While Bayer Pharmaceuticals is already facing a large number of lawsuits for the alleged design defects of Mirena IUD, it is now facing an additional neurological problem allegation. Across the country, women are claiming that the Mirena IUD and other contraceptive products made by Bayer have caused them to develop a painful condition called pseudotumor cerebi.

Pseudotumor cerebri is a rare side effect that typically occurs from using certain birth control products like the Mirena IUD, which causes severe headaches to the patient. Pseudotumor cerebri is a very serious condition that puts severe pressure on the brain and optic nerves, which can cause migraines, vision loss, and blindness. Due to the similarity of side effects, this condition is often mistaken for an actual brain tumor.

Currently, the only way to diagnose pseudotumor cerebri is with a spinal tap (lumbar puncture), in which a needle is stuck between two vertebrae in the lower spine. The doctors then measure the amount of cerebrospinal fluid and remove a sample, which gives them an idea of how much pressure the brain may be under. While this condition is non-fatal, it can potentially cause permanent vision damage and should be treated immediately.

As mentioned before, the excess cerebrospinal fluid puts immense pressure on the skull and optic disc nerves, which makes up the patient’s blind spot. It is important to remember that once the optic nerve is damaged, there is no cure for symptoms such as double vision or blindness. Treatment for pseudotumor cerebri is relatively painful, but many agree it is worth preventing the long-term side effect of blindness. In mild cases, medications can be used to reduce the levels of cerebrospinal fluid to control the skull pressure. However, more severe cases may require surgical tubes or shunts to be implanted in the brain and drain the fluid.

History of Birth Control Pseudotumor Cerebi Complication

While the concern of pseudotumor cerebi is a relatively recent trend in the legal community, healthcare providers have been worried about pseudotumor cerebri complications since the 1990s. One of the first studies observing the link between certain contraceptives and pseudotumor cerebri was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1995, where researchers observed the side effects of different birth control products. The study concluded that Mirena IUD, Yaz, and other birth control products containing levonorgestrel had a significantly higher chance of causing PTC.

Since this study, many different types of birth control have been linked to pseudotumor cerebri, though intrauterine devices and oral contraceptives are the most common culprits. Unfortunately, the exact cause of this condition is unknown, but many experts theorize that it is likely caused by cerebrospinal fluid buildup or that the body’s bloodstream inability to properly absorb the fluid leaves an excess amount in the spine, thus causing pressure. Cerebrospinal fluid is naturally produced by the brain and is reabsorbed into the bloodstream, so any hindrance to this process could cause serious problems for the patient.

Medical experts warn that frequent headaches or migraines that stem from behind the eyes, is one of the most definite signs of this condition. Additionally, patients should check to see if the pain worsen with eyeball rotation and to be alert for any ringing in the ears that pulses at the same time with their heart beat. Some women have reported that the symptoms increase while doing physical activities, because the exerted energy tends to raise pressure in the skull.

As mentioned earlier, Bayer is facing dozens of potential pseudotumor cerebri claims from different women who claim that the company failed to protect them against their product’s side effects. Other pharmaceutical manufacturers such as Pfizer may also be facing the same challenge with their own contraceptives; the contraceptives indicated to cause pseudotumor cerebri include but are not limited to:

• Yaz
• Yasmin
• Beyaz
• Ocella
• Mirena IUD
• Depo-Provera
• Safyral
• Gianvi
• Implanon
• Nexplanon
• NuvaRing
• Ortho Evra