Medications Side Effect & Drug Abuse
Blood-thinning drugs like apixaban, dabigatran, warfarin, heparin, and edoxaban are used to prevent ischemic stroke caused by blood clots. However, they may increase the risk of ruptured arteries in the brain, leading to hemorrhagic stroke. [9]
Drug abuse is frequently associated with strokes among the young and drug abusers would have an increased risk of developing hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes than ordinary people. There are a number of possible causes of strokes in addicts. Abuse of stimulants like amphetamines, phencyclidine, and cocaine, may lead to cerebrovascular damage. They may trigger hemorrhagic stroke by damaging blood vessels, causing them to rupture and start to bleed. They also cause spike blood pressure levels which cause the artery to narrow and become stiff, leading to ischemic stroke. Abuse of stimulants like heroin and cannabis may cause inflammatory complication of endocarditis or infectious complication of ruptured mycotic aneurysm. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) that is induced by substance abuse can be ischemic or hemorrhagic. [10]