Cerebellar atrophy, or the degeneration or loss of brain cells over time, may be caused by a number of issues.

In some cases, cerebellar atrophy causes may be prompted by injuries or neurological issues, but the condition has also been linked to certain medications, like Dilantin.

Cerebellar Atrophy

Cerebellar atrophy, a condition that involves the loss of brain cells over time, affects the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls movements like coordination, speech, posture, and balance.

Losing brain cells in the cerebellum can have a number of negative effects.

When a patient suffers from cerebellar atrophy, some of the movements they make may be out of their control.

For instance, cerebellar atrophy symptoms may include the inability to control eye movement, balance, or lack of bodily control.

Though these symptoms are not life-threatening, they can make daily tasks and routines difficult or even impossible.

For some, cerebellar atrophy treatment may be simple, depending on the cause. For others, however, this can be a permanent and debilitating condition.

Cerebellar Atrophy Causes

Cerebellar atrophy causes vary. Some may develop cerebellar atrophy because of a brain injury, like a stroke, or a neurological disease, like Alzheimer’s. Brain infections like AIDS or encephalitis may also be cerebellar atrophy causes.

Cerebellar atrophy causes like neurological disease or brain infections are made all the more likely if there is a family history of these conditions. Multiple risk factors built on top of each other make patients even more likely to develop this condition.

For those without these risk factors, certain medications may be the cause of cerebellar degeneration.

As the cerebellum continues to degenerate, symptoms get progressively worse for patients.

• Dementia
• Seizures
• Difficulty speaking
• Loss of comprehension or reading ability
• Cerebellar Degeneration Treatment

There is no cure currently available to treat cerebellar atrophy, so treatment focuses instead on combatting its symptoms. If the condition was caused by an infection, symptoms may be stopped from worsening by treating the infection itself.

However, for patients whose cerebellar degeneration was caused by a medication such as Dilantin, stopping intake of the drug may lead to alleviation of some symptoms.

Coming off this kind of drug should not be done alone, but instead done over time while being monitored by a doctor.

What is Dilantin?

Dilantin (phenytoin) is a popular anticonvulsant, but has unfortunately been linked with cerebellar degeneration problems.

A study published in the Seizure European Journal of Epilepsy found that the amount of time a patient is exposed to Dilantin and the strength of that dosage affects the likelihood of developing cerebellar degeneration side effects.

Patients who are exposed to higher doses of Dilantin over a long period of time may be more likely to develop cerebellar degeneration, the study found.

Dilantin Lawsuits

Filing a Dilantin lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of cerebellar degeneration or its symptoms, but it can help to compensate for the financial expenses incurred by medical bills and lost wages.

If you or someone you love has developed cerebellar atrophy after using Dilantin or a similar drug, you may be able to file a lawsuit.