Idiopathic intracranial hypertension is a type of intracranial hypertension, a disorder characterized by high pressure in the brain. Because it causes symptoms similar to those connected with a brain tumor, intracranial hypertension is also known by the name pseudotumor cerebri, which means false brain tumor.

Intracranial hypertension can occur because of known factors like a head injury or a stroke. It can also occur without a known cause. In these instances, the condition is known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension, notes the National Organization for Rare Disorders. 

Though experts are not sure what causes idiopathic intracranial hypertension, there are some medicines that have been linked to the condition. According to Cedars-Sinai, these medications include:

• antibiotics
• birth control pills
• chemotherapy
• steroids
• some acne medications

The buildup of pressure inside of the brain that characterizes the condition may be caused by fluid buildup. A fluid called cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord and protects them from injury. It is produced constantly by the brain, and under normal conditions, is reabsorbed by the blood stream.

However, in the case of idiopathic intracranial hypertension, the fluid may not be absorbed quickly enough into the bloodstream, which may cause the fluid to build up. It is not known why the body fails to absorb the fluid in some cases.

Who is at risk for idiopathic intracranial hypertension?

Some people have an elevated risk for experiencing the condition, including overweight individuals, people with kidney failure, people with thyroid conditions, and women of childbearing age.

What are the symptoms of idiopathic intracranial hypertension?

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

Sometimes these symptoms increase during exercise, as exercise increases the amount of pressure in the skull.

Does Mirena cause idiopathic intracranial hypertension?

Minera is an intrauterine device used for birth control. It has not been proven that Mirena causes idiopathic intracranial hypertension, but the birth control may be linked to the condition.

Unfortunately, Mirena has been linked to a range of dangerous complications. Some patients have reportedly experienced the device breaking when it was removed or experienced it embedding into the uterus. In these instances, some Mirena users have had to get hysterectomies to deal with the problem.

Pseudotumor cerebri may be one of the risks associated with Mirena. The prescribing information for Mirena advices that patients with “migraine, focal migraine with asymmetrical visual loss or other symptoms indicating transient cerebral ischemia” should be cautious in using Mirena, suggesting it may be linked to some symptoms like those associated with idiopathic intracranial hypertension.