Multiple common birth controls have been connected to cases of pseudotumor cerebri. Pseudotumor cerebri is a condition where an individual experiences brain tumor symptoms and side effects without the actual presence of a brain tumor.

Women across the country may consider filing a pseudotumor cerebri lawsuit against major drug manufacturers such as Bayer and Pfizer for failing to warn them about this painful and potentially scary condition.

What is Pseudotumor Cerebri?

Pseudotumor cerebri is essentially a build of pressure in the skull called intracranial hypertension. Cerebrospinal fluid is constantly being made by the brain and being used as protection for the brain and spinal cord. It is supposed to be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Intracranial hypertension is when this absorption fails, creating an increase of pressure and pseudotumor cerebri symptoms.

Pseudotumor cerebri symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, neck stiffness, forgetfulness, and several other side effects. There may be an increase of pseudotumor cerebri symptoms during exercise due to naturally increased pressure.

Pseudotumor cerebri treatment involves dealing with the symptoms of the condition. Certain medications, such as glaucoma drugs, can lower the amount of cerebrospinal fluid that is produced. Migraine medications may also be effective in treating the severe pain caused by pseudotumor cerebri symptoms.

Surgery is also an option. Doctors can drain cerebrospinal fluid through a small tube or cut a small insert into a membrane surrounding the optic nerve which can allow the fluid to leave the skull, thus minimizing brain tumor symptoms.

Birth Control Side Effects

Many women who used birth control pills or IUDs such as the Mirena IUD, Depo-Provera, NuvaRing, or others, may have developed pseudotumor cerebri symptoms without realizing that it may have been their birth control that was causing their brain tumor-like side effects. This experience may be uneasy as women could be fearful of having an actual brain tumor. Doctors are able to perform MRI or CT scans, spinal taps, or eye exams in order to diagnose the condition.

Women may pursue birth control lawsuits if they have experienced pseudotumor cerebri symptoms such as:

• Frequent headaches or migraines that may originate behind the eyes and worsen with eye movement
• Ringing in the ears that pulses in time with your heartbeat, creating a “whooshing” sound (pulsatile tinnitus)
• Feeling dizzy or nauseated
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision, double vision, blind spots
• Vision loss affecting one or both eyes
• Difficulty seeing to the side
• Seeing light flashes (photopsia)
• Neck stiffness
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Problems walking
• Forgetfulness
• Depression
• More

The manufacturers of Yaz, Beyaz, Ocella, Implanon, and others may be held financially responsible for failing to warn women about idiopathic intracranial hypertension.