Cerebellar Atrophy

Cerebellar atrophy caused by Dilantin.  Damage to the cerebellum results in lack of balance, slow movements. Severe atrophy linked to long term use of Dilantin.  

Our firm maintains an extensive national network of highly qualified physicians and scientists who are familiar with the serious side effects of Cerebellar Atrophy.

Causes of Cerebellar Atrophy 

Cerebellar Atrophy is a loss of neurons and the connections between them. There is evidence of Phenytoin-induced cerebellar atrophy.

If you are diagnosed with cerebellar atrophy typically you might experience symptoms like unsteady gait, trouble speaking or swallowing, and poor muscle control.

Dilantin toxicity occurs when high levels of Dilantin (phenytoin) build up to harmful levels in the body. 

Cerebellar Atrophy studies suggest that patients who take Dilantin for long periods of time as a treatment for epilepsy or other seizure disorders may face a significantly increased risk of suffering irreversible damage.

• Dilantin  is a serious concern for epilepsy patients with reports of cerebellar atrophy development in some patients. 

• Cases of Dilantin  show Dilantin may potentially induce permanent issues with speech and movement, as Dilantin toxicity has occurred. 

Our team is constantly keeping up with Dilantin medical research and legal lawsuits and strive to find better legal proof for our patients in an ever-changing industry. 

Cerebral atrophy (atrophy of the brain) occurs when brain tissue degenerates and loses neurons and the connections between them. Atrophy can be generalized, which means the entire brain has shrunk; or it can be focal, affecting only a certain area of the brain and decreasing the functions that area of the brain controls. BrainFacts.org 

Cerebellar atrophy is a focal cerebral atrophy marked by a degeneration of the cerebellum, which is the part of the brain that sits under the cerebrum, behind the brain stem. It is divided into two hemispheres. The cerebellum helps regulate voluntary movements such as posture, balance, coordination and speech.

 It's what allows for smooth, balanced and precise movement. Damage to the cerebellum results in a lack of balance, slow movements, tremors, which causes shaking, and unstable eye movements. It can make certain physical tasks difficult and unsteady. The symptoms of cerebellar atrophy are similar to a stroke.

Unsteady, lurching walk, which often includes a back and forth tremor in the main part of the body. 

Slow, unsteady, jerky movements in the arms or legs

Slow and slurred speech 

Nystagmus: small rapid movements in the eyes.

Conditions that can lead  include seizures, and other cerebellar disorders.  Have also been linked to toxins in the brain from ethanol, chemotherapy treatments and phenytoin.

According to Dilantin research on the link between cerebellar atrophy and Dilantin side effects, cerebellar atrophy tends to show up in patients after long-term use of phenytoin and when drug serum levels are above the therapeutic range. 

However, cerebellar atrophy has also reportedly occurred when the drug level appeared to be in the normal range.

Several cerebral atrophy studies have shown that cerebellar toxicity caused by long-term use of phenytoin can cause cerebellar atrophy.

A study published in 2003 found that moderate to severe atrophy was linked to long term use of Dilantin.

Cerebral Atrophy studies have also found that cerebellar atrophy can also affect children who take phenytoin sodium to treat their epilepsy.

 That study, which was the first to look at the connection, found that patients exposed to phenytoin as a group had significantly smaller cerebellum compared to non-exposed patients.