Strokes are the leading cause of long term disability and injury in the United States and the third highest cause of death among Americans. Cerebrovascular accidents, otherwise known as strokes are conditions where the blood supply to the brain becomes interrupted. Without the necessary blood supply, part of the brain is permanently damaged and this can result in death or in permanent disability. Strokes can be caused by blood clots that block the blood flow which are termed as ischemic stroke or they can be caused by the bursting of an artery or a hemorrhagic stroke which interrupts blood flow.
A stroke can happen to anyone, but is especially common in those who have typical risk factors which include high blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking and high levels of cholesterol. Ischemic strokes are tightly related to heart conditions like arthrosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries and encompass almost 80% of the strokes recorded.
Recently, strokes have also been tied to a large number of prescription medications including drugs that treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Cox 2 Inhibitors used to treat arthritis and other painful conditions, Hormone Replacement Therapy medications and Atypical Anti-Psychotic Medications.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is most often found in young children and adolescents, but it does carry on into adulthood. ADHD symptoms include hyperactivity, forgetfulness, manic mood swings, and a tendency to get distracted easily from all kinds of tasks. Doctors often treat children and adults with ADHD medications which are usually stimulants that are supposed to help the sections of the brain responsible for attention, impulse control and focus. Adderall is one prescription medication used for treating ADHD which contains four amphetamine salts and it is used successfully by almost one million Americans today. Adderall is a popular medication among medical professionals and it is effective with many patients but Shire Pharmaceuticals, the drugmaker, has reported 20 incidences of sudden death since 1994 that are linked with Adderall. Twelve of those deaths were a direct result of stroke. Other ADHD drugs that have been associated with stroke as a side effect are Concerta, Cylert, Ritalin and Strattera.
Cox 2 Inhibitors were introduced as new pain drugs in the NSAID family, or non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. NSAIDs include well known drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. COX 2 drugs have been marketed towards those looking for an alternative arthritis medication. Unfortunately, once in wider circulation Cox 2 inhibitors were linked to high incidences of heart attacks and strokes. This lead to the removal of Vioxx from the market and speculation that Cox 2 Inhibitors may not be as safe as claimed. Cox 2 inhibitors that list possible stroke as a side effect are Bextra, Celebrex and Vioxx.
Hormone replacement therapy was thought to be a miracle for many women facing menopause as it significantly reduced aggravating side effects from hot flashes to emotional instability. Ultimately, these hormone replacement drugs have been linked to a high number of heart attacks and strokes in women who took them. Premarin, specifically, has been linked not only to heart disease, stroke and heart attacks in women but also to ovarian cancer, lupus and gallbladder cancer. Premphrase and Prempro are two other HRT drugs that have been linked with strokes.
Atypical Anti-Psychotic Medications are a family of prescription drugs that are used in the treatment of mental conditions like schizophrenia. They are also often used, with success, on conditions like bipolar disorder and mania. They often cause side effects like tiredness, weakness and in some cases more serious conditions like tardive dyskinesia. Additionally, most of these drugs are not recommended for older patients because they increase the risk of stroke. Atypical Anti-Psychotic Medications include, Abilify, Clozaril, Geodon, Risperdal, Seroquel and Zyprexa.
When coupled with additional risk factors, any of these medications could yield deadly results. If you or someone you know has been the victim of a stroke related to a defective drug, you may be able to seek compensation and redress for that injury or support for someone who is permanently disabled.