Anticoagulants
Anticoagulants also help reduce clotting in the blood vessels, but they have a different action mechanism from anti-platelets. These drugs affect the activity of the proteins involved in blood clotting. They alter the blood’s chemistry [6], but they do not act on platelets.
Heparin and warfarin are two well-known anticoagulants. Most doctors do not typically prescribe heparin for a minor stroke. Heparin is only used briefly when prescribed and doctors have to monitor patients to ensure there are no serious side effects.
Other types of drugs [7] prescribed for people who have had a minor stroke include high blood pressure medications and statins. Statins are used to regulate cholesterol. Doctors sometimes recommend these drugs because having high blood pressure or cholesterol increases a person’s risk of suffering a stroke.