The patient should receive treatment to support basic life functions and to reduce stress, pain, and agitation. Hospital staff should watch carefully for increased pressure on the brain, which is a frequent complication of hemorrhagic strokes but can also occur a few days after ischemic strokes. A number of medications may be given during a stroke to reduce this risk. Early symptoms of increased brain pressure are drowsiness, confusion, lethargy, weakness, and headache. Drugs for Prevention of Further Clotting Aspirin or intravenous heparin is commonly used to prevent more clots from forming and for maintaining blood flow after an ischemic stroke.
Studies indicate that, in general, aspirin is more effective than heparin.
Heparin also has a risk for a serious blood condition called thrombocytopenia. New forms of heparin are being investigated that may be effective and carry fewer risks. Moreover, it resulted in a significantly higher risk of bleeding and serious brain hemorrhage. It should be noted that warfarin significantly increases the risk of hemorrhage and has no effect against large clots that are already present. Thrombolytics Clot-busting, or thrombolytic, drugs, normally used for breaking up existing clots in people who have had heart attacks, are now being used for stroke.