Medications to Help and Prevent Stoke

When you have been diagnosed as having a stroke or when your doctor is treating you to prevent a stroke, there are a number of medicines that your doctor may prescribe to you. In addition to the stroke medications, they may also prescribe medicines to help with your blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. Antiplatelets, Thrombolytics, and Anticoagulants are all types of medicines that your doctor may prescribe to prevent or treat strokes. Examples of each include:

Aspirin is one of the main medications your doctor will prescribe to treat and prevent another stroke from occurring. Aspirin has many uses and is mainly used as an antiplatelet inhibitor, which keeps your blood from clotting. Aspirin is used to thin your blood out just enough to prevent a stroke. Talk to your doctor if you notice any abnormal or excessive bleeding. Plavix is another type of antiplatelet that your doctor may prescribe. Plavix has about the same effect as an aspirin, by decreasing your bloods ability to clot. It's normally taken at least once a day unless your doctor prescribes it more.

Activase is a thrombolytic medication that your doctor may give you when a stroke is occurring. Activase is known as a "clot buster" since it breaks up the clot and restores blood flow to the area of the stroke. It is important that you go to the hospital immediately when you start noticing symptoms of a stroke. You must be at the hospital within three hours of the first sign you may be having a stroke to be able to receive Activase. This drug is not received by mouth. Activase is not right for some people, especially since it will cause you to bleed. More serious side effects include bleeding from the brain.

Coumadin is a medication that is an anticoagulant. Coumadin is a very strong blood thinner that helps reduce the risk of a stroke. It makes the level of vitamin K in your body decrease, so be sure to eat plenty of dark green, leafy vegetables. When taking Coumadin, your doctor wants your blood to be at a certain level, so he will be checking your blood regularly until it gets to the consistency that he wants it to be. Coumadin can also cause serious, life threatening bleeding. If you have any problems such as pain, black stools, dizziness, headaches, or coughing up blood, make sure to tell your healthcare provider immediately. Talk with your doctor about more possible side effects or to see it Coumadin is right for you.

www.strokecenter.org
www.activase.com
www.coumadin.com
www.drugs.com