WEBVTT FILE

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After you've had a stroke, you
may be prescribed medications to

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treat effects of the stroke and
to reduce your risk of having

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another stroke in the future. A
stroke is a medical emergency,

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and there are several
medications you might be given

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right away. The choice of
medication depends on what kind

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of stroke you're having. They
may include: IV alteplase (a

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clot-busting drug), sometimes
called tPA. If your stroke was

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caused by a blood clot in a
blood vessel, you may be given

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this special medication that
can help dissolve the clot. This

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medication works best if it's
given within less than 3 to 4.5

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hours of the stroke symptom
onset. “Obviously when we're

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talking about strokes, we're
talking about a clot in your

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brain. But the tPA itself helps
to break up that clot.” If your

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stroke was caused by bleeding
in your brain, you may be given

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blood pressure medications
to rapidly lower your blood

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pressure and slow the bleeding.
You may also need medication to

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decrease swelling in your brain
caused by the bleeding. You may

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also be given other medications,
including: anti-seizure

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medications; medications to
lower your blood sugar level;

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medications to reduce a fever;
aspirin; and others. Which

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medications you need will depend
on your unique situation. “It

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really depends on the type of
stroke basically, so ischemic

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and hemorrhagic, they're really
treated differently.” After the

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emergency has passed, and you
are ready to leave the hospital

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you will follow a recovery plan
that often includes different

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types of stroke rehabilitation,
like speech and physical

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therapy, along with making
positive changes in your

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lifestyle like eating better
and not smoking. You may also be

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prescribed medications to help
you avoid another stroke. It's

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important to follow your
recovery plan exactly as

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prescribed. Some of the
medications used to help prevent

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a future stroke or help you
recover include: anti-coagulants

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to help stop blood clots from
forming; pain medications; blood

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pressure medications;
cholesterol medications; and

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medications to help your muscles
relax. “The more you get on the

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right medications and right
lifestyle changes and so forth,

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the lower your risk will be of
having a stroke.” If you have

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other health issues that may
have contributed to your stroke,

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or raise your risk of
experiencing another stroke, you

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will also be treated for those.
This may include treatments for

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heart disease, diabetes,
osteoporosis, or other

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conditions. Because you may
be taking several different

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medications, it is important to
come up with a plan to help you

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remember to take all your
medications correctly. Some

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people find a pill organizer
helpful. Some people track their

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medications using an app or on
a calendar. And others set an

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alert on their phones. Whatever
way you plan to remember to take

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your medications make sure it is
working for you. If not, it is

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ok to make changes - as long as
you take all your medications as

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directed. Recovering from a
stroke can be hard work and may

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require adjusting to a new
normal that includes taking new

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medications, going through
several types of therapy, and

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learning how to perform basic
tasks like walking all over

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again. For many people, all of
these changes are overwhelming,

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and anxiety and depression after
a stroke is common. This can

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make it harder to follow your
recovery plan, including taking

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your medications as prescribed.
If you are feeling hopeless or

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overwhelmed, seek out help right
away. One of the best treatments

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is counseling or therapy with
a mental health specialist.

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Certain medications can also
help. The best thing you can do

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for yourself after a stroke is
to follow all of your healthcare

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team's recommendations,
including taking your

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medications as prescribed,
asking questions that come up

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and sticking with your care
plan. You will see progress each

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and every day.