A woman has filed a lawsuit against Bayer alleging she experienced intracranial hypertension caused by birth control.

In June 2008, plaintiff Angela N. claims she was implanted with a Mirena IUD (intrauterine device). In September 2013, she had the original Mirena removed and received a new Mirena device. Shortly after the new Mirena IUD was in place, she alleges she began having headaches, blurred vision, double vision, and pain.

On March 22, 2016, Angela says her healthcare provider indicated her symptoms were likely due to intracranial hypertension caused by birth control, which means increased pressure in the skull.

In April 2016, Angela says she underwent a diagnostic lumbar puncture to evaluated her intracranial pressure. Intracranial pressure is considered normal between five and 15 millimeters of mercury. Angela’s intracranial pressure was 34 millimeters. Angela had her Mirena IUD removed June 1, 2016.

Intracranial hypertension is a severe and possibly irreversible brain condition and can be a side effect of levonorgestrel, the synthetic hormone emitted by the Mirena IUD to aid in birth control.

Plaintiff: Bayer Knew Intracranial Hypertension Caused by Birth Control

According to Angela and other plaintiffs like her, Bayer allegedly knew or should have known that the synthetic progestin levonorgestrel causes intracranial hypertension. In 1993, Wyeth’s Norplant consisted of a set of six small capsules, each of which contained 36 milligrams of levonorgestrel. These capsules were implanted in the upper arm and provided contraception for five years. Norplant included a label that warned of idiopathic intracranial hypertension in users.

By 1995, The New England Journal of Medicine reported that many Norplant patients had developed intracranial hypertension caused by the birth control implant Norplant and instructed that the implants should be removed in those suffering the side effect.

A precursor to intracranial hypertension often is rapid weight gain. According to the intracranial hypertension caused by birth control lawsuit, Bayer did nothing to warn to the healthcare community or patients of the risks of developing this possibly irreversible brain condition that can lead to permanent blindness.

Bayer also is accused of not warning doctors that women who began suffering papilledema should have their Mirena removed immediately. Papilledema is increased pressure in or around the brain that results in the optic nerve within the eye to swell, causing vision disturbances and severe headaches.

Bayer also allegedly failed to warn that women who are of childbearing age, overweight, or experience sudden weight gain are at a higher risk of developing intracranial hypertension caused by birth control. Angela claims Mirena’s labeling fails to disclose that it allegedly is “a defective and unreasonably dangerous product.”

The Intracranial Hypertension Caused by Birth Control Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-02294 and is part of the Mirena MDL, In re: Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-related Products Liability Litigation (No. II), MDL No. 2767, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.