Dilantin, a popular anticonvulsant drug used across the country, has been linked with serious side effects including cerebellar atrophy.

These reported Dilantin side effects can be quite severe, and diagnosis with cerebellar atrophy can completely change a person’s life.

Dilantin Background

Dilantin is commonly used for the treatment of epilepsy. Dilantin works to stop seizures during their early stages, sparing its users from the more extreme effects of seizures.

When a person experiences a seizure, the neurons in their brain cells are firing much more rapidly than usual, often causing convulsive movements.

Dilantin and similar anti-seizure drugs work to prevent these neurons from firing so rapidly, helping to control seizures before they become too extreme.

Dilantin (phenytoin) is one of the more popular antiepileptic or anticonvulsant drugs available on the market.

Although Dilantin is a popular anticonvulsant and is in wide circulation, it has recently been linked in reports from consumers and studies from the scientific community with some serious and even permanent side effects, including cerebellar atrophy symptoms.

The Seizure European Journal of Epilepsy included a study on Dilantin side effects. The study concluded that the length of time a patient uses Dilantin drastically affects how likely they are to subsequently develop extreme Dilantin side effects like cerebellar atrophy.

A long-term Dilantin patient is considerably more likely to develop cerebellar atrophy than a patient who has only used Dilantin for a short time.

Similarly, if a patient takes Dilantin at a higher dosage, they are more likely to develop serious side effects. Therefore, long-term Dilantin users who take a higher dosage of the drug are at an even more increased risk of developing serious side effects like cerebellar atrophy.

Though a Dilantin patient is more likely to develop cerebellar atrophy or other symptoms if they take the drug in larger doses or for a longer period of time, the condition has also been reported from short-term users at a lower dosage as well.

What is Cerebellar Atrophy?

Cerebellar atrophy affects a patient’s brain tissue. Essentially, it occurs when the brain tissue in the cerebellum degenerates over time, losing neurons. The cerebellum is responsible for many of the body’s movements, including coordination, speech, posture, and balance.

When the cerebellum’s tissue degenerates through cerebellar atrophy, a patient’s movements can be affected. This can manifest as unstable eye movements, uncontrollable bodily movements, body tremors, and balance problems.

Cerebellar atrophy symptoms can not only be disconcerting; they can also make daily physical tasks difficult or, in extreme cases, impossible.

Dilantin Cerebellar Atrophy Treatment

The treatment of cerebellar atrophy symptoms can, in some cases, be very simple. For some patients, all they need to do to alleviate these symptoms is stop taking Dilantin.

For others, however, cerebellar atrophy treatment can be difficult to impossible. Unfortunately, some patients who have been diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy may be stuck with these symptoms as a permanent part of their lives.

Dilantin Cerebellar Atrophy Lawsuits

If you or someone you love has suffered from cerebellar atrophy symptoms or Dilantin side effects after using Dilantin, you may be able to file a Dilantin lawsuit.

A Dilantin lawsuit cannot make up for the pain and suffering caused by cerebellar atrophy and its symptoms, but filing a lawsuit can help to compensate for injuries and financial problems caused by medical expenses and lost wages.