There is some evidence that long term use of the antiepileptic drug Dilantin may occasionally give rise to a condition known as cerebellar atrophy, a serious side effects that requires immediate medical attention.
Dilantin, a form of the anticonvulsant drug phenytoin, is used to treat many seizure disorders. Manufactured by Pfizer, Dilantin was first introduced in 1938, was approved by the FDA in 1953, and was the first modern drug to reduce seizures at a nonsedative dose.
The medication works by decreasing abnormal electrical activity in the brain and is used to treat partial seizures and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The medication is also used to prevent seizures after brain surgery.
Dilantin remains one of the most widely used drugs in the world. Although in most cases it is now used as a second-line therapy, it’s still the drug of choice in the emergency treatment for seizures and status epilepticus.
What is Cerebellar Atrophy?
Cerebellar Atrophy is a serious progressive condition where the cerebellum shrinks to a much smaller size than normal. Essentially, it is a degeneration of the cerebellum, a section of the brain responsible for balance, voluntary muscle movements, and posture.
People with damage to the cerebellum can experience symptoms like unsteady gait, poor muscle control, and trouble speaking or swallowing. Signs of cerebellar atrophy may onset slowly or rapidly, depending on why the patient’s cerebellum is degenerating.
One possible cause for cerebellar atrophy is long term use of Dilantin. A 1994 study published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology examined the link between long term use of phenytoin and cerebellar atrophy in epilepsy patients.
According to the researchers, cerebellar atrophy was noted in patients with phenytoin exposure. While some researchers attributed the findings to the nature of seizures, others indicated the condition was related to long term use of phenytoin.
The study included a group of thirty-six patients with partial epilepsy and long term use of Dilantin to better clarify the cause of the cerebellar atrophy. In order to determine the degree of cerebellar atrophy, all patients and controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging, reviewed in a blind fashion.
According to the researchers, cerebellar atrophy was significantly more pronounced in patients with long-term use of Dilantin than in the control group. However, researchers caution that no correlation was found between cerebellar atrophy and instances of seizure severity or degree of phenytoin exposure.
Phenytoin Toxicity
Another side effect of long term use of Dilantin is phenytoin toxicity. While phenytoin toxicity is rarely fatal, it can cause neurologic symptoms ranging from nystagmus to ataxia to coma.
Symptoms of phenytoin toxicity include:
- Fast, uncontrollable eye movements or double vision
- Dizziness, drowsiness, or confusion
- Lack of coordination of fingers, hands, arms, legs, or body
- Slurred speech
- Nausea or vomiting
- Decreased appetite, decreased activity, abdominal bloating, or irregular jerky movements in children or the elderly
If you or a loved one suffered a type of focal cerebral atrophy known as cerebellar atrophy or phenytoin toxicity after long term use of phenytoin or Dilantin, you may be eligible to join a 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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Join a Free Dilantin, Phenytoin Cerebral Atrophy Class Action Lawsuit Investigation
If you or a loved one were injured by Dilantin/phenytoin side effects, you may have a legal claim. Fill out the form for a free case evaluation.
An attorney will contact you if you qualify to discuss the details of your potential case.
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