A plaintiff, Nicole A., files a products liability litigation against the manufacturers of Mirena, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Inc., alleging that she suffered severe adverse effects and complications due to the device.

Nicole files the Mirena lawsuit alleging products liability in New York federal court.

Nicole’s Mirena lawsuit is filed as part of a large multidistrict litigation, or MDL, centered on allegations that the alleged “defective and unreasonably dangerous product” causes the development of PTC, or pseudotumor cerebri.

According to the Mirena lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that Bayer Healthcare had failed to sufficiently and adequately warn consumers and the medical community at large about the potential adverse effects and complications, including pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

The plaintiffs in the MDL contend that if they have been adequately warned of these complications they may have been able to avoid such an extreme consequence.

According to the growing number of lawsuits being filed against the defendant, allegations from plaintiffs are that the Mirena IUD causes severe injuries, including PTC.

Complications with specific kinds of birth control products have been linked to pseudotumor cerebri since the 1990s, but patients who have been implanted with the Mirena IUD are prone to other severe complications as well.

A study conducted in June 2015 had iterated that Mirena causes a higher than expected link in patients being contracted with ICH, or intra-cranial hypertension. This is another term used for PTC or pseudotumor cerebri. Although the condition is not fatal, it is very painful and may cause permanent damage to those who have been diagnosed with it.

Pseudotumor cerebri happens when the body produces an excess of cerebrospinal fluid. Too much cerebrospinal fluid from pseudotumor cerebri can cause an increase of pressure inside the skull, causing headaches and putting dangerous pressure on the optic nerves.

PTC Complications

According to reports, as the pressure inside the skull builds up, a patient’s vision begins to become affected, which can cause partial vision loss, and even total blindness in some patients.

The condition of pseudotumor cerebri is particularly named due to the shared symptoms that it has with brain tumors, even though the condition has nothing to do with a tumor. Patients who have the pseudotumor cerebri condition experience similar symptoms as those suffering from a brain tumor; sometimes these PTC patients may become misdiagnosed with one at first.

The diagnosis of PTC may be particularly tricky as the sole means of diagnosis for the condition exists through the spinal tap.

Treatment for the condition of pseudotumor cerebri is recommended to be sought as soon as possible, especially since complications resulting in potential blindness is extremely detrimental.

Some symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include but are not limited to headaches, migraines, dizziness, nausea, changes in vision, ringing in the ears, problems walking, neck stiffness, depression, and forgetfulness.

The Mirena Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-06765-FLW-LHG, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New York. The Mirena MDL is In re: Mirena IUS Levonorgestrel-Related Products Liability Litigation (No. II), MDL No 276, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.