barsf Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 Has anyone experienced pseudotumor cerebri (increase in cerebral spinal fluid causing headache and vision changes) as a side effect of lithium? My dd reached .9 -- and then BOOM -- headache that would not go away, pseudotumor diagnosis and OFF the lithium. Not sure if she will ever take meds again ... and I am wondering how common this possibly rare side effect is. thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Posted July 25, 2009 Share Posted July 25, 2009 There are a handful of case studies in decades of fairly widespread use. Since it (pseudotumor cerebri) can also be caused by thyroid disease, that's something that could be associated with lithium use, which would be an indirect cause (maybe; that's a whole separate talk.) The IGSLI (Int'l Group for the Study of Lithium-treated Patients, and, no, I'm not sure quite how that's IGSLI) says it's not a clear association. However, if there are persistent headaches, sure, fundoscopy all around. I can't find a clear/convincing mechanism of action, other than lithium's vague "t-cell effects," which, sorry, don't hack it for pseudotumor cerebri. Have to go mull over CSF and fluid shifts. Love to know of one, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Chrissy Tassone Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 My daughter is going through this right now....it has been a nightmare as Lithium was the only drug that worked for her Bi-polar. She was seriously facing permanant blindness because of it. They have put her on a drug called Geodone and it is not working very well. She is also fortunate enough to be seeing Dr. Costin from Lakeland Eye Center. He's known worldwide for procedures he initiated and perfected. Make sure she has a good eye doctor that is ALSO a Neuro eye doctor.......it will make the diff in her outcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest b ross Posted September 18, 2009 Share Posted September 18, 2009 I am so sorry. My daughter's pseudo tumor was caught very early. She is being followed by a neurologist and neuro-opthomologist and is taking diamox. Her symptoms have resolved. However .. she has been off meds now for a few months and is crashing. We were so hopeful about the lithium and are now back to square one. More pdocs need to know about this rare but serious side effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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