More Mirena Migraine Lawsuits?

New York, NYSince the FDA approved the Mirena IUD for birth control in 2000, more than 100,000 complaints have been reported, from Mirena migration to miscarriage to migraine headaches. While more than 900 Mirena lawsuits involve uterine perforation and/or spontaneous device migration, only nine complaints involve neurological conditions including migraine.

Plaintiffs claiming serious neurological conditions sought to have their nine lawsuits centralized in Tennessee, but last week their bid was rejected by the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation because only nine suits did not warrant consolidation. Mirena uterine perforation lawsuits, however, have been centralized.

As of August 17, more than 900 lawsuits are underway in a multicounty litigation in New Jersey’s Bergen County Superior Court on behalf of women claiming Mirena migration has caused uterine perforations, organ damage and infertility. According to court records, hundreds more lawsuits with similar complaints have been filed and are underway in a federal multidistrict litigation in US District Court, Southern District of New York (In re: Mirena IUD Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2434).

Mirena neurological side effects

While most women suffering a serious problem such as uterine perforation can attribute it to Mirena (hence so many lawsuits), women suffering from neurological problems may not be aware that Mirena could be the cause (and explains only nine lawsuits filed).

And the Mirena prescribing information (the label insert) doesn’t mention neurological conditions, despite the fact that pseudotumor cerebri (PTC), also known as idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), is linked to levonorgestrel: The Mirena is a levonorgestrel intrauterine device and contains 52 mg of the progestin hormone. These neurological conditions occur by an increased buildup of cerebrospinal fluid on the brain, which causes increased pressure and migraine headaches. If PTC or IIH isn’t diagnosed in time, it may lead to permanent vision loss and even blindness.

Attorneys are currently investigating PTC and IIH cases linked to Mirena. With more lawsuits linking these serious side effects to the IUD, more women suffering from migraines may want to seek legal advice.