Medication
Most cases of TIA are managed with medication. The precise drugs your doctor recommends will depend on your details of the cause, type, and severity of your attack. Generally, there are two groups of drugs doctors often prescribe: anti-platelets and anticoagulants [3].
Anti-platelets
The platelets are cells that clump together in the blood. They help seal up cuts when you are injured or have a broken blood vessel and are responsible for the clotting of your blood. If your blood has too many clots, there is a risk of them blocking a blood vessel and preventing blood flow in the brain. This is why doctors prescribe anti-platelet drugs which work against the platelets by limiting their function.
Doctors often prescribe aspirin [4], as this is the most accessible anti-platelet drug. They may also recommend clopidogrel (Plavix). Sometimes doctors prescribe both medications to be taken together following a mini stroke. Using a combination of both drugs reduces your likelihood of having a future stroke more than using only one would.
Both drugs are usually taken for one month after TIA. If your mini stroke was caused by narrow blood vessels, your doctor may prescribe it for longer. Aggrenox is another drug often prescribed following a transient ischemic attack. It is a combination of low-dose aspirin and an anti-platelet called dipyridamole. You should not use aspirin and other anti-platelet drugs for too long. Potential side effects [5] include increased bleeding and indigestion.