Stroke

Your doctor will probably prescribe several medicines after you have had a stroke. Medicines to prevent blood clots are typically used, because blood clots can cause TIAs and strokes.

The types of medicines that prevent clotting are:

• Antiplatelet medicines.
• Anticoagulant medicines.

Cholesterol-lowering and blood-pressure–lowering medicines are also used to prevent TIAs and strokes.

Antiplatelet medicines

Reference Antiplatelet medicines keep Reference platelets Opens New Window in the blood from sticking together.

• Aspirin (for example, Bayer) is most often used to prevent TIAs and strokes.
• Aspirin combined with dipyridamole (Aggrenox) is a safe and effective alternative to aspirin.
• Clopidogrel (Plavix) may be used for people who cannot take aspirin.

Anticoagulants

Reference Anticoagulants Opens New Window such as warfarin (for example, Coumadin) prevent blood clots from forming and keep existing blood clots from getting bigger.

You may need to take this type of medicine after a stroke if you have atrial fibrillation or another condition that makes you more likely to have another stroke. For more information, see the topic Reference Atrial Fibrillation.

Statins

Reference Statins lower cholesterol and can greatly reduce your risk of having another stroke. Statins even protect against stroke in people who do not have heart disease or high cholesterol.^{Reference 2}

Blood pressure medicines

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may want you to take medicines to lower it. Blood pressure medicines include:

• Reference Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
• Reference Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
• Reference Beta-blockers.
• Reference Calcium channel blockers.
• Reference Diuretics.

Other medicines

Reference Medicines used to treat depression and pain may also be prescribed after a stroke.

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