated with Dilantin, you may qualify for legal action against the drug’s manufacturers. Legal action regarding Dilantin may aim to hold manufacturers accountable for not warning patients that long term Dilantin use may result in cerebellar atrophy symptoms. These lawsuits may be able to recover compensation for past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, and more.