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I Posting This Question For My Mother In Law Who
Question: I posting this question for my mother in law who is suffering from brain tumor i.e benign tumor Grade 2 from 6 years .
Past History: 2 surgeries with one radiation provided post 2nd surgery.Complete tumors werenot removed as they were present in very sensitive areas. All through 6 year she was visiting in time for regular checkups.
Current Situation: From past 4 months we found her weak and hence got done MRI as doctor suggested. MRI showed up the increase in the tumor size.She currently has 3 tumors(9 cms, 5 cms, 4 cms) and doctor is not suggesting operation due to tumors location. Doctor suggested for SRT treatment so we got that done and it is 1 month 10days post the SRT treatment.
Question: We were giving her dexamethone 2mg for few days and after that we stopped it. We feel her very weak and inactive after stopping the medicine. We again gave her dexmathone for 3 days and could feel that she became little active. I would like to know if it is safe to take dexamethone whenever we find her low as we see the temporary improvement after we give till we stop. Are there any side effects of this medicine?
Past History: 2 surgeries with one radiation provided post 2nd surgery.Complete tumors werenot removed as they were present in very sensitive areas. All through 6 year she was visiting in time for regular checkups.
Current Situation: From past 4 months we found her weak and hence got done MRI as doctor suggested. MRI showed up the increase in the tumor size.She currently has 3 tumors(9 cms, 5 cms, 4 cms) and doctor is not suggesting operation due to tumors location. Doctor suggested for SRT treatment so we got that done and it is 1 month 10days post the SRT treatment.
Question: We were giving her dexamethone 2mg for few days and after that we stopped it. We feel her very weak and inactive after stopping the medicine. We again gave her dexmathone for 3 days and could feel that she became little active. I would like to know if it is safe to take dexamethone whenever we find her low as we see the temporary improvement after we give till we stop. Are there any side effects of this medicine?
Brief Answer:
Steroids are safe for short term periods.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your mother-in-law's clinical details. Based on this, she has swelling in brain (cerebral oedema) due to brain tumor as well as SRT treatment. Dexamethasone is a good drug to reduce the brain swelling. It is safe if given for short term periods (4-6 weeks). So, my suggestion would be to continue for at least four weeks and then taper and reduce the dose slowly. If dexamethasone is suddenly stopped, rebound brain swelling may occur.
Side effects to watch for are rise in BP and sugars (which can be checked periodically) and increased risk of infections (watch for fever).
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Steroids are safe for short term periods.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for posting your query.
I am Dr Sudhir Kumar, Neurologist, and I would try my best to help you.
I have noted your mother-in-law's clinical details. Based on this, she has swelling in brain (cerebral oedema) due to brain tumor as well as SRT treatment. Dexamethasone is a good drug to reduce the brain swelling. It is safe if given for short term periods (4-6 weeks). So, my suggestion would be to continue for at least four weeks and then taper and reduce the dose slowly. If dexamethasone is suddenly stopped, rebound brain swelling may occur.
Side effects to watch for are rise in BP and sugars (which can be checked periodically) and increased risk of infections (watch for fever).
I hope my answer helps. Please get back if you have any follow up queries or if you require any additional information.
Wishing you good health,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD (Internal Medicine), DM (Neurology) XXXXXXX Consultant Neurologist
Apollo Hospitals, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Click on this link to ask me a DIRECT QUERY: http://bit.ly/Dr-Sudhir-kumar
My BLOG: http://bestneurodoctor.blogspot.in
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
could you please tell us what's the correct way to use dexamethasone steroid. she has already been given for like 1month and slowly tampered down it's dose and discontinued but what we have seen after stopping as prescribed is she gets weeken in 2-3days and this weekening part is continuing as the day passes by and her responses are getting poor. after a week or so when we start giving dexamethasone again she seems to be normal and used to respond properly but doctor has suggested to give this only for 3 days. and again when we stopped this after 3 days as prescribed she is again rolling back to the weaker side of her. after a week again we did this cycle for 3 days and she used to be active and once we stop this she was inactive. we currently are not able to understand if there will be any side effects going further if we do like this to make her active I.e. giving 3 days in a week and stopping there after till she is active. could you please clarify our process.we are but confuse from the responses we received.
Brief Answer:
Once started, steroids should be given for at least 4-6 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Brain edema takes time to settle down. Therefore, once needed and when steroids are started, it should be given for at least 4-6 weeks. This is because, if we stop steroids after 3 days of use, patient's symptoms would return, as brain edema does not reduce in such a short time.
Hope it clarifies.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Once started, steroids should be given for at least 4-6 weeks.
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for getting back.
Brain edema takes time to settle down. Therefore, once needed and when steroids are started, it should be given for at least 4-6 weeks. This is because, if we stop steroids after 3 days of use, patient's symptoms would return, as brain edema does not reduce in such a short time.
Hope it clarifies.
Best wishes,
Dr Sudhir Kumar MD DM (Neurology)
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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