Home Treatment

Home treatment is not appropriate for a transient ischemic attack (TIA). If you think you are having a TIA, don't ignore the symptoms, and don't try to manage them at home. If you had symptoms of a TIA but they went away, you still need to see a doctor right away.

Seek emergency medical care when symptoms first appear. Prompt treatment may keep you from having a stroke.

You can care for yourself at home by adopting healthy habits that help you prevent another TIA or stroke. To learn more, see Prevention.

Medications

Your doctor will probably prescribe several medicines after you have had a transient ischemic attack (TIA). Medicines to prevent blood clots are typically used, because blood clots can cause TIAs and strokes.

The types of medicines that prevent clotting are:

• Antiplatelet medicines.
• Anticoagulant medicines.

Cholesterol-lowering and blood pressure-lowering medicines are also used to prevent TIAs and strokes.

Antiplatelet medicines

Antiplatelet medicines keep platelets in the blood from sticking together.

• Aspirin (for example, Bayer) is most often used to prevent TIAs and strokes.
• Aspirin combined with dipyridamole (Aggrenox) is a safe and effective alternative to aspirin.
• Clopidogrel (Plavix) may be used for people who cannot take aspirin.

Anticoagulants

Anticoagulants such as warfarin (for example, Coumadin) prevent blood clots from forming and keep existing blood clots from getting bigger. You may need to take this type of medicine after a TIA if you have atrial fibrillation or another condition that makes you more likely to have a stroke. For more information, see the topic Atrial Fibrillation.

Statins

Statins lower cholesterol and can greatly reduce the risk of stroke in people who have had a TIA. Statins even protect against stroke in people who don't have heart disease or high cholesterol.²

Blood pressure medicines

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may want you to take medicines to lower it. Blood pressure medicines include:

• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.
• Beta-blockers.
• Calcium channel blockers.
• Diuretics.