Sarah Markley  |  June 30, 2016

Category: Legal News

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Stevens Johnson Syndrome lawsuitDilantin, a popular and long-time anti-seizure medication used to treat epilepsy patients, has been associated with certain serious and concerning side effects including cerebral atrophy.

Common Dilantin side effects may include: nausea, vomiting, constipation, tremors, slurred speech, loss of balance or coordination, rash, headache, confusion, dizziness, nervousness, and sleep problems (insomnia).

But there is a much more serious possible Dilantin side effect for those who have taken the drug for seizures – cerebral atrophy.

When brain tissue degenerates and loses neurons and the connections between them, it is called cerebral atrophy or atrophy of the brain.

The entire brain can be affected, which is generalized atrophy. It can also affect a certain part of the brain and brain function of that particular area. This is called focal atrophy.

The cerebellum is the part of the brain that is under the cerebrum and behind the brain stem. When the cerebellum degenerates, this is a focal cerebral atrophy called cerebellar atrophy.

This condition is particularly serious because the cerebellum regulates things like posture, balance, speech and coordination. Focal atrophy in this part of the brain means that individuals may experience symptoms that look similar to a stroke.

Someone who has suffered from cerebellar atrophy may experience some of the following Dilantin side effects:

  • Unsteady, lurching walk, which often includes a back and forth tremor in the main part of the body
  • Slow, unsteady, jerky movements in the arms or legs
  • Slow and slurred speech
  • Nystagmus: small rapid movements in the eyes.

Serious Dilantin Side Effects

The anti-seizure medication, Dilantin, is used often to treat epilepsy patients. However, Dilantin side effects have often puzzled researchers.

Some researchers attribute cerebellar atrophy in seizure patients to the seizures themselves, but others have linked phenytoin use (Dilantin) with cerebellar atrophy.

A case control study was conducted on thirty-six patients with both partial epilepsy and long-term Dilantin exposure. These study participants were gathered from the referral population of an epilepsy center and were healthy.

Each of these participants had also undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for complaints of headache and dizziness. The researchers looked at both the MRI reports of Dilantin users and non-Dilantin users blindly.

They found that the cerebellar atrophy in those who’d had long term exposure to Dilantin was significantly more pronounced.

The researchers found no correlation between a patient’s cerebellar atrophy and the severity of the patient’s seizures. They also found no correlation between dosage of phenytoin and a patient’s cerebellar atrophy.

Duration of Dilantin exposure seemed to be the important factor in this study.

Another study found similar results. This study looked at 131 epileptic patients whose cognitive ability was already impaired. The researchers determined that those who had been exposed to phenytoin had marked cerebellar impairment and atrophy.

Filing a Dilantin Lawsuit

If you suspect you have suffered from Dilantin side effects such as cerebellar atrophy that you believe are associated with the use of the drug, an experienced phenytoin attorney can discuss your legal options.

You may have grounds to file a Dilantin lawsuit to seek financial compensation for your injuries, the medical expenses associated with Dilantin use, and the pain and suffering endured by you and your family.

In general, phenytoin lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Dilantin lawsuit or Dilantin class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.

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If you or a loved one were injured by Dilantin/phenytoin side effects, you may have a legal claim. Fill out the form for a free case evaluation.

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