Omega-3 fatty acids contain highly purified omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is a lipid-lowering agent that belongs to a group called reducers of cholesterol and triglycerides. FDA approved the tablet initially in 2004 for its medical use.

It is used together with lifestyle changes such as diet to reduce the amount of triglycerides (fat-like substances) in the blood in people with very high triglyceride levels. It works by decreasing the amount of triglycerides and other fats made in the liver.  

Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of omega-3 fatty acids based on your condition and other factors. Always take this medicine as prescribed by your doctor. Take the capsule at the same time, immediately after food. Do not break, chew, crush, or break the capsules. Swallow the whole capsules with water. Take the capsules at mealtime to help reduce gastrointestinal side effects. 

The common side effects of omega-3 fatty acids are burping, indigestion, and altered taste sensation.

Do not take omega-3 fatty acids if you are allergic to the active substances or any other ingredients of this medicine. This medicine contains soya oil; if you are allergic to peanuts or soya, do not use this medicine. This medicine should be used cautiously in patients with known fish or shellfish allergies.

Inform your physician if you are going to have or had surgery recently, had trauma recently, have kidney problems, diabetes, liver diseases, or are allergic to fish. Inform your physician if you are pregnant or breastfeeding before initiating the treatment. This medicine may increase the frequency of heart rhythm problems in people who have heart problems.

Inform your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, nutritional and vitamin supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications interact with omega-3 fatty acids and reduce their effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects

Store the omega-3 fatty acids above 25°C. Protect the medicine from light and excessive moisture. Do not freeze. Keep the medicine out of reach of children and pets. If you missed a dose, take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. This medicine is not recommended for children. If you accidentally take more of this medicine than you should, do not worry, as this is unlikely to need special treatment. However, you should contact your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

1. BASF AS, Electronic medicines compendium (emc), [ Revised on July 2019] [ Accessed on 12th June 2023], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.1706.pdf
2. GlaxoSmithKline, US.FDA, [ Revised on April 2019] [ Accessed on 12th June 2023]https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/021654s043lbl.pdf
3. Krupa K, Fritz K, Parmar M. Omega-3 Fatty Acids. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing  [ Revised on Jan 2023] [ Accessed on 12th June 2023] Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564314/

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice. It is meant for educational purposes only. For further details, consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you can receive this treatment.