The side effects of a Mirena IUD caused a Pennsylvania woman to develop severe migraine headaches, blurred vision and a host of other health problems associated with the buildup of fluid pressure around her brain, according to allegations raised in a lawsuit recently filed against Bayer Healthcare.
The complaint was brought by Kelli Salazar in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on March 21, indicating that the manufacturer of the long-term birth control implant failed to adequately warn women about the risk that they may develop a serious medical condition known as pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH).
If pseudotumor cerebri goes untreated or is not treated promptly, the pressure and damage to the optic nerve can be irreversible and can even cause permanent blindness. The Mirena IUD contains the synthetic hormone levonorgestrel, which is released daily to prevent pregnancy. This hormone has been linked to PTC and papilledema for many years.
The victims of Mirena that develop PTC typically report the following symptoms:
- Severe, migraine-like headaches
- “Whoosing” sounds (clinically known as tinnitus)
- Blurred vision
- Double vision (diplopia)
- Changes in migraine frequency, severity, or duration
The case joins a growing number of Mirena lawsuits filed by women who developed pseudotumor cerebri in recent years, each raising similar allegations that plaintiffs may have avoided severe and potentially life-long problems from permanent optic nerve damage if the drug maker had provided warnings about the importance of removing the device once symptoms first appeared.
Plaintiffs pursuing Mirena Lawsuits against the device’s maker, Bayer, allege that Bayer failed to warn of the increased chance of developing papilledema and PTC. The lawsuits also charge that Bayer failed to test Mirena properly to learn of the potential risk and the company failed to notify doctors that patients who have PTC and use levonorgestrel-releasing implants like Mirena should consult with their doctors and have the IUDs removed as soon as possible to avoid further injury.
