A recent consumer safety watch warned consumers of a serious risk of Mirena intracranial hypertension, or pseudotumor cerebri.

Mirena is an IUD birth control option, manufactured and distributed by Bayer Healthcare.

Mirena IUD is a flexible device shaped like a T that is implanted in the uterus to prevent pregnancy. It functions by releasing the hormone levonorgestrel, a birth control hormone, into the uterus over time.

It was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) back in 2000, and has been marketed as a safe and effective birth control option ever since.

Most medications and medical devices, including IUDs like Mirena, come with the possibility of certain side effects.

But Consumer Safety Watch has warned that Mirena’s risks are not just relatively minor side effects. Indeed, the consumer safety advocate organization has warned of the risk of Mirena intracranial hypertension, perhaps more commonly known as pseudotumor cerebri.

Though certain kinds of birth control have been linked with pseudotumor cerebri complications since as far back as the 1990s, the Mirena IUD may place patients at particular risk, according to new studies.

A June 2015 study noted the “higher than expected number of reports of ICH” linked with the Mirena IUD. Another study from the New England Journal of Medicine identified 56 reports of Mirena intracranial hypertension side effects.

What is Mirena Intracranial Hypertension?

Pseudotumor cerebri, or PTC, is also known as Mirena intracranial hypertension, or ICH. While it is not fatal, Mirena intracranial hypertension can be very painful and even permanently damaging to those it affects.

Simply put, pseudotumor cerebri is the build-up of excess cerebrospinal fluid in a person’s skull, which can cause serious problems.

Excess cerebrospinal fluid from pseudotumor cerebri can result in extreme pressure inside the skull, causing headaches and migraines. As the pressure builds, it may force swelling of the optic nerve and begin to affect a patient’s vision, causing partial vision loss or even total blindness, in some rare cases.

Pseudotumor cerebri got its name because it shares a number of symptoms with actual brain tumors, but PTC is not actually a tumor.

The similarities mean that PTC patients are often misdiagnosed with tumors at first. Diagnosis of pseudotumor cerebri is tricky, since the only available means of diagnosis is through a spinal tap.

Treatment for PTC should be sought as soon as possible, since the damage to a patient’s vision can be extreme and permanent.

Some indicators of pseudotumor cerebri to be on the lookout for when using a Mirena IUD:

• Headaches
• Migraines
• Dizziness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Changes in vision
• Ringing or “whooshing” in the ears
• Problems walking
• Neck stiffness
• Forgetfulness
• Depression

When diagnosing Mirena intracranial hypertension after experiencing these symptoms, it is important to rule out an actual brain tumor or other causes for this kind of pressure.

Tests that can be used to make this diagnosis include brain imaging through the use of MRI or CT scans, a spinal tap, or an eye exam.

Mirena Intracranial Hypertension Lawsuit

A growing number of Mirena IUD lawsuits against Bayer Healthcare allege that company failed to warn the public and the medical community about the substantial risks linked with the popular birth control, including Mirena intracranial hypertension complications.

Had Bayer Healthcare and other companies who manufacture similar birth control products adequately warned patients of the risks involved, patients may have been able to avoid extreme consequences, including pain and loss of vision.

If you or someone you love has suffered from Mirena IUD complications such as Mirena intracranial hypertension, you may be able to file a Mirena IUD lawsuit.

While filing such a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of Mirena IUD side effects, filing a lawsuit may help to partially compensate for the pain and suffering that Mirena intracranial hypertension causes.