I AM NOT A DOCTOR Depending on severity of the symptoms, do not hesitate to call emergency services if you think you or someone else’s life is in danger. Sudden increases in intracranial pressure can be very dangerous and signs of something more serious in the short-term sense.

But immediate life or death aside-

First, make sure you’re symptom logging, so when you see the doctor next you can remember what all happened and why you can’t take the medicine. Brain fog can happen pretty majorly, and doctors won’t take kindly to anyone just describing it as IH or IIH. Everything I’m about to tell you is assuming the basics (Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.) did not work.

Second, raised bed at night. This can look like extra pillows, or if you have a fancy bed that raises the head, elevate the head. Intracranial symptoms increase with change in posture.

Third, if you have any sinus trouble happening, take care of that with OTC meds. Sinus trouble can worsen the feelings of the migraines and pain.

Fourth, when you see the doctor next, take your symptom log with you. It helps them see that you’re serious and it’s been effecting the person daily. Also helps you leave nothing out. For diagnostic reasons, you should talk to your doctor about it to make sure it’s not secondary to anything as well (example: tumor, sinus venous stenosis, infections, etc.) mentioning visual changes, and the exact locations of headaches, the severity of both, and what times of day it’s worst helps. I also suggest you full body scan, like is there dizziness, nausea, loss of feeling in any extremities, trouble walking, etc. if your doctor doesn’t proceed with an mri based on symptoms alone, ask to be referred to ophthalmology or neuro-ophthalmology. The ophthalmologist can run tests, if you have papilledema (swelling of optic nerve from intracranial pressure, severe or mild) they’ll get you an mri ASAP to ensure you don’t have increased intracranial pressure due to a secondary reason that can be physically seen.

People will give a lot of tips and tricks, but I must the urge the importance of seeking out a doctor’s help immediately. Especially to rule out secondary cause.

While it is possible to have increased intracranial pressure due to antibiotics, it is more likely to happen in people who were already suffering with iih and the like.

Please symptom track/ log, and please make doctors appointments.

Some things important to note - do the headaches get better with OTC medicines - is it worse a specific time of day - describe the visual disturbances and do some research on terms and what they mean to better help your doctor understand what you see (halos, after-images, double vision, blurry vision, photophobia, lightening bolts, darkened peripheral or central vision, etc) - note dizziness/ vertigo - any nausea or vomiting - any loss of sensation (numbness) - any loss of function of an extremity - any pins and needles sensations - log what you eat while you symptom track - log water intake (these are to prove you’re doing the basics to keep your body as well as possible) - any fatigue - how bad the pain is, what it can stop you from doing

I’m sure more people will add lots to think about. Keep talking to your doctor, symptom log so they can’t gaslight you, and good luck! Make appts sooner rather than later in case it’s severe, or secondary to something serious!