The use of Dilantin (phenytoin) over an extended period of time may lead to cerebellar atrophy or degeneration, according to a medical research study.
Dilantin, (generic Phenytoin), is a popularly prescribed anti-convulsant medication used in the treatment of seizures associated with epilepsy and other disorders.
However, scientific research suggests a link between the long-term use of Dilantin and a rare brain disease known as cerebellar atrophy.
What is Dilantin?
Dilantin (Phenytoin) is used to manage and prevent seizures. Manufactured by Pfizer, it was the first modern drug approved by the FDA for treating seizures in 1953.
Dilantin controls seizures by slowing down brain impulses and reducing the maximum activity of brain stem cells responsible for seizures. Primarily used to treat epilepsy, the drug is also used in emergency rooms to prevent seizures in patients who have experienced a head injury, and, in some cases, to treat severe headaches when traditional medications simply don’t work.
Although Dilantin has proven effective in controlling seizures of this specific nature, when used for an extensive period of time it may build up in the cerebral cortex which can lead to atrophy of the cerebellum. The degree of cerebellar atrophy is related to the duration of Dilantin treatment and is not related to dosage of the seizure medication.
What is Cerebellar Atrophy?
Cerebellar atrophy or degeneration refers to the deterioration of neurons in the cerebellum (the area of the brain that controls muscle coordination and balance). Conditions that cause cerebellar degeneration may also affect other areas of the central nervous system, such as the spinal cord, the cerebral cortex, and the brain stem.
Signs and symptoms of cerebral degeneration may include a wide-based, uncoordinated walk; a back and forth tremor in the trunk of the body; uncoordinated movements of the arms and legs; slow and slurred speech; and nystagmus.
Cerebellar degeneration can be caused by a variety of factors including genetics, as well as a reaction to medication such as Dilantin. Symptoms of cerebellar degeneration may onset slowly or rapidly, depending on why the patient’s cerebellum is deteriorating.
Study Suggests Dilantin Causes Cerebellar Atrophy
One study conducted and published in the 2004 issue of Annals of Neurology examined the link between Dilantin and Cerebellar Atrophy. The study examined five patients who developed cerebellar degeneration while being treated with phenytoin.
All had high plasma levels of the drug, and none was having seizures of a type that could have caused cerebellar atrophy at the time the condition appeared. Cerebellar atrophy was confirmed via a CT scan and by the persistence of cerebellar atrophy symptoms when phenytoin levels were decreased.
The study suggests that extended phenytoin therapy can cause cerebellar degeneration but cautions that the cumulative effect of repeated seizures can also cause cerebellar atrophy.
If you or a loved one suffered a type of focal cerebral atrophy known as cerebellar atrophy or ataxia after taking Dilantin or the generic form phenytoin, you may be eligible to join a FREE phenytoin lawsuit/Dilantin lawsuit investigation and pursue compensation for your injuries.
In general, phenytoin lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.
Do YOU have a legal claim? Fill out the form on this page now for a free, immediate, and confidential case evaluation. The attorneys who work with Top Class Actions will contact you if you qualify to let you know if an individual Dilantin lawsuit or Dilantin class action lawsuit is best for you. Hurry — statutes of limitations may apply.
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