Over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen speed up the recovery from concussion, according to a new study.

Concussion injury patients who took the pain reliever pills recovered 20% faster than those who did not take them, said scientists from the University of Washington in Seattle.

“These results are exciting as there are limited treatment options for concussion, and over-the-counter pain relievers are readily available and inexpensive,” said study author Dr. Kyle Arnold.