Stroke Medications and Treatment “Time is brain” is the slogan repeated when discussing stroke treatment and management (Saver, 2006). Access to timely and appropriate medical care within the first hours of stroke onset is critical to patient survival and outcomes. Recent changes in guidelines for acute stroke care published by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Stroke Association (ASA) have improved patient access to treatment. Stroke treatment now follows the model of myocardial infarction treatment. Hospitals are classified into four levels based on their stroke treatment capacity. The most specialized treatment is available at comprehensive stroke centers, followed by primary stroke centers, acute stroke ready hospitals, and community hospitals. The use of telemedicine now allows even community hospitals, with limited specialized capacity, to care for stroke patients. Telemedicine connects emergency hospital personnel with neurologists who provide expertise in evaluating a stroke patient and determining their eligibility for treatment with thrombolytic medications (Jefferey, 2013) . Ischemic strokeA recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighted the importance of treatment initiation as a factor in patient clinical outcomes. The study also indicated that early treatment of ischemic stroke with intravenous recombinant tissue activator (rtPA) resulted in fewer deaths, intracranial hemorrhages, and a better overall prognosis for patients after stroke (Saver et al., 2012). The drug, also known as alteplase, is the only FDA-approved drug for acute ischemic stroke and is recommended to be administered...... middle of paper...... Laleh, Petzold, Axel and Kitchen, Neil. (2003, October 1). Triple-H therapy in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The Lancet Neurology, 2(10), 614-620. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(03)00531-3Talabucon, L. (nd). Potential complications after a stroke. Retrieved from https://www.healthxchange.com.sg/healthyliving/ManagingChronicIllnesses/Pages/Potential-Complications-After-a-Stroke.aspxThompson, GE, 2011. Thrombus and venous embolism. Retrieved from http://www.web md.com/dvt/venous-thrombus-and-embolus US National Library of Medicine (2013). Complete metabolic panel. Retrieved from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003468.htmVan Leeuwen, Anne M. & Poeljuis-Leth, Debra J. (2009) ComprehensiveHandbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests with Nursing Implications of Davis (3rd edition). Philadelphia: FA Davis Company.