Myomancy ADHD, Dyslexia and Autism

Fish Oil Side Effects

Omega-3 and Omega-6 fish oils have been promoted not only for dyslexia and ADHD but also heart disease,high blood pressure, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, bipolar disorder and cancer. In some cases there is good evidence to support fish oils as a treatment and in others the evidence is unclear. But what are the health risks of taking fish oils? Lots of producers of fish-oil capsules promote large dosages of supplements so are there any side effects from fish oils?

The US National Institute of Health classifies low intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fish as “Generally Regarded as Safe”. However they do highlight certain fish oil side effects that may trouble some people. The omega-3 in the fish oil may increase the risk of bleeding when taken in large doses. The bleeding can take the form of strokes, nosebleeds and blood in the urine. As the fish oils seem to decrease platelet aggregation, bleeding times may be longer.

A major worry with fish oils and the fish they are created from is poisoning from heavy metal and other pollutants. Mercury, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are found in some species of fish. However, mostly this fish oil side effect is associated with eating fish directly as the oil, even in contaminated fish, carries little of the pollutants.
Stomach upset are a common side effect of fish oil supplements. Diarrhea may also occur, with potentially severe diarrhea at very high doses. There are also reports of increased burping, acid reflux/heartburn/indigestion, abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain. Fishy aftertaste is a common effect. Gastrointestinal side effects can be minimized if fish oils are taken with meals and if doses are started low and gradually increased.

People with low blood pressure or those taking blood-pressure reducing medicines should take care. One of the reported side effects of fish oil is a reduction of blood pressure. The impact on blood pressure appears to be dose dependent.

Vitamin E plays a part in metabolizing omega acids so large doses of fish oil place high demands on the body’s vitamin E supply. To avoid this fish oil side effect, vitamin E is added to many commercial fish oil products. As a result, regular use of vitamin E-enriched products may lead to elevated levels of this fat-soluble vitamin. Fish liver oil contains the fat-soluble vitamins A and D, and therefore fish liver oil products (such as cod liver oil) may increase the risk of vitamin A or D toxicity.

One side effect of fish oils and their fatty acids is an increase low-density lipoprotein levels (”bad cholesterol”) by 5-10%. This is dependent on the dose used. The oils have also been noted to have an effect on blood glucose levels in people with Type 2 / Adult Onset Diabetes but this is short-term and no long-term effects have been reported.

Overall omega-3 and 6 rich fish oils have few side effects and can be considered safe the vast majority of the population.

Source: Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid from the NIH.
See also: The Omega-3 Diet, ALA to DHA: The Fish Oil Alphabet and The Incredible Brain: A Miner Recovered.

Comments on: Fish Oil Side Effects

  1. what about side effects on already-depleted fish stocks? Is there any evidence that fish oils are more beneficial than the same fatty acids from vegetarian sources?

  2. fish oil? wdf!!

  3. Krysta Anderson IS A FISHY!!!!!! HAHAH :) ILU

  4. Do you smell in other places if you take fish oil pills?

  5. If you take fish oil pills daily is there a max. dosage that you can have. Please email me with a resonse. Thanks

  6. does fish oil make your feet smell?

  7. having trouble with diarrhea, using 1000mg daily
    weight 120 pounds, height 5′5′, age 70

  8. I too have diarrhea. 3weeks now. My Cardiac Doctor increased my dose from 1000mg to 4000mg daily. Will these cramps and diarrehea go away. Someone suggested enteric coated pills. My wt155lb. 58yrs old.

  9. Was having anxiety and depression. I have never had either before. Saw side effects of anti-depressants on mom and did not want any part of that. Was told about Omega 3 fish oil. I feel great now. Like my old self again. I am a believer and people around me can tell a huge difference.

  10. I want to know more about fish oil.

  11. CAN COD LIVER OIL CAUSE MUSCLE ACHES ?

  12. My wife is taking 12,000 mg of omega 3 fish oil per day. She has bad diarrhea. Has anyone had similar experience? And did youy diarrhea cease when you lowered you intake? Please email me directly. Many, many Thanks, Bill Smith

    bvsmith@wichitaonline.net

  13. I took a fish oil pill which the only difference i can remember out of my regular outine. Over the next two days i felt my hands tight, my palms and under my finger tips just really tight. I only notices subtle goosebump like ….goosebumps…over the top of my hands and fingers right down to the finger tips. Now…my hands are peeling. Flaky and dry. When my hands are wet and moist the skin can be peelin goff as though I had gonew tanning. Could this be an allergic reaction? My feet are fine by the way. It’s just my hands. Anyone got some help?

  14. I started taking 2000 mg of fish oil daily for dry eyes. In conjunction to the fish oil I have been taking concerta, wellbutrin, & kolonopin for depression, anxiety, & adult ADHA (51 years old) for the past 5 years. Since I started taking the fish oil I have gained 15 pounds in 6 months. Has anyone else experience weight gain as a side affect?

  15. I started taking salmon oil abou 3 days ago and i was taking 2 pills close together a day for 3 days, i started feeling dizzy and sick to my stomech i also got a rassh on my kneck that caused pain and severe itching i am starting to get worried please email me back for answer.

  16. Since taking Fish oil i have had an EXTREMELY heavy period, is there a possibility that the two are linked?

  17. I am taking 2000 mg concentrated fish oils with omega 3 daily. I have developed a burning and itching feeling in my vagina. It is not a yeast infection. I have took medicine for that and it did not go away. could this be causing this?

  18. I suffer from IBS and take Mezalazine dailyas signs of Crohns disease also. I have recently started to take 1000mg of fish oil concentrate per day. I think my IBS has gone worse. Is it possible or could it be something else>

  19. Istarted taking fish oil about 3 weeks ago,taking only x1 pills a day, I started feeling dizzy, felt tightness of my hands,palms, under fingers with itchy like ants tinggling sensation. I was worried so I searched,think what was changed in my daily food or supplements in take,and it was only the fish oil daily intake was the added one.

    Most of these so-called “supplements” (which are quite expensive and marketing BTW) are totally worthless. If you eat a balanced diet (including real fish) you get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs.

    No one needs 7,000% of the daily recommended intake of Omega-3. Your kidneys will just piss out the 6,900% that you don’t need.

    I still do my regular workouts at least x3 times a week walking for 30mins-1hr no calorie counting nor beleive to marketing propagamda & selling.I loosed 10kg in doing routine mild exercise and eat balance daily foods needed of our body. I have to stick with my routine healthy habit.
    Hope this input will help those who had the same experienced with me. Take care and wish all of you a healthy and good year ahead.

  20. i have noticed my skin is glowing and weight loss by taking fish oil only my mood stays the same….. i still feel stoopid

  21. “No one needs 7,000% of the daily recommended intake of Omega-3. Your kidneys will just piss out the 6,900% that you don’t need.”

    If you’re pissing out omega-3 fatty acids, SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG, GO TO A DOCTOR! There should be no fat in urine, excess fats are stored in the body.
    —–
    And to anyone here who is worried that your omega-3 supplement is causing problems:

    Try switching to a capsule that contains fish oil from Alaskan waters (*these are less likely to contain contaminants like Mercury*)

    OR

    Eat more fish in your diet instead of taking the supplement. 2-3 servings of salmon per week will get you equivalent levels that come from the omega-3 capsules.

  22. Does fish oil cause temporary ED? Im taking this fish oil lately and it kinda affect my ‘performance’.

  23. will fish oil increase your blood pressure will it upset your stomach.

  24. I feel dizzy, should I start taking less? I take 1000 mg 3 times a day with meal…fish is icky unless it’s cooked right after you catch it. I can only tolerate it fresh. What to do?

  25. Fish is icky. I can only eat it freshly cooked. I take 1000 mg after each meal - I feel very dizzy and light-headed. Should I take less of it? What to do!

  26. started taking fish oil,after 5 days my mood became terrible.felt very depressed anyone had similar symptoms.

  27. I have taken Lamberts fish oil for 9 months it was great for my Rheumatoid but I felt quite hyper and had anxiety attacks and strange dreams whilst on it. I gave up 2 months ago because of this. All these symptoms are gone now. My Rheumatoid however has got worst. I tried Flaxseed for a couple of months but felt depressed despite RA symptoms getting better.Gave it up and felt better.

  28. since starting with 1200 mgs. of fish oil daily I’ve noticed I have very cold hands and feet..is there a connection to the fish oil or should I explore other explanations?

  29. I have been taking Omega 3 Fish Oil for about a month,I started feeling tired and sleepy all the time, The Omega # is the only thing differant I am taking. I’m a very active person and I don’t like feeling this way. I’m 81 years old and very independant, I still drive and do my own thing. So do you think the Omega # might be the cause of my feeling this way? thanks Jackie B

  30. I was hospitalized when I took just one cod liver oil pill. I did not know one could be allergic to it. I started vomiting within an hour of taking it. Then I started to bleed from the other end. I lost a lot of body fluids, and had to have them replaced at the hospital with an overnight stay! Will never take cod liver oil again. I learned a very expensive and dangerous lesson. It almost killed me. Take with caution!

  31. Deb-

    I have experience the same yeast-infection-like symptoms since taking fish oil. I have also developed a different smell in my vagina. I didn’t link the two till just today!

    I plan on stopping the supplement because of this.

  32. i stated gettin blotches and very itchcy

  33. Ohmygosh folks, what kinds of fish oil are you all taking? dizzyness?????

    One, if you get stomach aches from taking them, take them with food, and/or take the enteric-coated ones. The extra fat may be taxing on your gall bladder, don’t let it deal with it alone. 12,000 mg a day is 12 grams. That is a really HUGE dose. Large doses do thin the blood, so before taking omega oils, talk with your doctor first.

    Two, make sure you take a high-quality pharmaceutical grade formula. The higher EPA versions work better for mood/concentration according to the studies done, and can only be usually found online, as I live in a large town and have not found the best formulas in any store.

  34. I started taking this for 2 weeks now, I have noticed an odor in my vagina. Is this normal?

  35. how long will the will the side effect of blood in urine, or prolonged menstral flow, continue? I am currently taking 3000mg/day, per my physician.

  36. I have been diagnosed with I.T.P. low platelet count. I took 3000mg of fish oil per day, could that be responsible?

  37. I took one 600mg tablet a day for two days and wow….my feet started burning, my skin started itching my knees felt heavy…whats happening here… Anyone else had any muscle problems….help

  38. Does taking fish oil make you stink

  39. I started taking double-strength fish oil capsules as I have HTN, palpitations and CV disease runs in my family. I only took it for about a week and in the evening, my face would feel flushed and the palms of my hands would feel very warm. Is this a fish oil side effect?

  40. I started itching terrible a few months ago,I thought it was from a few new things I had switched to and then switched back to see if it was that(detergents,soaps)but still itched. then remembered I started the fish oil pills a few months ago ..does anyone else have the problem with itching from the pills?

  41. I took fish oil for a little more than a week, skipping days here and there. I took it with food as directed. Nausea and gastric discomfort began as mild and became worse every time I took a pill. On days I skipped I felt fine. Ended up at the Dr. today with sharp stomach pains, heartburn, a feeling of being very full (even though I hadnt been able to eat since lunch yesterday) and severe abdominal cramps. Took the last pill yesterday morning and still having cramps the next night, tho the sharp pains and most nausea are gone. Dr told me to stop taking the supplements “for a while.” Never taking this stuff again!!

  42. I have been experienceing abdominal pain after taking fish oil supplements. It started about 3 weeks ago. I had been taking the oil for about 4 months. I will stop immediately and see if that helps.

  43. Greetings.

    Lemme confirm it for ya - been mounted on the porcelain throne most of the time since starting 2000 mg a day for rheumatoid arthritis. I’m leaving the fish oil to the fishes. This just ain’t happenin…

  44. I take Walmart’s Spring Valley brand: “Fish, Flaxseed & Borage Oil” combination. It has omega 3, 6 & 9. Borage Oil has GLA in it, which is the only omega 6 that acts like an omega 3. I find the combination works far better at reducing inflammation then Fish Oil alone. It has also cleared up my skin as well as my teenage son’s skin. I think clearer and do not get as depressed. I was taking an antidepressant for awhile, but it was making me gain weight. Fish oil reduces the “bad” cholesterol, so it actually helps you lose weight. I quit taking the Fish/Borage Oil for awhile and my PMS increased, as well as the cramping associated with it. It will take 2 to 4 weeks of daily use to see any improvement in arthritis, depression, dry eye, acne…. etc. And it will take at least a week for it to leave your system. So don’t expect one pill to perform a miracle. (Although one pill may be enough to cause an adverse reaction if you are allergic to fish.) Walmart’s brand was rated high by Consumer Reports as far as being mercury free and having in it what it says it has. If you take it right before you go to bed, you will not taste the fishiness, and no, fish oil does not make you stink. Think of it as a “cleansing oil”… like the way goo-gone will clean oil based paint from a paint brush. Fish & Borage Oil will do the same for your blood, which will benefit your ENTIRE body. (NOTE: Those on blood thinners should not take any supplement that will further thin the blood. However, if your doctor recommends an aspirin a day… try Fish/Borage Oil first. Aspirin will deplete your body of important nutrients.)

  45. hi i just wanted to say i started taking omega 3 fish oil recently and am having wierd reactions to it. i only take one pill a day (1000 mcg) my stomach starts to hurt and i get diareah and i feel tired and fatigued so i have to lay down. i think im just going to stiuck to my multi vitamin and eliminate the fish oil. has this happened to anyone else?

  46. I have noticed my joints hurting since I started taking three, omega 3 fish oil pills daily, was wondering why this is?? If anyone can explain it would be great..?

  47. Started taking 3g fish oil per day starting Mar 21. No ramping up or anything. Was okay until Mar 28 and then suddenly, started feeling light-headed, forgetful, very anxious and dizzy at times. I zoned out a lot and had difficulty focusing or concentrating. Not much helped.

    I stopped taking the pills on April 6. (3 days now) but the symptoms are continuing and maybe getting worse. As if my blood pressure is low or something like that.

  48. I’ve been taking Spring Valley brand Omega Fish Oil with Enteric Coating for 3 weeks. It has 1200mg Fish Oil, 684mg Total Omega Fatty Acids, 410mg Omega-3 EPA & 274mg Omega-3 DHA. All it has done for me is cause severe diarrea, severe abdominal camps, nausea, heartburn, acid reflux and an increase in the amount of Maalox I take. On the other hand, it decreased my PMS. I’ve decided I can live with my PMS, but can’t stand a raw behind. TAKE @ YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!!!!!

  49. have had slight bleeding in the white of my eye and wonder if this could be an effect of fish oil.
    has anybody experienced this?

  50. I started taking Omega Fish Oil for dry eye, but noticed, burping and pain in the abdomen. Do not take it if you have acid reflux.

  51. i have been taking fishoil omega3 for three years , and i think they are great for my arthritis. sam age 72

  52. After taking 900 mg of fish oil for a couple of weeks, I began to have a light headed feeling bordering on dizziness. I also got sharp pain in the side of my head making me feel like I was going to have an aneurism or stroke. Could this be from my blood getting too thin from the fish oil? I am stopping the fish oil to see if the light headed feeling goes away.

  53. I am now realizing that this must be the cause of my weight gain. I went from 129 to 134 in a matter of two months on fish oil. I have INCREASED my exercise level from 3 times per week to 5 with one new day of weight training. I have not changed anything except for taking the fish oil. Frustrating!!!!!

  54. Response for Julie re: joint pain on taking fish oil. I have the same problem I believe. I am doing a series of my own tests to confirm this one way or the other. I found this hard to believe since my expectation was for “improved” joint peformance, not reduced! I am (was) taking about 2 capsules a day or 2000 mg. Not sure how this forum works or if you will see my response Julie but good luck.

  55. Fish Oil pills always made me get a yellow blotchy patch of skin somewhere on my body. Whenever I’d start taking a few pills, I’d get it. Whenever I’m not on fish oil pills, I don’t get this. It’s weird. I haven’t found out anything about it online. Anyone else notice this condition? It was always a small yellow patch, but very noticeable.

  56. I have been taking Nature’s Code Fish Oil(concentrate 1200mg) for approximately three weeks and I have been gaining alot of wait. I even go to the gym approximately 4 times a week and I am not losing any weight and I am gaining and I feel miserable. Please advise me what to do.

  57. I took Omega 3 Fish Oil purchased at a health food store for a couple of years. Then I purchased Spring Valley Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000 mg. I noticed that I often had stomach discomfort and felt slightly nauseated, but did not connect this with the Fish Oil. One day I had severe stomach pain and vomiting. Family took me to the emergency room. The cat scan showed blood around my kidneys. The doctor said he had only seen that in someone who had been in an accident. He also had no idea why I had big pink blotches of skin on my thighs, back and stomach. I felt better and insisted on going home. Decided not to take any more fish oil. Stomach is fine now and skin blotches have disappeared. I’ll avoid fish oil. Still paying for the hospital and doctor bills!

  58. Since I have been taking fish oil I have gone from 139 to 154 lbs while increasing exercise and limiting calories. Just now figuring out this must be the cause for weight gain.

  59. I just started taking Fish Oil
    I take 1200 mg and I have noticed that I start to get drowsy. Everyone around me takes this and they all say how benificial it is to them but I dont like it. It is almost instant that I start feeling tired.
    Any one know what I am talking about?

  60. I HAVE RA AND HIGH COLESTEROL SO MY DOCTOR TOLD ME TO TRY THESE FOR THE BLOOD DEAL, FIRST FEW DAYS I FELT LIKE I GOT HEALED THEN CAME A HEADACHE FROM HELL,HAD ME BARFING THAT NIGHT, SO I STOPPED FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS AND TOOK ANOTHER ONE THIS MORNING 1200 MG, BACK IS THE HEADACHE AND I ALSO HAVE BEEN ITCHING. I THINK ILL STOP AGAIN.

  61. My husband and I have been taking Omega-3 Fish oils and have been noticing we are both feeling dizzy, tired, and “spacey”. We researched and have found that is a common side affect. You can find more information on the side affects at www.webmd.com

  62. I’m petite and naturally skinny (yet have curves) and I started taking Fish Oil pills last Fall, around Sept I think-I noticed that my boobs felt bigger once I started taking them, but thought maybe it was in my head-

    Then I’ve noticed over the year my clothes are tighter and I look bloated, even though I’m an XS-S (0-2) things look different on me-I found this site and I swear now it’s the pills-

    Maybe taking with BCP it does something, not sure but I’m stopping for now and will just eat more fish and Omega 6-

  63. To the people that say they have gained weight when taking the fish oil (BUT THEY ALSO SAY THEY ARE EXERCISING), did you ever consider that when exercising and building muscle, you will gain weight as muscle weighs more than fat.

    Also, keep the fish oil in the refrigerator so it doesn’t become rancid. If fish oil becomes rancid it might cause some of the negative effects some people are seeing (sick feeling, burping, bad tastes).

    Just my humble opinion…

  64. I started taking fish oil 1200mgs 2x’s daily and developed a severe headache. I would take them in the early evening with food…I would wake up EVERY day with a migraine headache and the “spacey” feeling all day. This continued until I stopped taking them. (Diahrrea also).. within a couple of days, my energy level is back, headaches are GONE. I would have a headache MAYBE a few times a year…coincedence that I had one daily on fish oil?

  65. I too started to notice I had felt a bit spaced out and somewhat dizzy when I take fish oi. I got online to research side effects. It’s alarming, not feeling quite all together and wonder if this is because of the fish oil 1000mg. I’m taking nothing else. I am hypersensitive to meds, so start experimenting gradually. I had taken fish oil a few months ago because I was reading about all the benefits. I was feeling strange brain freezes so I took a break for a short time and everything seemed back to normal after I stopped. I started them again recently. Immediately the spaced out and dizzy feeling is back after 2 days. I will stop taking them. With all things we have to weigh the benefits.

  66. i’ve been taking fish oil for the past 4 months and ive experience the worst stomach cramps and heartburn. I’ve been to the doctor and they couldnt tell what it was but now i know that it could be the fish oil pills that i have been taking. Im going to stop taking them and see if that helps.

  67. With all natural supplements, there is an amount of time where one will experience a detox. Natural remedies are not like meds, which make you feel better right away. Natural supplements don’t “cover up” the ailment. The bad stuff in your body needs to come out before the body can heal. This time varies with each individual. I’ve been on fish oil for a little over 3 months and I’ve been going through a detox as well, but see the benefits of continuing to take this supplement. My little annoying grays that were growing in at an alarming pace, are now gone and my natural hair color is back, the breakage is growing out healthy, strong, shiny hair, my skin is also peeling, but new healthy pink skin is right underneath. It’s a process. It’s not for the weak or the impatient. One must have the patience to endure in order to reap the benefits later.

  68. Im So Taking This Huge Bottle Back lol
    I Was Trying To Avoid High Blood Pressure Meds.
    Also Id Like To Add The Person Directly Above Me Is Dumb Seriously DETOX?

  69. Addressed to “Me”: Yes, DETOX. Call me dumb all you like. Maybe if you took the time to EDUCATE yourself, you’d find that “detoxification” is only a foreign concept to your little mind and you will actually LEARN something that can benefit your health. Sadly, your brain is probably at its capacity.

  70. This is for Beverly, who back in March wondered if taking Fish Oil Supplements had anything to do with being diagnosed with ITP. I just wanted her to know that about 7 years ago, I was taking high doses of fish oil and vitamin E and was also diagnosed with ITP. Makes you wonder if the Fish Oil Supplements caused it.

  71. My doc mentioned fish oil as a good way to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, so I took his advise and tried it……..boy was I sorry…..at approximately 4 days of taking 2000 mg I noticed that my hands had a tightness feeling and that every bone in it felt achy like arthritis….I thought that had maybe been as a result of moping, and wringing it out the day before, but then other weird things started happening such as: stomach cramps, diarrhea and a feeling of bloating, but it did not stop then…after taking these fish oil capsules religeously for seven days, WITH FOOD, I noticed more bloating/gas and lots of mucus in my stool - along with diarrhea and terrible stomach cramps (sounds like IBS, but Inever had these trend of symptoms prior to taking these pills. Now, I am a person who will try some things once,maybe twice, but you have got to be kidding me!!!! You’re better off eating at Red Lobster or raising your own Tilapia……..
    In conclusion, I’ll stick with REAL FISH, not some man-made sh*t.

  72. Hi, been reading about side effects of fish oil as have been feeling quite ill and had lots of tests and now booked in for a colonoscopy to see if i have bowel cancer, diverticulitis, irritable bowel syndrome or polyps. Lots of bloating, had to let my pj’s and slacks out, lots of pain and stomach cramps. My naturopath put me on 4,000 mg as an antiflammatory and I was fine before that. Think I will delay the hospital stay and change my diet to let my body recuperate, plus save myself the expense of about $1,000.00
    You are my saviour

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