More and more patients are coming forward with allegations of serious side effects linked with their use of the anticonvulsant drug Dilantin. Some may turn to litigation, alleging they were not adequately warned about severe risks like cerebellar degeneration.

If you or someone you love has suffered from cerebellar degeneration or other serious complications after using Dilantin, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

Basics of Dilantin

Dilantin
is a popular anticonvulsant medication and is manufactured by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. Dilantin, also commonly marketed under its generic name (phenytoin) is used to treat epileptic seizures.

During an epileptic seizure, the brain fires neurons at a much more rapid rate than normal, leading to uncontrollable movements and other symptoms. In order to alleviate the effects of the seizure, Dilantin works to slow down the rate at which these neurons fire, which can help calm or stop the seizures quickly.

Although Dilantin has quickly risen in popularity since its introduction to the market, the use of this drug has unfortunately been linked with some major side effects.

Of course, any medication will come with the risk of certain complications, but more and more patients claim that they were not even warned about the risk of severe and long-lasting Dilantin complications like cerebellar degeneration. Cerebellar degeneration is a degenerative brain condition that can have lifelong consequences.

Cerebellar Degeneration Complications

Cerebellar degeneration is a neurological disease that occurs when the cerebellum (the part of the brain at the back of the skull) deteriorates over time. As the brain gradually loses neurons, it also gradually loses some of the functions of the cerebellum—and this part of the brain is in charge of several functions essential to daily life.

According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center of the National Institutes of Health, “Cerebellar degeneration is primarily characterized by a wide-legged, unsteady, lurching walk that is usually accompanied by a back and forth tremor in the trunk of the body. Other signs and symptoms may include slow, unsteady and jerky movement of the arms or legs; slowed and slurred speech; and nystagmus.” (Nystagmus is a vision condition involving uncontrollable eye movement.)

Other common symptoms of cerebellar degeneration and atrophy may include muscle weakness, loss of muscle control, loss of coordination and balance, vertigo or dizziness, and eye conditions including paralysis of the eye, double vision, or uncontrollable eye movements.

In addition to the risk of cerebellar atrophy or degeneration, Dilantin may also cause patients to experience many other unpleasant side effects. Common Dilantin side effects include:

• Decreased coordination
• Mental confusion or fog
• Slurred speech
• Trouble with breathing, swallowing, or speaking
• Nervousness
• Trembling or shaking
• Increased blinking and eyelid spasms, or an inability to move the eyes
• Trouble sleeping
• Unsteadiness and decreased muscle coordination

Some patients have reported rare side effects related to the drug including blistering skin or skin lesions, hives, fainting, chest pain, numbness or tingling in the extremities, yellowing of the skin, nausea and vomiting, or sores and ulcers.

Dilantin Use May Lead to Cerebellar Degeneration

A study of Dilantin’s neurological side effects, published in the Seizure European Journal of Epilepsy, found that cerebellar degeneration was linked with the use of Dilantin. Further, the study found that the likelihood of a patient being affected by cerebellar degeneration is influenced by the amount of exposure to the drug, both in terms of the dosage taken and the length of time a patient takes the drug.

While a long-term Dilantin patient or a patient taking a higher dosage of the drug is more likely to suffer cerebellar degeneration, it is still possible for patients who have used the drug for a shorter period of time and at a lower dosage as well.

For some, treating cerebellar degeneration can be very simple, only requiring that the patient stop taking Dilantin. For others, symptoms of cerebellar degeneration may not be so easy to get rid of. Patients may continue to suffer severe side effects permanently.

Treatment for Cerebellar Degeneration

While there is currently no cure for cerebellar degeneration, some of the symptoms of the condition may be reversible if the condition is diagnosed quickly. In some mild cases, simply stopping the medication may be enough to reverse the symptoms.

Additionally, patients who have more mild symptoms may also be able to improve their quality of life through physical therapy to strengthen their muscles, using special devices or appliances to help with walking, or altering their diet, supplement usage, and alcohol consumption levels.

Dilantin Cerebellar Degeneration Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has suffered from cerebellar degeneration after using Dilantin, you may be able to take legal action over Dilantin complications.

While filing a Dilantin lawsuit cannot make up for the pain and suffering caused by cerebellar degeneration and its side effects, it can help to compensate for injuries and financial problems caused by medical expenses and lost wages.