Steroids for brain tumours
Following a brain tumour diagnosis, it’s likely that you’ll be given steroids at some point during treatment. While steroids don’t treat the brain tumour itself, they play an important role in managing symptoms or side effects from treatment.
Short summary: steroids for brain tumours
The steroids used for a brain tumour treatment are called corticosteroids. These are NOT anabolic steroids (the type used by athletes to build muscle).
Steroids for brain tumours help reduce swelling in and around a tumour. Reducing swelling can help relieve symptoms such as headaches and nausea.
On this page:
- What are steroids?
- How do steroids help brain tumours?
- Before being given steroids for a brain tumour
- While taking steroids for a brain tumour
- How long can you take steroids for a brain tumour?
- After taking steroids
- If steroids don’t work
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What are steroids?
Steroids are hormones that your body naturally produces in small amounts. They help to control swelling when your body is injured.
Sometimes our bodies don’t produce enough to reduce the swelling. Fortunately, steroids created in a laboratory for medical purposes can be given in these cases.
How do steroids help brain tumours?
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 and side-effect management rather than treating the tumour itself. So, you may be given them after diagnosis, or before or after these treatments to reduce the swelling and relieve symptoms.
Steroids may also be given in low doses to help manage sickness if you’re having chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Before being given steroids for a brain tumour
Your healthcare team will talk through what will happen and discuss any potential side-effects with you before any steroids are 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 later.
While taking steroids for a brain tumour
The steroid most commonly used with brain tumours is dexamethasone. This is a fast-acting drug, so symptoms may improve quickly. Steroids may need to be taken at specific times of day.
They can be taken as:
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 one 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.
How long can you take steroids for a brain tumour?
The duration of steroid treatment varies person to person. For most people, they are usually given for a few days or a few weeks. The aim is to control brain swelling and then gradually reduce the dose.
In some cases people need steroids long-term to maintain their quality of life and keep neurological function stable.
You should have regular appointments with your healthcare team whilst you are steroids. These appointments are to check:
- if the steroids are reducing brain swelling
- that the steroid dose is correct
- if you are experiencing any side effects.
Sometimes people do develop side effects as a result of taking steroids, particularly if steroids are needed over a longer period of time. Usually these can be managed and will improve once the steroids stop. But please report any new symptoms to your healthcare team.
Please check with your treatment team if you are not having regular discussions about your steroid treatment.
You should never suddenly stop taking steroids or reduce your dosage without guidance from your medical team. This can make you very unwell.
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.
Arvin Kaushal, diagnosed with 6 germinomas in 2015
“One minute I was an ambitious young man enjoying life, the next I was diagnosed with six brain tumours and having aggressive radiotherapy. The fluid in my brain also became blocked, so I was given steroids.
“I put on seven stone, became depressed and didn’t want to go out. Then I was diagnosed with diabetes insipidus and a fatty liver and told to lose weight.
“This was a turning point. I didn’t want any more health problems so, after being given a smartwatch, I was on a mission.
“I walked around the kitchen while I made breakfast, or did half an hour on a treadmill in front of the TV. I then walked into town with mum, resting at bus stops, and walked with dad to reach 10,000 steps each day. Eventually my physiotherapist said I could lift weights to burn fat.
“It took two years, but I’m down to my old weight!
“I still have fatigue and dizziness, but my next goals are to go back to work and do a 5km run.
“I’m proud I’ve lost weight and so grateful for my family’s support.”
Join one of our Online Support Communities for more stories and tips about coping with a brain tumour diagnosis from people who know what you’re going through.
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 prescribed for you. Talk to your healthcare team about any side-effects you experience.
At the end of your treatment, 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. Reducing the dosage of your medical steroids allows your body to start producing its own again.
Please remember that 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
Treatment plans are carefully developed by healthcare professionals to be as effective as possible, while having the fewest risks or side-effects. But, sometimes steroids might not work.
This can be worrying, but just because one treatment hasn’t worked, it doesn’t mean others won’t. Also remember, steroids manage tumour symptoms and treatment side-effects. If steroids do or do not work, this doesn’t affect the tumour size.
Tips from our community
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.
Frequently asked questions
Steroids are usually given for a few days or weeks. Keep taking your steroids for as long as your specialist tells you to.
If you have to take them for longer than a week, you’re likely to be given a steroid card.
It has important information about the type and dosage you take, which may be needed in an emergency.
Carry the steroid card 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 as a reminder.
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.
Accurate source of health information
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- Verified by: M Hill – Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Date checked: 09/03/26
- Next check: 09/03/29
Alberta Provincial CNS Tumour Team, 2021. The Use of Dexamethasone in Patients with High‑Grade Gliomas. Clinical Practice Guideline CNS‑011. [online] Available at: Alberta Health Services [Accessed 6 Aug. 2025] Alberta Health Services
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Vecht, Ch.J. et al., 1994. Dexamethasone dose-finding in patients with brain metastases. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. [cited in Perry guideline] PubMed Central
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National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2018. Brain tumours (primary) and brain metastases in over 16s: diagnosis and management. Guideline NG99. [online] Available at: NICE [Accessed 6 Aug. 2025] Nice
Tumour-specific patient leaflets (e.g. UHCW neurosurgery): Advice for taking dexamethasone when you have a brain tumour. [online] Available at: UHCW NHS Trust [Accessed 6 Aug. 2025] UHCW
MDPI, 2024. Systemic corticosteroids for symptom management in cancer: adverse effects overview. Cancers 17(10):1630. [online] Available at: MDPI [Accessed 6 Aug. 2025] mdpi.com
UpToDate, 2025. Management of vasogenic edema in brain tumor patients. [online] Available via institutional access [Accessed 6 Aug. 2025]
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