Does Long Term Usage Of Dilantin Cause Peripheral Neuropathy?

Posted on Tue, 10 Feb 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 10 Feb 2015 Answered on

Thu, 12 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : AFTER TWO SEIZURES, I was given 300mg of Dilantin, which I took daily for 30 years. When I developed Peripheral Neuropathy it was determined that long-term use of Dilantin was the probable cause so I have been weaned off the Dilantin very slowly. I have not taken dilantin since December 15th. However since then I have been experiencing severe body chills,mainly back and shoulders. on a daily basis.Do you think that this will soon stop or has the Dilantin caused some permanent damage to my brain? Your opinion would be much appreciated. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Ajay Panwar (45 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This should stop soon. It is not a manifestation of brain damage.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for being on healthcaremagic.com.
I am Dr.Ajay Panwar,a neurologist, here to answer your query.

If you would have presented to me as an outpatient, I would have advised you that-Chronic use of Dilantin may cause cerebellar degeneration of brain, but your symptoms of chills at back and shoulders, are not a manifestation of cerebellar degeneration. So, Dilantin or Phenytoin induced brain damage is not the cause in your case.

These symptoms, though should not have been caused by stopping the Dilantin. However, I believe that these will improve with time.

Please consider doing some mental relaxation exercises/yoga to reduce the anxiety levels as anxiety can frequently result in these kind of symptoms.

Please be under observation for a few days. I hope your symptoms will improve. But one thing is very sure, there is no brain damage in your case.

Hope I have answered your query. If you have some follow up questions, I shall be glad to answer else, please close the thread-rate it and write a review.

Dr.Ajay Panwar,
MD,DM(Neurology)

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari