Took Tvar Steroid and Feel Funny
Steroids for brain tumours
Following a brain tumour diagnosis, it's likely that you'll be given steroids at some point during your treatment.
The steroids used during brain tumour treatment are corticosteroids. These are NOT anabolic steroids, which are used by some athletes to build muscle.
What are steroids?
Steroids are hormones that are produced naturally in our bodies in small amounts. They help to control swelling when our body is injured.
Sometimes our bodies don't produce enough steroids to reduce the swelling. Fortunately, steroids created in a laboratory for medical purposes can be given in these cases.
Back to the top
Before steroids
Brain cells in and around a tumour, or the area treated by surgery or radiotherapy, can swell and put pressure on surrounding tissues. This can cause symptoms, such as headaches and seizures.
Steroids help with symptom management rather than treating the tumour itself. So, you may be given steroids after diagnosis, or before or after these treatments to reduce the swelling and relieve those symptoms.
You may also be given a low dosage of steroids if you're having chemotherapy or radiotherapy and feeling sick.
Asking questions
Your healthcare team will also talk through what will happen and discuss any potential side-effects with you before any treatment is given.
This is your chance to ask any questions. Remember, no question is a silly question.
It can also help to find out who you should contact and how to reach them if you have any questions or concerns at a later time.
Back to the top
Make the right choices for you
Our Step by Step interactive guide outlines what happens following a diagnosis, to answer your questions and help you to understand what to expect.
While taking steroids
The steroid most commonly used with brain tumours is dexamethasone. Steroids are fast-acting drugs, so the effects caused by the tumour can reduce quite quickly.They may need to be taken at set times of day.
Steroids can be taken:
-
Tablets are the most common way to take steroids. If you have difficulty swallowing tablets, try practising with tic tacs®.
The colour and dosage of the tablet/medicine will depend on which steroid you've been prescribed.
-
Steroids are only likely to be given by injection when you're in hospital or if you're unable to take tablets by mouth.
Back to the top
Taking steroids
Jennifer talks about using steroids during her brain tumour treatment.
I felt so bloated and heavy from the steroids, I didn't recognise myself anymore.
Monitor your steroid side-effects
Steroids, like any medication, can cause a variety of side-effects. But if you experience any, you should talk to your doctor. Use BRIAN's quality-of-life tracker to record and monitor them, then share this with your healthcare team so they can support you.
After taking steroids
As with many medications, steroids affect different people in different ways. Their effect will also depend on the exact type and dosage of steroid prescribed for you. Talk to your healthcare team about any side-effects you experience.
Steroid side-effects
At the end of your treatment with steroids, your specialist is likely to reduce your dosage gradually.
This is because, after taking steroids for a few days, your body will be producing less of its own natural steroids. Your body needs some steroids, and reducing the dosage of your medical steroids allows your body to start producing its own again.
You should never stop taking your steroids suddenly or reduce your dosage unless your specialist advises you to. It can make you very unwell.
Always make sure you have enough tablets on repeat prescription, by talking to your GP.
If steroids don't work
Although treatment plans are carefully developed by healthcare professionals to be as effective as possible while having the fewest risks or side-effects, sometimes steroids might not work.
This can be worrying, but just because one treatment hasn't worked, it doesn't mean others won't.
Find out more
Back to the top
By joining one of our Online Support Communities, you can get more tips about living with or beyond a brain tumour diagnosis from people who truly understand what you're going through.
Find out more
Frequently asked questions
-
Steroids are usually given in short courses of a few days or a few weeks. Keep taking your steroids for as long as your specialist tells you to.
If you have to take steroids for longer than a week, you're likely to be given a steroid card.
It has important information about your type and dosage of steroid, which may be needed in an emergency.
Carry it with you at all times.
Your doctor may advise carrying it for up to a year after your steroid treatment has ended.
-
You should make every effort to remember to take your steroids when you're required to. Leave yourself a note or set an alarm to remind you. Getting into a routine of when you take your steroids is also helpful.
If you do miss a dose, do NOT try to compensate by taking a double dose next time. Similarly, if you are sick shortly after taking a tablet, don't take another dose.
In these cases, speak to your healthcare team to see what they advise.
More information
If you have further questions, need to clarify any of the information on this page, or want to find out more about research and clinical trials, please contact our team:
Support and Information Services
Phone lines open Mon-Fri, 09:00-17:00
Research & Clinical Trials Information
Get support
If you need someone to talk to or advice on where to get help, our Support and Information team is available by phone, email or live-chat.
Share your experiences and help create change
By taking part in our Improving Brain Tumour Care surveys and sharing your experiences, you can help us improve treatment and care for everyone affected by a brain tumour.
alcantaracyricionsien.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/brain-tumour-diagnosis-treatment/treating-brain-tumours/adult-treatments/steroids/
0 Response to "Took Tvar Steroid and Feel Funny"
ارسال یک نظر