Depression is a common complication among stroke victims and doctors may want to give antidepressants instantly to these victims instead of waiting that the victims develop depression or not, a new study suggests.

According to the lead authors of the study these findings have the ability to lead towards an extended use of antidepressants. It is also possible that high-risk people like stroke victims may use the drugs before becoming a victim of depression. This extended use would be similar to the use of cholesterol drugs that people have to avoid heart attack.

Low doses of the antidepressant “Lexapro” were given to some stroke patients and it was noted that there was 4.5 percent lesser risk in the patients on the drug than the patients who were getting a dummy pill.

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