While the popular anticonvulsant Dilantin is in widespread use, long-term use of Dilantin has been linked to serious side effects, including brain damage.

These Dilantin side effects can be mild and go away on their own, but especially after long term Dilantin use, some symptoms can drastically alter a person’s life.

Long-Term Use of Dilantin

In a study published in the Seizure European Journal of Epilepsy, researchers found that long-term use of Dilantin, especially at a higher dosage, makes patients more likely to develop serious Dilantin side effects than patients who take regular levels of Dilantin for a short period of time.

Serious side effects linked with long-term use of Dilantin include cerebral atrophy symptoms. However, cerebral atrophy has also been reported by patients who have taken Dilantin for only a short period of time at the normal dosage, though this is much less likely.

For some fortunate patients, the only treatment needed for cerebral atrophy symptoms is stopping that patient’s exposure to Dilantin.

It is important to remember that withdrawing from Dilantin like this should only be done under guidance from a doctor, even if doing so to treat serious symptoms.

For other Dilantin patients, however, treating the side effects of long-term use of Dilantin is difficult or even impossible. For these people, Dilantin side effects like cerebral atrophy can become a permanent fixture in their lives.

What is Cerebral Atrophy?

Cerebral atrophy is a serious Dilantin side effect that affects the cerebellum, or the part of the brain under the cerebrum and behind the brain stem. This part of the brain is responsible for a great deal of basic movement, including coordination, speech, posture and balance.

When a person suffers from cerebral atrophy, the brain tissue in the cerebellum degenerates over time, losing neurons. This damage can cause unstable eye movement, tremors, imbalance issues and lack of control over body movements.

While these long-term use of Dilantin side effects are not directly life-threatening, they can make basic daily tasks difficult, unsteady or, in the worst cases, impossible.

For some, cerebral atrophy treatment is as simple as stopping Dilantin intake. For others, it can be impossible.

What is Dilantin?

Dilantin is a popular epilepsy drug that works to stop seizures in their early stages. During a seizure, a person’s brain fires neurons at a much more rapid pace than usual.

Dilantin and phenytoin medications like it prevent these neurons from firing so rapidly, helping to control seizures. Dilantin is one of the more commonly used anticonvulsants on the market today.

Dilantin Lawsuits

While filing a Dilantin lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of side effects caused by long-term use of Dilantin, it can help to compensate for financial expenses incurred by medical bills and even lost wages.

If you or someone you love has experienced cerebral atrophy or cerebral atrophy symptoms after long-term use of Dilantin, there may be a link, and you may be able to file a lawsuit.