Emergency Medicine

UMEM Educational Pearls

Search

Title: Medication Causes of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension

Category: Toxicology

Keywords: idiopathic intracranial hypertension, pseudotumor cerebri, tetracycline, vitamin a (PubMed Search)

Posted: 11/10/2011 by Bryan Hayes, PharmD (Updated: 11/10/2011)

Several medications have been linked to causing idiopathic intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri). Be sure to record an accurate medication history in patients you suspect of having this diagnosis.

  • Excessive doses of vitamin A
    • Other retinoids too: retinol, isotretinoin, and tretinoin
  • Tetracyclines (tetracycline, doxycycline, minocycline)
  • Growth hormone

Withdrawal of the offending agent will generally resolve the symptoms.