by EBSCO Medical Review Board

These side effects 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.

Brain tumors and how they are treated cause symptoms. Movement problems may be managed with physical therapy. Problems with activities of daily living may be managed with occupational therapy. There may be other steps a person needs to take.

Sometimes medicines are used to manage side effects like swelling and seizures. Only the most basic problems with these medicines are listed. They should be used as advised.

Problems caused by brain tumors:

Swelling in the Brain

This is also called cerebral edema. Many brain tumors cause swelling around them. This can lead to problems with how the brain works. The problems a person has will depend on where the tumor is. There are ways to decrease swelling in the brain. This should improve brain function. Commonly used medicines are steroids like dexamethasone and the anti-angioneic therapy bevacizumab.

Problems from steroids may be:

  • Higher chances of infection
  • Infections that last longer
  • Increase in hunger
  • Weight gain
  • Heartburn
  • Restlessness
  • Problems sleeping
  • Thinning of the bones
  • Thinning of the skin
  • Thinning of the bowel walls

Problems from bevacizumab may be:

  • High blood pressure
  • Protein in the urine
  • Increased risk of bleeding and blood clots
  • Poor wound healing, including surgical sites

Seizures

Brain tumors may cause seizures because the normal pattern of activity in nerve cells is disrupted. This can cause strange sensations, emotions, and behavior. It can also cause loss of consciousness.

Common medicines are:

  • Levitaracetam
  • Lacosamide
  • Brivaracetam
  • Carbamazepine
  • Gabapentin
  • Lamotrigine
  • Oxcarbazepine
  • Phenytoin
  • Valproic acid
  • Zonisamide
  • Diazepam
  • Clonazepam
  • Clobazam

Carbamazepine

Common names are:

  • Tegretol
  • Carbatrol

Carbamazepine lowers the action of the nerves in the brain.

Some problems may be:

  • Blurred vision
  • Back and forth eye movements that cannot be controlled
  • Lightheadedness
  • Sleepiness
  • Skin reactions
  • Bone marrow damage
  • Rashes
  • Heart problems
Ethosuximide

Common brand name: Zarontin

This medicine slows messages in the nerves that control muscles.

Problems may be:

  • Nausea
  • Loss of hunger
  • Vomiting
  • Feeling tired
  • Lightheadedness
  • Drowsiness
  • Headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Rash
  • Change in urine color

A person should call their doctor if they have signs of infection, such as a fever or sore throat.

Gabapentin

Common brand name: Neurontin

Lowers the amount of a certain protein in the brain to calm it.

Problems may be:

  • Sleepiness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Feeling tired
  • Balance and coordination problems
  • Weight gain
  • Back and forth eye movements that cannot be controlled
Lamotrigine

Common brand name: Lamictal

This medicine may calm nerve tissue.

Problems may be:

  • Rash
  • Fever
  • Flu-like symptoms
  • Swollen glands
  • Double or blurred vision
  • Clumsiness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • More seizures
Oxcarbazepine

Common brand name: Trileptal

This may change how the nerves spread impulses. This may calm the nerve tissue.

Problems may be:

  • Vision changes
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sleepiness
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
Phenytoin

Common brand name: Dilantin

This promotes the loss of sodium in nerve fibers. It lowers nerve excitability and the spread of nerve impulses.

Problems may be:

  • Bleeding
  • Swollen gums
  • Fever
  • Rashes
  • Lightheadedness
  • Drowsiness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Liver and bone marrow damage
  • Nerve and brain problems
  • Back and forth eye movements that cannot be controlled
Primidone

Common brand name: Mysoline

Primidone may work by blocking the repeated spread of nerve impulses.

Problems may be:

  • Rash
  • Confusion
  • Back and forth eye movements that cannot be controlled
  • Clumsiness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Drowsiness
Valproic Acid

Common names are:

  • Depakene
  • Depakote

Valproic acid raises the amounts of a certain protein. This holds back nerve transmissions in parts of the brain.

Problems may be:

  • Liver damage
  • Damage to the fetus in the womb, if pregnant
  • Pancreatitis
  • Platelet count that is too low
  • Sleepiness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach upset, belly pain, and loss of hunger
  • Vision problems
  • Hair loss
  • Respiratory infection
  • Weight gain
  • Rashes
Benzodiazepines

Common names are:

  • Diazepam
  • Clonazepam

Diazepam is used more often than clonazepam. They act on nerves by having a calming effect on them.

Problems may be:

  • Drowsiness
  • Breathing problems
  • Headaches
  • Dependency

References

About brain tumors. American Brain Tumor Association website. Available at: https://www.abta.org/about-brain-tumors. Accessed March 16, 2022.

Astrocytoma and oligodentroglioma in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/astrocytoma-and-oligodendroglioma-in-adults. Accessed March 15, 2022.

Meningioma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/meningioma. Accessed March 15, 2022.

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. Accessed March 16, 2022.

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. Accessed March 15, 2022.

Revision Information