Pseudotumor cerebri is a medical condition that mimics the effects of a brain tumor and can cause serious long-term health consequences. Hormonal birth implants like the IUD Mirena and oral contraceptives such as Yaz birth control have been linked to an increased risk of pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), which can cause severe headaches, migraines, vision loss, and permanent blindness.

What is Pseudotumor Cerebri?

Pseudotumor cerebri is a medical condition that increases pressure on the brain due to excessive levels of cerebrospinal fluid inside the skull. This condition produces effects that are similar to a growing brain tumor.

PTC is also known as intracranial hypertension or benign intracranial hypertension. Pseudotumor cerebri, which means “false brain tumor,” is characterized by high intracranial pressure caused by the accumulation or poor absorption of cerebrospinal fluid. The disorder is most commonly reported in women between the ages of 20 and 50.

Causes of Pseudotumor Cerebri

Experts don’t know exactly what causes pseudotumor cerebri, but some medications have been linked to an increased risk of the condition, including common medications like oral contraceptives. Levonorgestrel, the active ingredient released by the IUD Mirena, is one form of hormonal birth control that has been linked to the disorder.

Symptoms of Pseudotumor Cerebri

Pseudotumor cerebri increases intracranial pressure, resulting in symptoms such as optic nerve problems and possible vision loss. Medications can often reduce the pressure on the optic nerve, but some cases require surgery.

Other symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri may include:

• Frequent headaches or migraines, possibly originating behind the eyes and worsening with eye movement
• Ringing in the ears that pulses in time with a patient’s heartbeat, creating a “whooshing” sound (pulsatile tinnitus)
• Feeling dizzy or nauseous
• Vomiting
• Blurred vision, double vision, blind spots
• Vision loss affecting one or both eyes
• Difficulty seeing to the side
• Seeing light flashes (photopsia)
• Neck stiffness
• Neck, shoulder or back pain
• Problems walking
• Forgetfulness
• Depression

Some women notice an increase in pseudotumor cerebri symptoms while exerting energy, because exercise tends to raise the pressure in the skull.

Treatment of Pseudotumor Cerebri

Patients suffering from pseudotumor cerebri may try a number of treatments, many of which focus on relieving built up intracranial pressure. These treatments may include lumbar puncture, which can help relieve pressure in the brain and prevent vision problems, shunting procedures, which relieve pressure from cerebrospinal buildup, and surgery to relieve pressure on the optic nerve.

Other treatment options include prescription medications such as corticosteroids, acetazolamide, and furosemide, restricting a patient’s fluid and salt intake, and weight loss.

Once pseudotumor pressure has been diagnosed and treated, the prognosis is typically favorable. However, if vision loss occurs, the disorder may be permanent whether or not it is treated. In some patients, intracranial hypertension or pressure may recur.

Pseudotumor Cerebri Lawsuits

Birth control pills and hormonal IUD birth control are risk factors for pseudotumor cerebri and intracranial hypertension. However, numerous pseudotumor cerebri lawsuits allege that the birth control manufacturers did not share this risk with consumers. Women who used hormonal birth control such as Yaz, Yasmin, Implanon, Nexplanon, Depo Provera or Mirena and who suffered from pseudotumor cerebri may be able to bring a birth control pseudotumor cerebri lawsuit against the birth control manufacturer.