Treatment of Transient ischaemic attack

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

| A |

| B |

| C |

| D |

| E |

| F |

| G |

| H |

| I |

| J |

| K |

| L |

| M |

| N |

| O |

| P |

| Q |

| R |

| S |

| T |

| U |

| V |

| W |

| X |

| Y |

A TIA can be caused by a number of different factors and it is important to identify the cause so that appropriate treatment can be given.

Drug treatments for TIA include:

Aspirin â€“ stops platelets from clumping together to form clots. This is the preferred prescribed drug for prevention of TIA. Even a quarter of an aspirin tablet (75mg), taken in regular doses, can be enough to prevent attacks.
Clopidogrel â€“ works in a similar way to aspirin. It is preferred for use if the patient already has established atherosclerosis or if they are hypersensitive to aspirin. Asthmatics, for example, would not be advised to use aspirin as their preferred treatment for TIA.
Warfarin and other anticoagulant drugs - used to interfere with the bodyâ€™s natural process of clotting, by targeting essential chemicals in the blood. Warfarin and aspirin should not be taken at the same time because there is a high risk of bleeding.

These treatments do not however treat the underlying causes of TIAs, and therefore the patient may still be at risk of developing further cardiovascular conditions such as coronary heart disease. Making changes to your diet or taking appropriate drug treatments can control factors such as high blood pressure.

Where the two main arteries to the brain have become narrowed or blocked by disease, a surgical procedure called a carotid endarterectomy may be performed. Surgeons scrape out deposits from inside the arteries, clearing the blockage and improving blood flow. Surgery is most effective on those with the most thickened arteries, because the risks of this type of surgery are higher than the risks of living with arteries that are only slightly thickened.