Living with a brain tumour: Taking steroids

Dexamethasone reduces your body’s production of its own natural corticosteroids. The frequency and dose will need to be cut down gradually, so that it encourages your own body’s production of steroids to re-start. If your child hasn’t had chicken pox, and is in direct contact with a child who has chicken pox, or develops it within 48 hours, contact the hospital immediately. We’ll arrange for a blood test to check your child’s antibodies to chicken pox and your child may need an injection to protect them, but your doctor or nurse will talk through this with you.

If you’re worried about this, talk to the person who is prescribing your steroids about it. These are more likely if you’re on a high dose or if you’re taking steroids for a long time. Usually inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to infection or bacteria.

Physical health risks

If used in this way, they can cause serious side effects and addiction.

• Some users will also experience manic behaviour and may start having hallucinations.
• A few products do not have a marketing authorisation (licence) as a medicine and therefore there is no PIL.
• Anabolic steroids are manufactured drugs that copy the effects of the male hormone testosterone.
• The penalty is an unlimited fine, or even a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

If you do not have a copy of the manufacturer’s patient information leaflet please talk to your pharmacist. A few products do not have a marketing authorisation (licence) as a medicine and therefore there is no PIL. These side effects tend to occur only after long-term use or with high doses. By clicking submit you agree to our Privacy notice and Terms and conditions.

If a clinician has prescribed you anabolic steroids, they will be safe for you to take – provided you use them as directed. Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced drugs that mimic the effects of natural testosterone. They are sometimes used very occasionally to stimulate muscle regrowth after surgery or as part of  treatment for an unusual type of anaemia.

Anabolic steroid side effects

They can also be imported or exported as long as this is carried out in person. This means they can’t be posted or delivered by a courier or freight service. However, it’s illegal to possess, import or export anabolic steroids if it’s believed you’re supplying or selling them. This means that supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

They’re also known as corticosteroids, and are different to anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders and athletes. You should see a GP if you think you’re addicted to anabolic steroids. Treatment for an addiction to anabolic steroids will be similar to that of other types of addiction.

Anabolic steroids are usually injected into a muscle or taken by mouth as tablets, but they also come as creams or gels that are applied to the skin. If you need any medical or dental treatment, show your blue or red steroid card to the doctor, dentist or pharmacist so that they know you’re taking steroids. If you do, and you have developed diabetes, you will be reviewed by your GP or may be asked to attend the diabetic clinic at the local hospital.

If growth is slowed, they might be referred to a specialist doctor for advice. If you’re taking high doses of steroids, or if you’re on them for more than three weeks, you’ll need to carry a steroid card. This will have information on your dose and how long you’ve been taking them for.

But sometimes they can cause unpleasant side effects, such as an increased appetite, mood changes and difficulty sleeping (insomnia). Prior to discharge from hospital, you should be given a copy of your discharge summary. This will include a weaning regime (reducing plan) for your dexamethasone tablets.

This means they can’t be posted or delivered by a courier or freight service. Anabolic steroids are manufactured drugs that copy the effects of the male hormone testosterone. They have limited medical uses and are not the same as corticosteroids, a different type of steroid drug that’s more commonly prescribed. The blue steroid treatment card has details of your treatment and how you can reduce the risks of side effects.

The severity of your swelling dictates how much dexamethasone you will be prescribed. If a tumour develops in the brain it is usually surrounded by oedema, which acts as a form of protective barrier in between jpblog.top the tumour and brain tissue. If your child does have chicken pox, their steroid doses may need to be stopped. Our adrenal and reproductive glands naturally produce hormonal substances called steroids.