The anti-epileptic drug Dilantin, which is used to treat seizures in children and adults who have abnormal brain activity has been linked to focal cerebral atrophy according to a published study.

In a Dilantin (phenytoin) study released in July 2003, researchers looked at the MRIs of individuals who had been taking phenytoin for at least two months in addition to MRIs for a healthy adult control group.

The researchers questioned if the length of time an individual had been diagnosed with epilepsy had an effect on the degree of atrophy seen in the cerebellum. They found the length of time since diagnosis was important, but it was not as significant as the link between the use of Dilantin and degree of cerebellar atrophy.

Cerebellar atrophy was found to be frequently present when patients had used Dilantin long-term. Some individuals had experienced phenytoin intoxication and were found to have experienced even more severe cerebellar atrophy.

Overall, duration of treatment with Dilantin was the factor that was most strongly linked with cerebellar atrophy, with those who used the medication the longest experiencing the greatest reduction in cerebellar volume.

Dilantin Side Effects

Cerebellar atrophy is a wasting away or degeneration in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that coordinates muscular activity, located at the base of the brain. Posture, balance, coordination and speech are all largely controlled by the cerebellum.

Cerebellar atrophy is considered focal cerebral atrophy.  With cerebral atrophy, there is a reduction in size or volume in the brain as a whole, and the shrinkage in the brain is relative to other structures and mostly consistent in degeneration.

With focal cerebral atrophy, a specific area of the brain is targeted. Different parts of the brain can selectively experience atrophy and cause impairment in a particular bodily function.

In cerebellar atrophy, the brain degenerates when the neurons in the cerebellum deteriorate and eventually die. This causes the brain to lose volume and essentially shrink.

Other Causes of Cerebellar Atrophy

Cerebellar atrophy may be caused by other diseases such as spinal cord, cerebral cortex, and brain stem diseases. Neurological diseases linked with cerebellar degeneration include ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, Friedreich’s ataxia, multiple sclerosis, chronic alcohol abuse, and paraneoplastic disorders, among others. Inherited genetic mutation can also cause cerebellar degeneration if the production of certain specific proteins, which affect the survival of the brain’s neurons (or nerve cells), is impaired.

Symptoms and Treatment of Cerebellar Atrophy

Cerebellar atrophy, or cerebellar degeneration, is marked by a few hallmark symptoms. These include:

• An unsteady, lurching walk
• Slow, unsteady and jerky arm and/or leg movement
• Slowed or slurred speech
• Nystagmus (rapid, small eye movement)
• Difficulty with fine motor tasks
• Difficulty swallowing
• Poor coordination

If you are not aware that you already have a condition that causes such symptoms, see your doctor if you lose balance, muscle coordination, have difficulty walking or swallowing, or start slurring your speech.

Whether or not cerebellar degeneration is reversible depends largely on the underlying cause of the disease, which varies from person to person. If the condition was caused by medication such as Dilantin, stopping intake of the drug can reduce the likelihood that the patient will continue to experience these symptoms of cerebellar degeneration—or at least avoid the progression of degeneration.

The outcomes of reversing the degeneration caused by cerebellar atrophy differ, with some individuals able to reverse their symptoms and regain function, while others are plagued with permanent loss of function and damage.

Treatment of cerebellar atrophy is usually confined to treatment of specific symptoms. For instance, if degeneration has led to abnormalities in a person’s walking gait, certain drugs may be prescribed to lessen these abnormalities. If muscles have weakened due to cerebellar atrophy, physical therapy may be used to help strengthen those muscles. If cerebellar atrophy was caused by other disorders, those disorders may be treated to reduce the symptoms of atrophy.

Dilantin Lawsuit Information

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy following use of Dilantin (phenytoin) for treatment of epileptic seizures or bipolar disorder, you may have a legal claim.

An experienced Dilantin attorney is available to review your case and assist you in exploring your legal options in a confidential case review.