Intracranial bleeding from ruptured blood vessels (called a subarachnoid haemorrhage -SAH) affects 7000 patients each year in the UK and is a source of considerable death and disability, even in young adults. Recent observations indicate that these bleeds can cause reduced cerebral blood flow which leads to a bad outcome. High rates of death and disability occur, and are particularly prevalent when low cerebral blood flow results in stroke. Prevention of cerebral artery spasm and improvement in blood vessel reflexes are the target of modern therapy. Candidate drugs include statins which have an impeccable safety record and multiple potential beneficial actions (improve cerebral blood flow, reduce inflammatory processes, reduce adverse blood coagulation) following SAH.