At Home After a Stroke

Medications After a Stroke

After a stroke, your doctor may prescribe:

• Blood thinners. These keep blood clots from forming and can prevent another stroke.

• Blood pressure medication. If your stroke was due to bleeding, controlling your blood pressure is essential.

• Heart rhythm medications. Atrial fibrillation, the most common abnormal heart rhythm, increases stroke risk.

• Cholesterol medication. Lowering cholesterol can prevent your arteries from clogging. Cholesterol medication called statins may lower the risk of a second stroke even if your cholesterol level is normal. 

• Diabetes medication. If you have diabetes, controlling your blood sugar is essential to protect your blood vessels. 

• Pain medication. After a stroke, some people experience nerve pain, burning sensations, or muscle aches. 

Make sure you and your caregivers understand how to take new medications. Report any side effects to your doctor. 

Lower Your Risk of Another Stroke

Certain health and lifestyle conditions put you at higher risk of a second stroke. To lower your risk:

• Quit smoking

• Limit alcohol

• Avoid illicit substances

• Control blood sugar

• Be physically active

• Achieve a healthy weight

• Eat a healthy diet 

• Avoid processed foods

More Symptoms After a Stroke

There are many symptoms you might experience after a stroke, including:

• Impaired speech – trouble forming words or thinking of the right word

• Swallowing difficulty – problems with chewing and swallowing solids or liquids

• Pain – body aches or burning sensations

• Muscle stiffness – muscle movements you can’t control, called spasticity, stiffness, or cramping

• Problems with thinking – memory, attention, learning difficulties, and trouble making decisions

• Emotional symptoms – depression, anxiety, grief, and difficulty controlling or expressing your emotions

Your care team can help you overcome many of these challenges through therapy and medication. 

Know that you are not alone. Connecting with a support group to share your experience can make a big difference.

Prevent Complications

When you can’t move easily, it can lead to more problems, such as:

• Contractures. A muscle, ligament, tendon, or part of your skin tightens permanently. Frequent stretching, massage, and movement can help. 

• Pressure sores. Skin can break down due to pressure on your tissues over time. Change position every 2 hours. Placing pads around bony places can help too. 

• Pneumonia. Trouble swallowing can cause you to breathe in food and liquid — called aspiration. Moving less can also raise your risk of pneumonia. 

• Blood clots. Blood can pool in your extremities and clot. Your doctor may prescribe medication or compression stockings to help. 

Urinary tract infection (UTI). Using a urinary catheter puts you at high risk of a UTI. Talk to your care team about lower-risk options.