Fish Oil

What are other names for this remedy?

Type of medicine: natural remedy

Scientific and common names: omega-3 fatty acids, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), PUFA, marine oil, fish liver oil

What is fish oil ?

The omega-3 fatty acids are found in cold-water fish. Best sources include cod, tuna, salmon, halibut, shark, and mackerel. Herring, bluefish, shrimp, flounder, and swordfish also provide good amounts of these fatty acids. Fish oils can be obtained from eating fresh fish or by taking supplements.

What is it used for?

Fish oil has been used to treat:

• attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Alzheimer's disease
• cancer
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• depression
• diabetes
• eczema (itchy, scaly skin problems)
• heart disease, including irregular heartbeat and atherosclerosis
• high blood pressure
• high triglycerides
• inflammatory bowel disease
• lupus
• osteoporosis
• painful menstrual periods
• psoriasis
• Raynaud's disease
• rheumatoid arthritis
• ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve uses for natural remedies. The FDA does not inspect or regulate natural remedies the way they do prescription medicines.

How is it taken?

Fish oil comes in the form of capsules taken by mouth. Check the label on the package for the specific dose. Take the capsules with meals to help decease side effects.

What if I overdose?

Symptoms of an acute overdose have not been reported.

What should I watch out for?

Do not take fish oil without your healthcare provider's approval if you have:

• AIDS or HIV
• an allergy to fish or seafood
• aspirin-sensitive asthma
• bipolar disorder
• diabetes
• high blood pressure
• liver disease

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this remedy. High doses of fish oil may increase your risk of bleeding.

Females of childbearing age: If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not take large doses of this remedy without your healthcare provider's approval.

Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any natural remedy that you are using or thinking about using. If your provider does not tell you how to take it, follow the directions that come with the package. Do not take more or take it longer than recommended. Ask about anything you do not understand. Remember:

• Natural remedies are not always safe.
• You should not take them if you are pregnant or breast-feeding without your healthcare provider's approval. They should not be taken by infants, children, or older adults without your provider's approval.
• They affect your body and may interact with prescription medicines that you take.
• Natural remedies are not standardized and may have different strengths and effects. They may be contaminated.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its desirable effects, this remedy may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the remedy. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Unusual bruising or bleeding.

Other: Stomach pain, heartburn, nausea, loose stools, bad breath.

What products might interact with this remedy?

When you take this remedy with other medicines, it can change the way the remedy or the medicines work. Vitamins and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Before taking this remedy, talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), and ramipril (Altace)
• alpha blockers such as prazosin (Minipress) and doxazosin (Cardura)
• angiotensin receptor II blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
• medicine that reduces the chance of blood clots forming such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), ticlopidine (Ticlid), enoxaparin (Lovenox), dalteparin (Fragmin), dipyridamole (Persantine), and heparin
• beta blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), pindolol, metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), and propranolol (Inderal)
• birth control pills and hormone therapy such as estrogen (Premarin, Prempro, Cenestin) or estradiol (Alora, Estrace)
• calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
• cholesterol-lowering medicines such as gemfibrozil (Lopid) and fenofibrate (TriCor)
• diuretics (water pills) such as chlorothiazide (Diuril), chlorthalidone (Thalitone), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, HCTZ, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), torsemide (Demadex), bumetanide (Bumex), and metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
• natural remedies such as angelica, anise, arnica, capsicum, celery, chamomile, fenugreek, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, panax ginseng, horse chestnut, horseradish, licorice, papain, passionflower, red clover, turmeric, and willow
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil, Nuprin), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), ketoprofen (Oruvail), nabumetone (Relafen), indomethacin (Indocin), ketorolac (Toradol), sulindac (Clinoril), piroxicam (Feldene), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), and oxaprozin (Daypro)
• orlistat (Xenical, alli) (take at least 2 hours before or after this medicine)
• other blood pressure medicines such as clonidine (Catapres), methyldopa (Aldomet), minoxidil (Loniten), and hydralazine (Apresoline)
• vitamin E

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

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Keep all natural remedies and medicines out of the reach of children.

This advisory includes select information only. The information was obtained from scientific journals, study reports, and other documents. The author and publisher make no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the information. The advisory may not include all side effects associated with a remedy or interactions with other medicines. Nothing herein shall constitute a recommendation for the use of any remedy. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information.

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