From the Research
The recommended dosage of Edaravone (Radicut) for acute ischemic stroke is 30 mg administered intravenously over 30 minutes, twice daily, with a treatment duration of 14 days, as supported by the most recent and highest quality study 1.
Key Points
- The treatment should begin within 24 hours of stroke onset, with the first administration as soon as possible after stroke symptoms appear.
- Edaravone works as a free radical scavenger that helps protect brain tissue from oxidative stress damage during ischemic stroke, potentially improving functional outcomes.
- The twice-daily administration for two weeks allows for consistent protection during the critical period when secondary brain injury is most likely to occur.
- Patients should be monitored for potential side effects including renal function abnormalities, liver function changes, and allergic reactions.
- The medication should be administered in a hospital setting where the patient can be properly monitored throughout the treatment course.
Rationale
The study by 1 demonstrated that edaravone effectively improves functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke, with 72% of patients in the edaravone group having favorable outcomes (MRS ≤2) at 90 days, compared to 40% in the placebo group.
Additional Considerations
- Other studies, such as 2 and 3, also support the use of edaravone in acute ischemic stroke, but the study by 1 is the most recent and highest quality.
- The optimal total dosage of edaravone has not been established, but the study by 4 suggests that the total amount of edaravone used is associated with its efficacy for rehabilitation gain in patients with cardioembolic stroke.