Dilantin Lawsuits
Dilantin is a brand name of the generic drug phenytoin sodium that is manufactured by Pfizer. It is used to lessen the runaway brain activity seen in epileptic patients when suffering a seizure by reducing the electrical conductance among brain cells.
Phenytoin sodium was the first modern antiepileptic drug developed and has been in use since 1938. Dilantin was proved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1982. Like most drugs, there are common side effects such as constipation, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting. However recently, there has been concern that the use of Dilantin can result in Stevens Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and the more severe version of it, Toxic Epidermal Necrosis Syndrome (TENS). This is due to an increase in reports of patients who have taken Dilantin being diagnoses with SJS.
SJS is a skin disease that is typically the result of an allergic reaction to an over the counter medication. The cell death that SJS causes results in the epidermis separating from the dermis and it can be fatal in about 15% of the sufferers. SJS symptoms begin with a fever, sore throat, and headaches like a cold or flu, but soon, the patient begins suffering from skin lesions and blisters. Because patient’s skin becomes so blistery, they are often treated in burn units. If the lesions adhere to the lungs, SJS can cause death.
The FDA issued an alert in November 2008 about the potential risk of SJS for Asian patients using phenytoin therapy that have tested positive for human leukocyte antigen (HLA) B*1502 allele. The Stevens Johnson Foundation is concerned that the FDA is not monitoring the potential for adverse drug reactions closely enough because less than one percent of the deaths due to drug reactions are reported. The doctors may not be reporting it to the FDA because it is not required, but also because they misdiagnosis the SJS and don’t realize it could be drug related.
Others are concerned that Dilantin use can result in liver damage, irregular heartbeats, decreased blood pressure, and birth defects. A study done at the University of Florida in Gainesville shows that Dilantin use by the mother during pregnancy may result in a lower IQ in the infant.
Many that have taken Dilantin and suffered from SJS or any other adverse side effects have filed suit against Pfizer. The family of Agnes Davis filed suit against ten different companies that are involved in the making, labeling, testing, marketing, and distribution of phenytoin sodium. The lawsuit, which was filed in August 2008, claims that Davis had a severe reaction to phenytoin and it resulted in her death.
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:41 am
I’ve taken Dilantin/phenytoin sodium for around 36 yrs. I’ve had had skin problems thinking it was just dry skin, and now I’m beginning to wonder if it isn’t the drug. Will notice red patches on my thy and backs of my shoulders off and on all years round.
August 25th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I took dilantin for about 10-12 years and was taken off of it 1994 because of a growth in the top of my mouth. It seem to be growing with time and the doctor said it was due to the dilantin. I am on tregretol now and the growth has not become any larger since 1994.
August 28th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
I was on Dilantin in the 60’s and I have noticed that I am having some skin conditions that will not heal. At first they look like blisters but now they are red and scaly has anyone else had these reactions I have not been on dilantin since I was 18 but now that I’m in my late 40’s I’ve noticed the skin conditions.
October 5th, 2009 at 8:32 am
My Dad was put on dilantin after his motorcycle wreck in 2005. He was allergic to the injection and when he went into the hospital they injected him with dilantin after we told them he was allergic. Im almost positive this had to do with his death. Its not fair and I don’t think people should be put on it.
December 2nd, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Agnes Davis was my grandmother.I can not express how much pain my family and I went through watching the affects of dilantin on my grandmothers.Could you imagine living two months feeling like your literally burning in hell? I feel that this is exactly what I watched my grandmother endure.Going to the hospital everyday to only watch her condition get worse…..It hurts.I hope ALL the companies realize what kind of affect their “medicine” is having on their consumers.
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:19 am
I Phenytoin and I believe that it causes me to have extreme swelling in my gums. They will begin as little bumps and then sometimes grow to become painfully large.
January 26th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I was diagnosed by Kaiser at 13 months with Asthma and Psyco Motor Seizures, or known recently to me to be “Psycogenesis” and not possible at that age by a Dr. Gerras, of Kaiser, San Diego. Another Neurologist, Dr, Higuchi, of Kaiser, Riverside informed me, he suspected I would have Osteoperosis, or Osteopenia at the very least. He was right. He informed me it was due to taking Dilantin as a kid for eleven years. His words were backed up by Neurologist, Dr, Erlan?, I think in the Emergency room in Fontana. I went in for a strange headache on November 4th, 2009, only to be told to take Capra as a nursing Mom. Thus, I refused. I wanted to have an EEG done, as well as an MRI. I got another Neurologist referral and so, Dr. Isaacs of Kaiser Riverside did so, only for me to find out I was on seizure meds all those years for nothing. I have an ARACHNOID CYST that is massive and they should have detected that with a simple CT scan 30 years before. Do you think I have a case? I am currently about to undergo surgery with DR. STINER, Kaiser Fontana on February 10, 2010. I have had this my whole life, and, yes, I am to be put back on seizure meds to readjust after the surgery for the next six months. Someone please Help?
June 1st, 2010 at 11:54 pm
I was on 700,mg a day dilantin for about 7 years. My seizures returned around 1990 and on two different occasions I had compression fractures of the vertebra, a total of 4, all due to the seizures and what was diagnosed as osteoporosis or osteomalacia caused by the diantin and was started on other anti convulsants until a suitable replacement was found. The first fractures were caused by a seizure I had in my sleep. After I was dismissed from the hospital (about a week later), I was given a fitness for duty exam as I was a Police Officer and was found medically unfit for duty. I was about to be promoted to sergeant when this happened but instead I was transferred to a high stressed desk job outside of law enforcement and I had several more seizures while on the job, one of which caused two more fractures. I wound up on SSDI at about a third of my previous salary and no retirement. Should I have sued, would I even have a case?
April 7th, 2011 at 11:31 am
I had what the so called doctors called a siezure in 2003. UC Sanfrancisco and UC Davis both confirmed it was not epilepsy. The doctor still loaded me with Dilantin and told me I would probably have to stay on it for life to prevent siezures. I took 300 Mg. to 600 Mg. never missing a day because of the fear of a siezure, for seven years. I weaned myself off Dilantin in July of 2010 after seeing on tv how bad it is for you. I don’t have Epilepsy and should not have been put on Dilantin, or should’nt have been left on it for sure. I still suffer from many of the side effects such as dystonia, arthritis, and more. And now I have a very aggresive prostate cancer that has matastastised. I know Dilantin causes cancer, and I’m sure it caused mine. Even the epilepsy doctors don’t like to prescribe Dilantin because of the terrible side effects it can have. I don’t know what to do, but I know my doctor let me down by not finding this cancer. My PSA was way low before he put me on Dilantin, and my health was good before the Dilantin was given. I’m on hormone shots now that has killed my sex life and is turning my muscles to mush. I just turned 62, and it’s been 5 years since I was told that I had 3 to 5 years to live on average for my grade of prostate cancer. Are there any lawsuits I can join against the makers of Dilantin?
July 9th, 2011 at 5:07 pm
I was prescribed Dilantin over 33yrs ago for Partial Complex Seizures. I’m currently 52 yrs old. Dilantin only helped to control the seizures not stop them. I had brain surgery November 1998 to remove the adnormality on my right temporal lobe that was causing the seizures. After surgery, my doctor still wants me to take Dilantin, (400 mgs daily). I am now almost 13 yrs “seizure free”. May 12, 2011, I was diagnosed by this same doctor to have “irreversible pheriphal neuropathy” due to long term use of Dilantin. He never advised me of the adverse effects of taking Dilantin other than telling me when I told him during several of my yearly checkups I had painful sensitivity in legs that it was normal for patients to have this when taking Dilantin. Not only was he neglient by not telling me the serious effects of taking Dilantin; he should have wanted to take me off of it sooner. Long before the nerve damage was done.
July 11th, 2011 at 11:20 pm
I developed a seizure disorder after a concussion sustained in a traffic accident at the age of 26 in 1982. I was diagnosed with left temporal lobe epilepsy I had a serious ankle fracture in 1985 and another in 2005. The effects of Dilantin on male rats and dogs is well documented concerning fertility. Spermatogenesis and testicular atrophy and/or the production of tetosterone was found to be profoundly effected, in clinical trials.
The other popular anti-convulsant drug Depakote has been shown to be likewise in studies pertaining to fertility.
I am currently taking Depakote to assist with this mood disorder I have which may stem from being infertile. Kind of twisted that a drug that can cause infertility posibily giving way to a mood disorder is also used to quell it, perpetuating the cycle as it appears to me.
The thing is, to this day there is no warning stating studies have shown that this occurs or took place in the animals they’ve studied.
No warning whatsoever.
I believe my reproductive system was compromised from the beginning.
July 24th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
I took Dilantin for about five years and it rotted my teeth and now I need implants. I have also had really bad skin problems ever since. I was wondering if there was any lawsuits against Dilantin for the tooth damage?
September 14th, 2011 at 1:53 pm
I’m a 32 year old male, I have taken Dilantin for 16 years and my new neurologist has taken me off urgently, as well as ordering bone scans. I have lost most of my teeth and the bone scans show that I have the bones of a 70 year old woman. The doctor tells me this is a definite symptom of Dilantin. Has anyone found anything about a lawsuit against the manufacturers? I could sure use some new teeth so that I can properly chew my food. Thanks.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:01 am
my name is scott i have taken dilantin for about 14 years on dec 3rd 2010 i had a seizure in my sleep i went through weeks of pain till someone realized i had 5 compression fractions well 6 months later ive found out that dilantin has created a bone density deficioncy so now i am 51 years old with the bone density of a 70 year old. i also suddenly needed to have all of my teeth removed because the bone around them was deteriating. i have been out of work since dec 3rd 2010 because of my compression fractures and now cannot return to my job as a roofer/truck driver. so much for my golden years. have you delt with this situation before could use some advise ty scott
January 19th, 2012 at 10:29 am
My name is brittney im 23, i never in my life had a seziure until 2006, i was 17 over the.course of a weekend i had about 50 seizures and went to the hospital a few times. the last hospital i went too put me on dilantin. I wad on it for a few weeks until i was swiched to lamitical. I found out i was pregnant that same year and had a healthy baby boy who is 5yrs old and has no problems. Well through out the years i had to take the dilantin again because i didnt have insurance and it was very cheap and it worked. In 2009 i became pregnant again while on the dilantin i had a painful miscarrage i kno in my heart it was linked to the dilantin. I choose not to have a dnc because i was scared. I tried to explain to the drs no one listened. Well after that i was still taken the dilantin but the added the lamtical to it. I was taken 1200mg of meds a day 600mg each pill. In 2010 i suffered another loss of pregnancy, im sure again it was caused by the meds i did have a dnc but never rerurned to the dr. Its all on file tho. Im no longer on dilantin just lamitcal 400mgs a day. Plain to try one last time to have a baby. If this is a normal pregnancy ill be convenced it was caused by the dilantin. Idk i seem a bit crazy but if anyone has any info please let me kno thanks
Oh i have also had teeth damage, headaches, red plotches on my face and dizzy spells, panic attachs and trouble sleeping while on the dilantin