Stroke requires proper treatment and/or prevention whether before or after a stroke. The prevention or treatment can be of non-drug therapy or drug therapy. Non- drug therapy can be very useful for some individuals but it is very limited. Diet control may be very useful for people with high cholesterol or people developing atherosclerosis.

People must consider the risks as well as benefits while using preventive drug therapy. Coumadin (Warfarin), Aspirin, Plavix and Ticlid (Ticlodipine) are used for drug therapy out of which Aspirin, Plavix and Ticlid are effective antiplatelet therapies while Coumadin reduces the level of clotting factors. These drugs decrease the development of blood clot which leads to stroke. Plavix is opted over Ticlid but the toughest decision is between Aspirin and Coumadin though Coumadin is expensive but still considered to be cost effective. However people under the age of 65 do not benefit from Coumadin, but extremely beneficial for those with risk factors. Coumadin increases the risk of severe hemorrhage significant at older ages.

The various therapies are used with the following criteria, people under the age of 75 having less risk factor, can use Aspirin, people under the age of 75, having less risk factor and have no contraindications to Coumadin, and can use Coumadin, people older than 75 years, having or not having less risk factors, can benefit from either anticoagulation therapy. Aspirin should be given at the lowest dose possible when chosen for anticoagulant therapy.

Two other anticoagulant therapies exist, Anturane (Sulfinpyrazone) and Persantine (Dipyridamole) are the other two anticoagulant therapies with minimal effects. Nimitop (Nimodipine) and Cardene (Nicardipine) are Calcium channel blockers which reduces the incidence of stroke in people with high blood pressure. Nimitop and Cardene are used while antihypertensive therapy.

Activase is extremely effective in treating people with strokes that result from a thromboembolic event.

Heparin is shown to be effective at reducing the likelihood of developing an early recurrent ischemic stroke.

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