What I Use: My Current TBI Recovery Supplement Stack
I’m often asked through Project TBI: What are you actually taking?
So, here it is.
This isn't a protocol. It isn't medical advice. And I'm definitely not suggesting that somebody with a brain injury should run out and take everything on this page.
This is simply a running list of some of the things that have become part of my own routine as I've tried to manage cognitive fatigue, sleep, headaches, tinnitus, energy, recovery, and the general weirdness that comes with living with a brain that doesn't always operate the same way from one day to the next.
I've tried a lot of things since my injury. Some stayed. Some disappeared pretty quickly. These are some of the products currently in the rotation.
Cacao
Cacao has become one of the more interesting additions to my routine.
I originally approached it as an alternative to hammering myself with caffeine. What I found, at least for me, was that cacao seemed to provide a steadier experience without the same kind of spike-and-crash feeling I can get from coffee.
What I use: Cacao
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin, 400 mg
Riboflavin, or Vitamin B2, is one of the supplements that has been discussed in connection with migraine and headache management.
Because headaches have been part of my post-injury experience, B2 eventually became part of the routine I experimented with.
What I use: Vitamin B2 / Riboflavin — 400 mg
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
Magnesium Glycinate
Magnesium has probably become one of the more consistent parts of my routine.
I use magnesium glycinate, particularly with sleep and relaxation in mind. As with everything on this page, I'm paying attention to how I actually feel rather than assuming that because something is a supplement it must automatically be helping.
What I use: Magnesium Glycinate — 400 mg per serving
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
Nite Nite Sleep Patches
Sleep after brain injury can be strange.
Sometimes I'm physically exhausted but my brain doesn't seem interested in shutting down. Other times cognitive exhaustion hits me like somebody pulled the plug out of the wall.
These patches are another tool I've experimented with as part of managing sleep.
What I use: The Good Patch Nite Nite Hemp Melatonin Sleep Patches
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
Turmeric with Black Pepper & Ginger
Turmeric is another supplement that made its way into my routine.
The product I use combines turmeric/curcumin with black pepper and ginger.
What I use: Turmeric with Black Pepper & Ginger
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
CoQ10
Coenzyme Q10 — usually just called CoQ10 — is another supplement I've added along the way.
Again, I'm not claiming that CoQ10 treats TBI. That's an important distinction.
I'm documenting what I'm personally using and giving other people a starting point for their own research and, preferably, a conversation with their physician.
What I use: CoQ10 — 100 mg softgels
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
L-Theanine
L-Theanine is another part of my current experimentation with finding that elusive middle ground between being alert enough to function and overstimulated enough to pay for it later.
Anyone living with cognitive fatigue probably understands that distinction.
More energy isn't necessarily the goal.
Sustainable energy is.
What I use: L-Theanine — 200 mg
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
Omega-3 Fish Oil
Omega-3s have probably received more attention in discussions surrounding brain health than almost anything else on this list.
The product I'm currently using is a wild-caught fish oil containing EPA and DHA.
What I use: Amazon Elements Super Omega-3 Fish Oil
Where I get it:
View on Amazon
The Bigger Point
I want to be careful about what this page is — and what it isn't.
After a brain injury, it's incredibly tempting to search for the thing.
The vitamin. The medication. The diet. The therapy. The supplement. The device.
Something that will finally flip the switch back.
I haven't found that thing.
What I've found instead is that recovery seems to be an accumulation of relatively small things: sleep, hydration, nutrition, exercise when I can tolerate it, scheduled rest, managing stimulation, learning my limits, and experimenting carefully with things that might help.
Some of these products may ultimately prove useful for me. Some may eventually disappear from my routine.
That's part of why I'm documenting it.
Project TBI isn't about pretending I've figured this out. It's about documenting what happens while I try.
Important Medical Disclaimer
I am not a physician, and Project TBI does not provide medical advice. This page describes my personal experience and the products I personally use or have experimented with.
Supplements can cause side effects and may interact with medications or medical conditions. Dosages that are appropriate for one person may be inappropriate or unsafe for another. Talk with your physician, neurologist, pharmacist, or other qualified healthcare professional before starting or changing supplements, particularly after a traumatic brain injury.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the links on this page may be affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links, Project TBI may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate relationships do not determine what I choose to write about or use.