Dilantin medication was linked to cerebellar atrophy as early as 1994, with later studies finding that long term exposure increases the chances of development.

Dilantin medication is one of the oldest and most well known antiepileptic medications on the market, and it can be used to treat a variety of mental illnesses.

Dilantin medication works by slowing down the electrical signals in the brain, which prevents the brain from getting overwhelmed and suffering a seizure.

However, Dilantin (phenytoin) medication has been allegedly causing some patients to develop cerebellar atrophy, which is a neurological condition that can permanently impair a patient’s ability to walk and talk.

Also known as focal cerebral atrophy, this condition is described as the deterioration of the cerebellum. The brain loses vital neurological connections between the brain and the rest of the body, which leads to communication breakdowns in the central nervous system.

The cerebellum is vital for voluntary movements like talking and speaking. Several significant studies have linked the Dilantin medication to cerebellar atrophy, with many of them indicating that long term patients with higher phenytoin exposure are at a higher risk.

Overview of Dilantin Cerebellar Atrophy Correlation

Dilantin medication was linked to cerebellar atrophy in 1994, when scientists observed how the drug’s treatment mechanism affected the brain during seizures. During their research, they noticed phenytoin patients had exhibited significantly smaller cerebelli on their MRI scans.

Ever since, there have been several published studies indicating that Dilantin toxicity is a potential cause of cerebellar atrophy. One of these later studies was published in 2003, which suggested that higher phenytoin exposure increased the chances of cerebellar atrophy development.

At this point, scientists are unsure why the Dilantin medication may be causing cerebellar atrophy but an interesting theory was previously discussed. According to an article from the Jan. 30, 2007 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal, it was suggested the toxicity could be related to another side effect of Dilantin.

The letter stated that Dilantin tends to stimulate bone growth, which could explain the skull swelling in the brain. The article had also consisted of a case study of a woman who had suffered epilepsy seizures since she was 15, and had been prescribed the Dilantin medication.

After being prescribed the medication at 18, she was eventually admitted for hospitalization again due to a head injury, which prompted a CT scan. Doctors reportedly noted cerebellar atrophy and a thickened skull, both of which can be attributed to use of Dilantin medication.

Signs and symptoms of cerebellar atrophy include, but are not limited to:

• Slow, unsteady, or jerky walking gaits
• Slow, unsteady, or jerky movements in arms or legs
• Slow and slurred speech
• Nystagmus (small rapid eye movements)
• Memory loss

It has been suggested that nearly 30 percent of all long term Dilantin patients will experience some form of cerebellar atrophy, making early intervention vital to minimize the damage.