Medications

Emergency Treatment |  Medications | Surgery

TPA - A great advance in stroke treatment came in 1996 when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the clot-busting drug TPA, commonly known by the trade name of Activase. The drug, called a thrombolytic agent, works by dissolving the blood clots that block brain arteries and cause more than 80 percent of strokes.

It must be administered within three hours of when a stroke occurs and after tests are conducted. It is injected into a vein. Recent studies show that TPA can be safely injected into the brain for up to six hours after a stroke.

Time is critical. If you or someone you know is having stroke symptoms, act immediately.

Antiplatelet drugs - These drugs prevent clotting and are usually prescribed as prevention. The most commonly used is aspirin. You must always consult with your doctor before treating yourself with aspirin to prevent stroke as it is known to cause bleeding in some people.

Anticoagulant drugs - These drugs reduce stroke risk by reducing the clotting property of the blood. The most commonly used include warfarin (known as Coumadin) and heparin.

Neuroprotective agents - These are medications that make the brain less susceptible to the damaging effects of a stroke. Many of these drugs are in clinical research trials and not yet approved for use.

Sources for this report include the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and Consumer Guide No. #16 AHQR pub. no. 95-0664 US Agency For Healthcare Research and Quality.

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