Stroke study raises alarm over use of drug

A blood pressure lowering drug used to treat patients immediately after they have had a stroke has no benefits and could even be harmful, according to a study.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Feb 2011, 06:00 BST

The results released yesterday mean the drug should no longer be given to patients within the first week of them suffering a stroke, researchers concluded, before calling for further research to be carried out.

Most stroke sufferers are not given medication to treat high blood pressure but it is prescribed in the most extreme cases. However, the Norwegian study suggests that a drug called Candesartan does not help.

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A spokeswoman for The Stroke Association said: “After a stroke your risk of having a further stroke increases.

“We welcome any research which could provide further guidance on how to treat stroke patients immediately afterwards in order to reduce their future risk.

“It is common for blood pressure to increase directly after stroke, possibly as a result of the patient feeling very anxious.”

The results of the study, part of the Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial, were published in The Lancet medical journal this week and also presented at the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles.