[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/03\/supplements-pain-relievers\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/03\/supplements-pain-relievers\/","headline":"Concussion Care: Do Supplements and Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers Help \u2014 Or Hurt?","name":"Concussion Care: Do Supplements and Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers Help \u2014 Or Hurt?","description":"Learn which supplements and over-the-counter pain relievers can help, or hinder, your concussion recovery process.","datePublished":"2018-03-16","dateModified":"2021-03-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","name":"Sports Medicine","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/sports-medicine-regions","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/sports-medicine\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/082017BLG_MULTIVITAMINS.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/082017BLG_MULTIVITAMINS.jpg","height":327,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/03\/supplements-pain-relievers\/","about":["Concussion","Health Topics A-Z","Sports Medicine"],"wordCount":354,"keywords":["concussion","concussion 101","concussion recovery","concussion symptoms","concussion treatment","creatine","fish oil","headache","headaches","pain","pain medicine","pain relief","resveratrol","sufrinko","supplements","tumeric","vitamins"],"articleBody":"To speed your recovery or relieve headaches after a concussion, you may be tempted to add a popular supplement or over-the-counter pain reliever to your treatment plan.But before you do, talk with your concussion expert, advises Alicia Sufrinko, PhD, a clinical neuropsychologist with the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Be sure to share any daily vitamins, nutritional supplements and prescription medicines you took before your concussion, too.Do Supplements Work?Numerous nutritional supplements are being studied for their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties to determine their value in treating, and possibly even preventing, traumatic brain injuries. They include:Omega-3 (fish oil)Vitamins C, D, and ECurcumin \u2014 found in the spice turmericResveratrol \u2014 found in grapes, nuts, and plantsCreatine \u2014 believed to help build muscle mass and energy\u201cWhile animal-based studies show promising results with some of these supplements, the jury is still out on how well they work on people,\u201d says Dr. Sufrinko. Clinical trials on humans are currently underway on many of them, including two studies of special interest on vitamin D3 and omega-3.\u201cWhile there is little research supporting the use of supplements, there are also very few risks or side effects when taken at low dosages,\u201d says Dr. Sufrinko. \u201cBut because we don\u2019t fully understand how they may affect a traumatic brain injury, it\u2019s important for your concussion expert to be aware of what and how much you\u2019re taking.\u201dShould You Self-Treat Your Headaches?Headaches are one of the most frequent symptoms of a concussion, occurring in people of all ages.\u201cThe type and severity of headaches vary widely among concussion patients,\u201d says Dr. Sufrinko. Two\u00ac supplements in particular \u2014 magnesium and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) \u2014 appear to help relieve chronic post-concussion headaches, and their use in humans is currently being studied. A pediatric trial also is underway on melatonin, best known for promoting sleep.Dr. Sufrinko urges great care when taking over-the-counter painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen for post-concussion headaches. These medicines can mask other problems and overuse can result in painful \u201crebound headaches.\u201d She advises patients to limit themselves to just three or four doses per week."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2018","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Concussion Care: Do Supplements and Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers Help \u2014 Or Hurt?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2018\/03\/supplements-pain-relievers\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]