A Mississippi woman recently filed a lawsuit against Bayer Healthcare, alleging she suffered from serious levonorgestrel side effects because of the pharmaceutical giant’s popular permanent birth control device, Mirena. This lawsuit joins the growing litigation against Bayer over Mirena birth control and its alleged complications.

The plaintiff, Bess P., says she was implanted with Bayer’s Mirena birth control device on Dec. 18, 2014. Unfortunately, Bess allegedly began to suffer from side effects in the months following device placement.

In July 2015, Bess says she went to the emergency room because of serious headaches and blurry vision. A diagnostic lumbar procedure led to her diagnosis with intracranial hypertension, which she alleges is a direct result of her exposure to levonorgestrel contained in the Mirena IUD.

Bess filed a lawsuit on July 19, 2018, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including negligence, design defect, failure to warn, breach of express and implied warranties, and several others.

Basics of Mirena

The Mirena IUD is a popular form of permanent birth control, manufactured and distributed by Bayer Healthcare. The popularity of the birth control device is worldwide—Mirena has been used by more than 15 million women across the globe.

Mirena birth control was approved in 2009 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Mirena is a small and flexible long-acting IUD that is implanted in the uterus. Over time, the Mirena device slowly releases a birth control hormone known as levonorgestrel. Mirena contains 52 mg of the birth control medication levonorgestrel.

Unfortunately, use of the Mirena IUD has been linked with serious side effects, including an increased risk of developing intracranial hypertension, also known as pseudotumor cerebri (PTC).

Levonorgestrel Side Effects

Pseudotumor cerebri, also known as intracranial hypertension (ICH), is not actually a tumor, though its symptoms resemble those of a tumor. Patients that suffer from pseudotumor cerebri symptoms like Mirena birth control headaches can experience pain and even permanent damage.

Essentially, pseudotumor cerebri is caused by the buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid in the skull, which can cause serious problems. Excess cerebrospinal fluid can result in several symptoms, including extreme pressure inside the skull, causing headaches and migraines. As the pressure builds, it may begin to affect a patient’s vision, causing partial vision loss or even total blindness. Treatment should be sought as soon as possible.

Symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri include headaches, migraines, dizziness, vision changes, nausea, and depression, among others.

Filing a Lawsuit Over Levonorgestrel Side Effects

If you or someone you love has suffered from levonorgestrel side effects like pseudotumor cerebri after using Mirena, you may be able to file a lawsuit. While filing such a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these complications, it may help to compensate for the pain and suffering that the condition can cause.

The Levonorgestrel Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-06511, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.