IIH
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
Plain-language definition
Elevated skull pressure without a tumor or other identifiable cause, causing headaches and optic nerve swelling (papilledema).
Read our full article on Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (Pseudotumor Cerebri).
Where this term comes up
“Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) means pressure around the brain and optic nerves is too high without a tumor or other clear structural cause.”
“In IIH, it is used off-label in selected patients as an alternative or add-on to acetazolamide, especially when migraine-type headache and weight management are part of the treatment discussion.”
Medication · Topiramate (Topamax)
“It's essential for diagnosing conditions like IIH and ruling out infections.”
Test · Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap)
- Category
- Condition, finding, or disease process
- Also written as
- No alternate forms listed.
Pathology terms describe diseases, tissue changes, exam findings, or complications that can affect vision or eye comfort.
Related glossary terms
- papilledema
Swelling of the Optic Nerve from Brain Pressure
- CSF
Cerebrospinal Fluid
- MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- OCT
Optical Coherence Tomography
- cerebrospinal
Brain & Spinal Fluid
- venous
Vein-Related
A note on medical context
A glossary definition can explain a word, but it cannot tell you whether a symptom or test result is serious. If this term came from an article, use the full article and your clinician's guidance for context.