NIH: Diamox helps women with blinding disorder linked to obesity

[EDS99]

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/apr2014/nei-23.htm

An inexpensive glaucoma drug, when added to a weight loss plan, can improve vision for women with a disorder called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health.

On the left is a normal optic nerve (light circle at center) and on the right is the optic nerve swelling seen in IIH. Courtesy of Dr. Michael Wall, University of Iowa.
IIH, also called pseudotumor cerebri, predominantly affects overweight women of reproductive age. An estimated 100,000 Americans have it, and the number is rising with the obesity epidemic. The most common symptoms are headaches and visual problems, including blind spots, poor side vision, double vision and temporary episodes of blindness. About 5-10 percent of women with IIH experience disabling vision loss.

[see article for complete story]

[Barbara]

Absolutely EDS99, good find!
Acetazolamide (Diamox) I’m sure, can cure or ease a myriad of symptoms caused by an abnormal raise in intracranial pressure.

I find it amusing that several study papers say that various conditions, linked to raised intracranial pressure, occur in obese women. I would say that a certain type of obesity is CAUSED by raised intra-cranial pressure, especially when it begins to affect the pituitary.

I’d never been obese (or even close) in my life, my highest weight was 11 stones at full-term pregnancy. Not even several years of disablement caused obesity, that is NOT UNTIL my pituitary became flattened, then it was a different story!! Same diet, same lifestyle but now DEFICIENT hormonal output, the weight piled on.

In order to address this problem, full pituitary hormonal status needs evaluating and supplementing where necessary, to aid weight-loss. Otherwise, from my own experience and from what I’ve read, attempts at weight-loss are futile and rarely successful.
Barbara
(UK)

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