The findings are particularly significant as millions of people take a low dose of aspirin daily, as it is known to reduce the risk of having a heart attack or stroke in people, especially if they have already had one.
In the study 2757 patients who had already suffered a stroke were split into two roughly equal groups – one of which was given aspirin and the other cilostazol for as long as five years.
During the trial it was found that 2.76 per cent of the cilostazol group suffered a stroke compared to 3.71 per cent of the aspirin group – a 26 per cent reduction.
Severe bleeding occurred in half as many patients taking cilostazol – 0·77 per cent per year – compared to patients taking aspirin – 1·78 per cent per year.
However, non-serious side-effects including headache, diarrhoea, palpitation, and dizziness, were significantly more common in the cilostazol group.
The authors of the study published in the Lancet said that more trials were needed to see that the effect was universal as the trial was carried out in Japan.
Joe Korner, Director of Communications at The Stroke Association said: “Aspirin is a common and effective blood thinning medication given to patients who have suffered a stroke or a mini stroke caused by a blood clot.
"However, as with many medications, aspirin does have side effects in some patients, one of which is that it can cause bleeding. There is therefore a very small increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke (a stroke caused by a bleed in the brain).
"The findings of this study are interesting and it’s positive to see that alternative treatments to Aspirin may be available in the future. We’d be really interested to see the results of further research in larger and more diverse study populations.”
(Telegraph.co.uk)
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