Get Informed: Omega 3
Active Ingredient(s)
Omega 3
What does it do?
This product is a nutrional supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids are believed to reduce the risk of heart disease and other health problems.
- Last Text Update:
- 2010-Jul-31 5:00 PM
- Last Data Update:
- 2010-Jul-30 9:13 PM
Other Names
- Fish Oil
- Omega 3
- Omega 3 Fish Oil
- Omega 3-6-9
- Omega 3 Fish
- Omega-EFA
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category
- C
- Black Box Warning:
- No
Facts & Figures
- Est US Patients*
- 6,773,000
- Generic Available
- Yes
- OTC Available
- Yes
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Omega 3 or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Omega 3
There have been no iGuard.org alerts regarding Omega 3 during the past year.
Omega 3 Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
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What is Omega 3 used for?
iGuard is currently tracking more than 50,100 patients that use Omega 3 (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Disease/Stroke Prevention | 51% |
mild
severe
|
| High Cholesterol | 46% |
mild
severe
|
| Dietary Supplement | 39% |
mild
severe
|
| High Triglycerides | 20% |
mild
severe
|
| Skin Health | 11% |
mild
severe
|
| Menopausal Symptoms | 5% |
mild
severe
|
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 3% |
mild
severe
|
| Memory Problems/Dementia | 2% |
mild
severe
|
| Dry Eyes | 2% |
mild
severe
|
| Other | 5% |
mild
severe
|
How well does Omega 3 work?
iGuard regularly polls our more than 50,100 users taking Omega 3 (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 89%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Omega 3 outweigh the bad things.
- 7%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Omega 3.
Common Side Effects of Omega 3
iGuard regularly polls our more than 50,100 users taking Omega 3 (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
11% of patients experience side-effects on Omega 3
< 1% of patients experience significant side-effects on Omega 3
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Bad Breath
-
Abdo Pain/Cramps
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Altered Taste/Smell, Bloating/Gas, Diarrhea, Heartburn/Reflux, Itch/Rash
Global Patient Feedback for Omega 3 ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
Dear i guard whydoes omega 3 fish oil worsen my heart failure?
75 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-17 00:15:53
Question/Comment:
Been taking fish oil a long time. Honestly, don't know if it does anything. Can any user out there document concretely effectiveness for them or point to science-based studies proving its efficacy? All of us are spending lots of money on things like Fish Oil, Multivitamins, & all I can find in reputable studies and literature is that there is NO proven value.
Jarring is that at least 20% of what is prescribed is for placebo effect (does nothing for us except psychologically).
54 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-19 15:57:16
iGuard Answer/Reply:
The prescription Lovaza is a fish oil, and it is prescribed for high triglycerides. It is approved by the FDA to treat that issue. In order to be approved by the FDA, the drug company must provide data that shows that the medication is safe and effective. Studies do show that Lovasa decreases triglycerides significantly, and these are published in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Posted: 2010-05-05 11:49:40
Answer/Reply:
Don't believe everything the FDA claims,don't forget there backing high profit drug companies.
62 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-06-18 19:00:08
Answer/Reply:
I have had luck with fish oil. I have an optic nerve problem causing them to die off. So far I have lost 66% of my optic nerves. After several years of worsening test results, I started to take fish oil. I have had no further loss since taking 1000mg daily. With no other changes to my habits or medications, I credit the fish oil.
34 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-07-27 23:40:09
Question/Comment:
I have end-stage renal failure, as well as fibromyalgia. Additionally, because of medical negligence I had 3 open heart surgeries last year and have been on blood thinners [4mg/day].
Is it safe to take Fish Oil with the blood thinner ?
Thank you.
Kim
47 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-12 20:52:10
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Omega 3 Acid, which is present in many fish oil formulations, can increase bleeding issues. It would be best to avoid the combination, unless your doctor wants you to take both. If you take both, your doctor may need to monitor your blood work more frequently to measure your clotting ability.
Posted: 2010-04-13 23:05:16
Question/Comment:
My husband read an article saying that a lab did a random test of a large number of fish oil brands and found most of them had unacceptable levels of mercury and pba's. He said I should stop taking them. Has anyone else heard this? Wish I knew what article he was talking about.
40 year old Female – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-10 09:56:31
Answer/Reply:
I take an Omega 3 fish oil pill and on the label it indicates, "Purified to remove Mercury, PCB's and Dioxines."
If you check the labels you should be able to find one easily.
63 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-11 12:29:00
iGuard Answer/Reply:
Fish oil supplements may contain trace amounts of mercury. Most of the mercury that may have been in the actual fish is thought to be eliminated during the process to remove the fish smell. However, most of the fish oil supplements available over-the-counter are not very concentrated, and the less Omega-3 fatty acids they contain, the more contaminants, such as mercury they may contain. It is best to pick a fish oil supplement that is high in Omega-3 fatty acids. You could also speak with your physician about Lovasa, a prescription fish oil supplements that is highly concentrated.
Posted: 2010-05-02 01:52:14
Question/Comment:
Can fish oil increase uric acid levels and contribute to Gout? Before I begin using the stuff would like to have any feedback regarding this matter...Jim, Columbus, OH
59 year old Male – Source: iGuard United States
Posted: 2010-04-02 17:37:30
iGuard Answer/Reply:
It is not likely that fish oil would contribute to increased uric acid levels. It should not have any effect on gout. There are other factors that can cause gout to flare up, such as beer and red meat.
Posted: 2010-04-03 23:35:05
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
212
Patient Comments About
Omega 3