Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): medical treatment

Indications for treatment

• Impaired visual acuity
• Visual field loss
• Moderate to severe papilloedema
• Persistent headache

Weight and dietary management

Acetazolamide: benefits and dosing

Acetazolamide: side effects

Non-evidenced drug treatments

Lumbar puncture (LP)

Urgent treatments

Investigational drug treatments

References

1. Friedman DI, Jacobson DM. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Neuro Ophthalmol 2004; 24:138-145.
2. Markey KA, Mollan SP, Jensen RH, Sinclair AJ. Understanding idiopathic intracranial hypertension: mechanisms, management, and future directions. Lancet Neurol 2016; 15:78-91.
3. Sinclair, AJ, Burdon, MA, Nightingale, PG et al. Low energy diet and intracranial pressure in women with idiopathic intracranial hypertension: prospective cohort study. BMJ 2010; 341:c2701.
4. Mollan SP, Davies B, Silver NC, et al. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension: consensus guidelines on management. JNNP 2018; 89:1088-1100.
5. Hoffmann J, Mollan SP, Paemeleire K, Lampl C, Jensen RH, Sinclair AJ. European headache federation guideline on idiopathic intracranial hypertension. J Headache Pain 2018; 19:93. 
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Related checklists

• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): MRI features
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): lumbar puncture
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): other investigations
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): headache-specific treatments
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): shunting
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): dural venous sinus stenting (DVSS)
• Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH): other surgical treatments