This page discusses side effects and how to manage them. These are specific to brain tumors and their treatment. For managing side effects common to all cancers and their treatment, visit: Managing the Side Effects of Cancer and Cancer Treatment.
Only the most basic problems are listed. Ask your doctor if there are any other steps you need to take. Use each of these medicines as advised by your doctor or package instructions. If you have any questions, call your doctor.
Brain tumors and how they’re treated cause symptoms. These medicines will help you manage them.
Problems caused by brain tumors:
Many brain tumors cause swelling around them. This can lead to problems with how the brain works. The problems you have depend on where the tumor is. Corticosteroids ease swelling. This will improve how the brain works. Dexamethasone is the most commonly used.
Possible side effects:
Brain tumors may cause seizures. The normal pattern of activity in nerve cells is disrupted. This can cause strange sensations, emotions, and behavior. It can also cause convulsions, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness.
Common medicines:
Common brand names:
Carbamazepine lowers the action of the nerves in the brain.
Possible side effects:
Common brand name: Zarontin
This medicine slows messages in the nerves that control muscles.
Possible side effects:
Call your doctor if you have signs of infection such as a fever or sore throat.
Common brand name: Neurontin
Lowers the amount of a certain protein in the brain to calm it.
Possible side effects:
Common brand name: Lamictal
This medicine may calm nerve tissue.
Call your doctor right away for:
Other possible side effects:
Common brand name: Trileptal
This may change how the nerves spread impulses. This may calm the nerve tissue.
Possible side effects:
Common brand name: Dilantin
Phenytoin promotes the loss of sodium in nerve fibers. This lowers nerve excitability and the spread of nerve impulses.
Possible side effects:
Common brand name: Mysoline
Primidone may work by blocking the repeated spread of nerve impulses.
Possible side effects:
Common brand names:
Valproic acid raises the amounts of a certain protein. This holds back nerve transmissions in parts of the brain.
Possible side effects:
Common names:
Diazepam is used more often than clonazepam. They act on nerves by having a calming effect on them.
Possible side effects:
About brain tumors. American Brain Tumor Association website. Available at: https://www.abta.org/about-brain-tumors. Updated August 10, 2018.
Astrocytoma and oligodentroglioma in adults. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116413/Astrocytoma-and-oligodendroglioma-in-adults. Updated May 13, 2016. Accessed August 10, 2018.
Meningioma. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at:http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T116926/Meningioma. Updated January 19, 2017. Accessed August 10, 2018.
Other drug treatments for adult brain and spinal cord tumors. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/brain-spinal-cord-tumors-adults/treating/other-drug-treatments.html. Updated November 8, 2017. Accessed August 10, 2018.
Overview of intracranial tumors. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic-disorders/intracranial-and-spinal-tumors/overview-of-intracranial-tumors. Updated June 2018. Accessed August 10, 2018.
Last reviewed June 2018 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP