Study reveals clot-busting drugs are safer in lower dosage

An international study has revealed users of blood clot-busting drug rtPA – otherwise known as alteplase – are at less of a risk of deadly side effects if they take a lower dosage.

rtPA, an gold-standard treatment for the effect of a stroke, has been known in some cases to trigger bleeding on the brain.

A new global study by the George Institute involving 3000 patients has found that reducing the standard dose according to a patient's bodyweight slashed the rate of hemorrhaging by two-thirds.

An estimated two percent of patients on rTPA die from a major bleed resulting from the drug, George Institute spokesman Professor Craig Anderson said.

“There is no doubt our results will give a lot of confidence to doctors, patients and families who have particular concerns about weighing up this risk,” Prof. Anderson told 9NEWS.

The trial also found that while a lower dose of the drug provides greater protection, slightly more people were left with a physical disability, such as needing help with walking.

Prof. Anderson said that the gains of taking lowered dosages nevertheless outweighs the potential loses.

“In my view [preserving] life is very precious and that's really important,” he said.