FDA Warns consumers to be wary of supplements claiming to treat concussions

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers to be wary of supplements that claim to treat concussions and traumatic brain injuries (tbi). With the rise of awareness about concussions and brain injuries, some companies are offering unproven and untested products to consumers claiming to prevent, treat, or cure concussions.

The FDA is currently monitoring the marketplace and is also warning consumers to avoid dietary supplements that claim to treat, prevent, or cure concussions as the claims are not backed with scientific evidence that the products are safe or effective for such purposes.

A common claim made is that using a certain dietary supplement will promote faster healing after a concussion or other TBI. The FDA is concerned that even if the supplement doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients, the claim can be dangerous as it can lead to a false sense of recovery-causing injured individuals to return to activities before they are really ready.

According to the FDA, a concussion “is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head, or by a violent shaking of the head and upper body. Concussions and other TBIs are serious medical conditions that require proper diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring by a health care professional.”

Recent studies and a growing body of scientific knowledge indicates that if concussion victims return to strenuous activity too soon, the individual is at an increased risk of having an additional concussion. In addition, the repeat concussion can have consequences that can be devastating such as brain swelling and permanent brain damage.