Medication

A ‘clot-busting’ drug called alteplase may be used if your brain scan indicates that it might help and hospital staff have had training for its use in stroke. This drug treatment is known as thrombolysis. However, treatment with alteplase must begin within three hours of stroke symptoms starting, and it should not be given to people under 18 or over 80 years old. 

There are two types of drugs which are used to reduce the risk of blood clots forming (the cause of most strokes). The decision as to which sort you should have will be made after careful assessment by your medical team.
Everyone who has had a stroke should be given aspirin as soon as possible, and definitely within 24 hours of the stroke starting, unless your brain scan shows bleeding in your brain. You should continue to receive daily aspirin for two weeks or until you leave hospital, whichever is sooner. Your specialist should then discuss future treatment with you.
 

If you were taking a drug called a statin before your stroke to reduce your cholesterol, you should continue taking it. If you weren’t already taking a statin your shouldn’t be started on one immediately after a stroke. But if your stroke was caused by a blood clot and you have a blood cholesterol level of 3.5 mmol per litre or more, you should be started on a statin before you are discharged from hospital.

Normally a person who has had a stroke should not be given anticoagulants unless there is a particular reason not to do so. These medical considerations can be discussed with your doctor