Fish Oil

Fish Oil suggested uses include treatment for bipolar disorder, coronary heart disease, dysmenorrhea, hyperlipidemia, HTN, hypertriglyceridemia, Raynaud's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke prevention, to decrease risk of prostate cancer (dietary fish), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and other chronic inflammatory conditions.

Fish Oil is available under the following different brand and other names: DHA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), EPA (fish oils), fish oils, marine oils, menhaden oil, N3 fatty acids, omega 3 PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA, W3 fatty acids, and shark liver oil.

Suggested Dosing

Bipolar Disorder, Adjunct Treatment

• 6.2 g EPA/3.4 g DHA orally daily

Cyclosporine Nephrotoxicity

• 12 g orally daily

Dysmenorrhea

• 1080 mg EPA/720 mg DHA orally daily

Hypercholesterolemia

• 4 g orally daily

Hypertension

• 4 g orally daily

Hypertriglyceridemia

• 1-4 g orally daily
• See also Omacor

Post Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

• 4 g orally daily

Post Heart Attack (myocardial infarction [MI])

• 0.85-1.08 g EPA orally daily

Raynaud's Syndrome

• 3.96 g EPA/2.64 g DHA orally daily

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• 3.8 g EPA/2 g DHA orally daily

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows:

See "Suggested Dosing"

Side effects of Fish Oil include:

• Bleeding
• Bad breath (halitosis)
• Heartburn
• Hemorrhagic stroke
• Immunosuppression
• Increased LDL (“bad”) cholesterol
• Nausea
• Weight gain

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Fish Oil has no known severe or serious interactions with other drugs.
• Fish Oil has moderate interactions with at least 26 different drugs.
• Fish Oil has no known mild interactions with other drugs.

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Warnings

• This medication contains fish oil. Do not take DHA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), EPA (fish oils), fish oils, marine oils, menhaden oil, N3 fatty acids, omega 3 PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA, W3 fatty acids, or shark liver oil if you are allergic to fish oil or any ingredients contained in this drug.
• Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.

Contraindications

• Diabetes, immunodeficiency

Effects of Drug Abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Fish Oil?"

Long-Term Effects

• See "What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Fish Oil?"

Cautions

• Aspirin sensitivity, bipolar disorder, bleeding disorders, cirrhosis, concurrent antihypertensives, familial adenomatous polyposis, major depressive disorders

Pregnancy and Lactation

• There is no information available about use of fish oil during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Consult your doctor.