The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for treating, ameliorating, or relieving at least one symptom associated with loss of blood flow to the brain including, without limitation, ischemic stroke. Compositions of the disclosure may comprise a bile acid compound and a carbohydrate, wherein both materials remain in solution for all pH values of the solution within a selected range of pH values. Symptoms may include infarct volume, functional recovery, apoptosis, and/or eNOS expression.