Birth control pills including Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella, as well as intrauterine devices that include hormones like Mirena IUD have been linked to numerous serious side effects, including an increased risk in developing pseudotumor cerebri, also known as PTC. PTC is a condition that causes neurological issues and can mimic the effects of a brain tumor.

What is PTC?

Pseudotumor cerebri
is a disorder related to high pressure in the brain that causes signs and symptoms of a brain tumor — hence the term “pseudo,” or false tumor. Pseudotumor cerebri is also sometimes known as intracranial hypertension or benign intracranial hypertension.

Pseudotumor cerebri happens when the fluid that surrounds the spinal cord and the brain — cerebrospinal fluid — accumulates abnormally in the brain. This accumulation of fluid may be because of an increase in fluid production or a decrease in fluid absorption.

Experts don’t know why pseudotumor cerebri happens. Some medications have been linked to an increased risk of developing pseudotumor cerebri, including common medications like oral contraceptives. Although medical experts are still uncertain as to why pseudotumor cerebri occurs, some medications such as levonorgestrel, the active ingredient released by the Mirena IUD, have been linked to the disorder.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Side Effects

Pseudotumor cerebri symptoms mimic those of a true brain tumor. The principal sign is unusually high pressure inside the skull, known as intracranial hypertension.

But, there are a number of additional serious side effects associated with PTC, chief among them blindness and other serious eye injuries. The presence of increased cerebrospinal fluid puts pressure on the optic nerve, which links the eyes to the brain.

This condition is known as papilloedema and can result in blindness. The most serious issue is that damage to the optic nerve is permanent, so correcting PTC will not reverse the damage already done to the optic nerve. Additional side effects of PTC include:

• Dizziness
• Tinnitus
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Migraines
• Blurry, double vision, or blind spots
• Blindness
• Difficulty walking

Birth Control Lawsuits

While the association between birth control and pseudotumor cerebri still requires further evaluation, there have been several reports that certain medications such as birth control pills and IUD birth control are risk factors for pseudotumor cerebri and intracranial hypertension. However, this risk wasn’t shared with consumers, according to allegations raised in numerous pseudotumor cerebri lawsuits.

Potential PTC lawsuits are being investigated for women who were diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri after using the following birth control products:

• Yaz
• Yasmin
• Ocella
• Beyaz
• Implanon
• Nexplanon
• NuvaRing
• Ortho Evra
• Depo Provera
• Paragaurd
• Mirena

If you or a loved one was prescribed hormonal birth control or an IUD such as Mirena and developed PTC, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit for pain and suffering.