- Omega-3 supplements are popular for promoting heart and brain health.
- But they can interact with blood pressure medications, anticoagulants, aspirin and ibuprofen.
- If you take omega-3s, speak to your health care provider about potential drug interactions.
If you find it difficult to eat two to three servings of fatty fish like salmon, sardines or mackerel each week, you may turn to omega-3 supplements. Considering that few of us consume enough DHA and EPA to begin with, these supplements are a convenient way to get the long-chain omega-3 fats our bodies need. However, taking omega-3 supplements isn’t risk-free, especially if you take certain prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Of course, we’re not suggesting you stop taking your omega-3 supplement or your medications! Omega-3s are nutritional rock stars. “Omega-3s are essential fats that act like multitaskers for your health, supporting everything from circulation to brain function,” says Erica Park, M.D., M.B.A., FAAPMR. “Research shows omega-3s can help lower triglycerides, support healthy blood pressure, reduce inflammation and even benefit mood and brain function.”
One of the ways they are believed to do this is by favorably impacting blood clotting or bringing about beneficial changes in our blood vessel linings. However, certain medications may alter or compound these effects, which could be dangerous. So, if you do take omega-3 supplements, it’s critical to know which medications they may interact with.
Whether you’re already taking omega-3s or just thinking about it, here are four common medications that can interact with your supplement.
1. Anticoagulants
Medications like warfarin (Coumadin), Eliquis and Xarelto reduce the risk of blood clotting by thinning the blood. Since omega-3 fatty acids have a natural blood-thinning effect, taking the two together may increase the effect of blood thinning, leading to excess blood loss, especially from injury or surgery, explains Jennifer Hanes, M.S., RDN, LD.
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Dietary Supplements agrees. They recommend that anyone taking blood thinners speak with their health care provider before taking high doses of omega-3 supplements.
2. Blood Pressure Medications
Depending on the dose, taking omega-3 supplements along with blood pressure medications could cause your blood pressure to drop too low. Joseph Mercola, D.O., a board-certified family medicine physician, explains that doses of 2,000 to 3,000 milligrams of omega-3s daily can modestly lower blood pressure. “So, combined effects may require dose adjustments,” he says.
How does it happen? Omega-3 fatty acids help lower blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels. While this effect is often desirable, it could cause an unusually large drop in blood pressure for anyone already taking blood pressure-lowering medications. These include ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers or any drug with blood pressure-reducing effects, such as diuretics.
3. Aspirin
“Aspirin is commonly used to reduce pain and inflammation, and at lower doses, to protect against heart attack or stroke,” explains Park. For instance, daily low-dose aspirin has been shown to reduce platelet aggregation, minimizing the formation of blood clots. So, it is often prescribed as a primary preventive measure to protect against heart attacks and strokes.
Because aspirin is a blood thinner, regularly taking aspirin and omega-3 supplements together could come with a higher bleeding risk for some people, especially at high doses. However, research is mixed. For instance, findings from the Framingham Heart Study suggest that differences in individual blood omega-3 levels may influence how aspirin affects cardiovascular risk, with both potential benefits and potential risks. This highlights the importance of considering your personal health risks and always checking with your health care provider before starting any supplement.
4. Ibuprofen
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like naproxen, are many people’s go-to pain relievers. However, heavy or long-term NSAID use can increase bleeding risk by interfering with the body’s natural blood clotting mechanisms. While NSAIDs can increase bleeding risk anywhere in the body, they are especially likely to wreak havoc on the gastrointestinal system by inhibiting clot formation and disrupting the gut mucosal barrier. This can result in ulcers or bleeding of the esophagus, intestine or stomach.
Even though omega-3s on their own won’t cause this kind of damage, combining high doses of omega-3s with NSAIDS could spell trouble. If you take an omega-3 supplement and frequently use NSAIDS, have a talk with your health care provider to make sure this combo is safe for you.
Our Expert Take
Omega-3 supplements can support heart and brain health and may help reduce inflammation. So, they can be valuable additions to your health care routine, especially if you don’t eat fatty fish regularly. As beneficial as omega-3s are, they can interact with several over-the-counter and prescription medications. Health professionals say that omega-3 supplements may interact with anticoagulants, blood pressure medications, aspirin and ibuprofen. However, that doesn’t mean you have to stop taking your omega-3 supplement. And definitely, don’t stop taking any prescribed medications! Instead, speak with your health care provider. They can help you determine if it’s possible to safely continue taking omega-3 supplements with your medication, or if there’s a different regimen that could be a safer alternative for you.
