AAN: Over-the-Counter Pain Relivers Tied to Fewer Concussion Symptoms
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 17, 2025 -- People who take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers after a concussion may recover faster than those who do not, according to a study scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, to be held from April 5 to 9 in San Diego.
Kyle Arnold, M.D., from the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues evaluated the effect of OTC analgesics on clinical outcomes after concussion. Analysis included 813 college athletes and military cadets who had concussions and took over-the-counter pain relievers (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) and 848 who did not take any pain relievers.
The researchers found that compared to those who did not take pain relievers, people who took the pain relievers were 20 percent more likely to have a faster time before they were cleared to return to activities with no restrictions. On average, those who took the medications were cleared at 50 percent recovery two days faster, and at 90 percent recovery seven days faster versus those who took no medication. Participants who took pain relievers were 15 percent more likely to return to having no symptoms more quickly, compared to those who did not take pain relievers. Lastly, those who started using OTC pain relievers on the first day of their injury returned to play and had resolution of symptoms at 50 percent recovery eight days faster than those who started taking pain relievers after five or more days.
"These preliminary results may help inform potential treatment options for people recovering from concussions, but additional studies are needed to provide more definitive recommendations," Arnold said in a statement.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted March 2025
Read this next
ADHD May Delay Recovery After Sport-Related Concussion
TUESDAY, May 6, 2025 -- For high school athletes, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) status, female sex, and younger age are potential risk factors for prolonged...
Disparities Seen in Older Adults' Access to Rehab After Hospitalization for TBI
TUESDAY, March 18, 2025 -- Disparities exist in access to rehabilitation following community discharge for traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older adults based on contextual-level...
Persistent Postconcussion Changes Seen in Cerebral Blood Flow
THURSDAY, March 13, 2025 -- For athletes with concussion, persistent postconcussion changes are seen in cerebral blood flow (CBF) and white matter at return-to-play (RTP) and up...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.