Treatment & Procedures

Medications

Clot-dissolving medications, such as a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are effective in dissolving clots and reopening arteries. Because most of the damage caused by an ischemic stroke occurs in the first few hours, clot-dissolving medications are vital in increasing chances for a full recovery.

IV-tPA Intravenous Thrombolysis
It is essential that clot-busting drugs used for the treatment of an ischemic stroke be administered intravenously within three hours of the stroke. After the three-hour window, some patients may be candidates for IA-tPA (intra-arterial therapy) or mechanical embolectomy.