Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >18
• Satisfies the criteria for ischemic stroke: acute focal neurological deficit of likely ischemic vascular origin.
• Patient or legally authorized representative has provided written informed consent prior to study entry.
• Patient can receive the first treatment dose within 0-24 hours of stroke onset. For patients found with stroke on awakening, it will be assumed that the stroke occurred the last time that the patient was known to be normal.
• Patient has pretreatment brain CT scan compatible with ischemic stroke and excludes hemorrhagic and non-vascular etiologies of symptoms.
• Patients taking statins at time of stroke may be included.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Brain imaging study shows a lesion other than ischemic stroke that could explain patient's symptoms (intracranial or subarachnoid hemorrhage, arteriovenous malformation, aneurysm, multiple sclerosis, tumor, abscess or other). Asymptomatic meningiomas are allowed.
• Patient had a stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) with residual deficit within 1 month prior to treatment.
• Mild stroke, defined as NIH Stroke Scale <2.
• Patient has received or is expected to receive intravenous rt-PA within 3 hours or intra-arterial rt-PA within 6 hours of stroke onset, according to our institutional standard of care.
• Receipt of intravenous rt-PA after 3 hours or intra-arterial rt-PA after 6 hours post-stroke onset.
• Seizure at presentation or within two weeks prior to stroke.
• Patient is comatose, regardless of etiology (> 4 points on the first three items of the NIHSS).
• History of intolerance or allergic reaction to any statins (myotoxicity, hepatic dysfunction, rash, etc.)
• Use of drugs within past 30 days that utilize the cytochrome CYP3A pathway (cyclosporine, itraconazole, ketoconazole, erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, nefazodone).
• Use of drugs within past 30 days that increase risk of myotoxicity with statins (gemfibrozil, other fibrates, niacin, amiodarone, verapamil).
• Baseline major electrolyte disturbances (sodium <125 or >150, potassium <3.0 or >5.5).
• Recent major trauma (<3 months).
• Hypothermia (body temperature < 96 degrees Fahrenheit).
• Baseline hypoxia (defined as oxygen saturation <92% on room air).
• History of likely or proven systemic viral infection within 30 days.
• Known HIV infection or use of protease inhibitors.
• Endocarditis likely as cause of stroke.
• Mitochondrial disorder likely as cause of stroke.
• Pregnancy or lactation.
• History of rhabdomyolysis, myopathy, or other severe muscle disease.
• History of hepatitis, decompensated liver disease (ascites, bleeding varices or encephalopathy), or liver failure.
• Liver function tests (ALT, AST) > 2X upper limit of normal.
• Unstable cardiovascular (includes uncontrolled hypertension), pulmonary, gastrointestinal, hepatic or musculoskeletal disease within one month (30 days) prior to treatment (by reported history).
• Patient has evidence of congestive heart failure or has history of end-stage cardiovascular disease (e.g. CHF NYHA Class III or IV or unstable angina).
• Abnormal ECG showing: Hemodynamically significant arrhythmia or frequent PVCs (>5/minute) (controlled atrial arrhythmia will not be an exclusion); evidence of acute myocardial infarction; Mobitz Type II 2nd degree AV block or 3rd degree AV block; ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
• Significant renal insufficiency, indicated by serum creatinine >2.0 mg/dl.
• Hypoglycemia (glucose < 60 mg/dl), significant hyperglycemia (glucose > 400 mg/dl) or diabetic ketoacidosis.
• Any of these hematologic abnormalities: Hb <10 g/dl; WBC <3.0 x 103/mm3; Platelet count <50,000/mm3
• Received an investigational drug within 30 days.
• Severe behavioral or social problems that may interfere with the conduct of clinical study procedures.