Research Shows Muscle Cramp Drug Prevents Strokes Better Than Aspirin

According to a new research, a drug used to ease cramp is more effective at preventing strokes than aspirin.

During the study, scientists discovered that the drug reduced the risk of a stroke by a quarter and the risk of dangerous side-effects by a half in patients, reports the Telegraph.

Stroke – Early Warning Signs - Risk Factor - Rehab - Treatment
Stroke can cause permanent disability and it is important to recognize its early warning signs to stop its progress. Early warning signs of stroke include sudden weakness of facial muscles.

The findings are particularly important as millions of people take a low dose of aspirin daily, as it is known to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke in people, especially if they have already had one.

Taking cilostazol, a drug which prevents clotting and is used to treat muscle cramps, instead would not only be more powerful but also reduce the risk of haemorrhage - one of the major dangers of taking aspirin.

Authors Dr Deepak Bhatt and Dr Dharam Kumbhani of Harvard Medical School, said the trial suggested that cilostazol offered "prevention beyond the protection provided by aspirin".

High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension is defined as a blood pressure of above 140 mm Hg (systolic) and or 90mm Hg (diastolic).

In the study, 2757 patients who had already suffered a stroke were split into two roughly equal groups - one of which was given aspirin and the other cilostazol for as long as five years.

During the trial, it was found that 2.76 per cent of the cilostazol group suffered a stroke compared to 3.71 per cent of the aspirin group - a 26 per cent reduction.

Animation of heart attack symptoms
Heart attack can cause symptoms such as Chest pain or discomfort, Shortness of breath and pain in neck, back, arm, or shoulder and is due to blockage of blood supply to the heart muscles

Severe bleeding occurred in half as many patients taking cilostazol - 0·77 per cent per year - compared to patients taking aspirin - 1·78 per cent per year.

However, non-serious side-effects including headache, diarrhoea, palpitation, and dizziness, were significantly more common in the cilostazol group.

The authors of the study said that more trials were needed to see that the effect was universal as the trial was carried out in Japan.

The study has been published in the Lancet.

Source-ANI