Birth control medications along with IUDs may place women at a greater risk for developing pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), according to recent studies. Pseudotumor cerebri is a serious condition with symptoms that mimic brain tumor symptoms.

PTC is caused by the build up of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull, which places extra pressure on the brain, optic nerves, and eyes. Pseudotumor cerebri causes serious headaches and various vision complications including blurred vision, blackouts, and in some cases blindness. Many contraceptive manufacturers are facing legal allegations from consumers who claim they were not warned of this dangerous side effects of birth control.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Symptoms

Pseudotumor cerebri is also sometimes referred to as a “false brain tumor,” because the symptoms are so similar to an actual tumor. Patients have reported the following pseudotumor cerebri symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Ringing in the ears
• Headaches
• Migraines
• Blurred or double vision
• Neck pain
• Depression

While studies have connected this condition to taking birth control either through a intrauterine device or by oral contraceptives, it is still unknown why cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the skull. Medical experts believe that the build up is caused by the body’s inability to properly absorb the fluid into the bloodstream, leaving excess amounts around the brain. If left untreated, pseudotumor cerebri poses dangerous health risks to patients.

Treatment of Pseudotumor Cerebri

Pseudotumor cerebri is not fatal; however, the condition should be treated immediately due to the permanent damages it may cause. A physician may perform a CT or MRI scan to get a clear image of the cerebrospinal fluid build up. In some causes, doctors will prescribe medications to alleviate the pseudotumor cerebri symptoms to help with fluid retention. If symptoms worsen, physicians may recommend surgery to drain the extra fluid. The Mayo Clinic reports that while surgery is reserved for only the more severe pseudotumor cerebri cases, it has an 85 percent success rate of relieving symptoms.

Doctors may also recommend pseudotumor cerebri patients change their diets by limiting high amounts of fat, sugar, and salt as a way of preventing the condition from reoccurrence.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Lawsuits

The pharmaceutical manufacturer Bayer is facing numerous allegations from patients claiming the company failed to protect consumers from the serious birth control side effects like pseudotumor cerebri. Bayer already faces a large number of lawsuits for the alleged design defects of their Mirena IUD and now are under even more scrutiny, as patients blame the Mirena IUD (among other birth control medication) for developing pseudotumor cerebri. Other birth control manufacturers, such as Pfizer Inc., may also be facing similar allegations with their contraceptives.

Some of the birth control medications linked to pseudotumor cerebri include:

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

Pseudotumor cerebri lawsuits allege drug manufacturers were aware of the risks associated with taking birth control, yet failed to warn patients. Birth control lawsuits seek to compensate victims for medical expenses, lost wages, as well as pain and suffering caused by the birth control pseuodotumor cerebri condition. A class action lawsuit investigation has been launched to further examine the possible connection between pseudotumor cerebri and the birth control medication listed above.