Omega-3: side effects and precautions for use

Precautions

Dietary supplements should be taken only under medical supervision.

The active ingredients they contain have possible side effects and may interact with some medications. In particular, omega-3 fatty acids should be used with caution by those taking blood thinners.

In fact, combining these drugs with excessive amounts of Omega-3 can increase prothrombin time, a parameter that measures the effectiveness of the clotting process and which increases the more inefficient the latter is.

Possible interactions

Omega-3 fatty acid supplements should not be taken without first consulting your medical professional, especially if you are taking some of the following medications.

Blood-thinning drugs

Omega-3 fatty acids can potentiate the effects of blood-thinning drugs, such as aspirin or warfarin. 

The combination of aspirin and Omega-3 may be useful in the treatment of certain disorders, such as heart disease. However, simultaneous administration of these two molecules should be done only under the advice and supervision of a physician.

Cyclosporine

Taking omega-3 fatty acids during cyclosporine therapy may reduce some toxic side effects that may be manifested by those transplant patients, such as high blood pressure and possible kidney damage.

Etretinate and topical steroids

Symptoms of psoriasis can be improved by the addition of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA, to topical etretinate and corticosteroid therapy.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs

According to some nutritional guidelines, the effectiveness of statins (a group of drugs used to lower cholesterol, e.g., atorvastatin, lovastatin, and simvastatin) can be improved by increasing the amount of omega-3 fatty acids introduced into the diet, thus reducing the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

Research in animals has shown that taking omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of ulcers from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (so-called NSAIDs).

However, more studies are needed to determine whether Omega-3 has the same protective effects in humans.