A Wisconsin woman filed a new lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare, alleging she was implanted with a defective Mirena IUD that led to significant levonorgestrel side effects, primarily pseudotumor cerebri.

The plaintiff, Megan D., says she was implanted with the Mirena IUD device in October 2014, but she claims she was not warned about the risk of developing pseudotumor cerebri, or intracranial hypertension.

Unfortunately, after placement of the device, Megan says she began suffering from a number of levonorgestrel side effects, including headaches, nausea, and vomiting. As a result of these persistent side effects, Megan says she underwent a diagnostic lumbar procedure in on Feb. 4, 2016, which revealed that she was suffering from the condition known as pseudotumor cerebri. These levonorgestrel side effects necessitated removal of the device a week later, Megan claims.

In response, she chose to file a lawsuit, claiming that she was not adequately warned about the risk of developing pseudotumor cerebri, or idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Megan claims that her suffering from pseudotumor cerebri was among the levonorgestrel side effects she suffered as a result of Mirena IUD placement.

Megan filed her levonorgestrel side effects lawsuit on May 21, 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, design defect, failure to warn, strict liability, breach of express and implied warranties, and fraud, among several others.

Mirena Birth Control Device

The Mirena IUD is a popular form of permanent birth control, manufactured and distributed by Bayer Healthcare. The Mirena IUD was approved in 2009 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mirena is a small and flexible long-acting IUD that is implanted in the uterus. Over time, the Mirena device slowly releases a birth control hormone known as levonorgestrel.

Unfortunately, use of the Mirena IUD has been linked an increased risk of developing intracranial hypertension, also known as pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

Levonorgestrel Side Effects

Pseudotumor cerebri, also known as intracranial hypertension (ICH), is not actually a tumor, though its symptoms resemble those of a brain tumor. Patients that suffer from pseudotumor cerebri symptoms like Mirena IUD headaches can experience pain and even permanent damage.

Essentially, pseudotumor cerebri is caused by the buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the skull, which can cause serious problems. Excess cerebrospinal fluid can result in several symptoms, including extreme pressure inside the skull, causing Mirena IUD headaches and migraines. As the pressure builds, it may begin to affect a patient’s vision, causing partial vision loss or even total blindness. Treatment should be sought as soon as possible.

Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include headaches, migraines, dizziness, vision changes, nausea, and depression, among others.

Filing a Mirena Pseudotumor Lawsuit

If you or someone you love has suffered from Mirena complications like pseudotumor cerebri, you may be able to file a Mirena pseudotumor lawsuit. While filing such a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, filing a Mirena pseudotumor lawsuit may help to compensate for the pain and suffering that the condition can cause.

The Levonorgestrel Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-04471-PAE-JLC, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.