Modern Health Observation

The choice of treatment depends on the cause papilledema.

If diagnosed with a brain tumor, a biopsy may be needed (surgery) as a first step in treatment. Brain tumors can sometimes be a form of laser treatment or radiation and often requires surgery. High blood pressure should be treated as an emergency at the hospital if it causes a papilledema.

The pseudotumor cerebri can be treated with repeated spinal taps to remove excess fluid or medication called acetazolamide (Diamox and other brand names). This medicine makes the body produce less CSF and that the central nervous system pressure back to normal. We recommend weight loss as this may be beneficial.

A few patients require surgery to help drain spinal fluid if no results are achieved with initial treatment. Because pseudotumor cerebri is a chronic (long) and can cause impaired vision, an important part of the treatment plan is the careful control of the ophthalmologist.

Many inflammatory diseases (including multiple sclerosis) can be improved with the use of anti-inflammatory agents, including steroid medication (prednisone or methylprednisolone) or other more specialized medicines.

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