Side Effects of Omega-3 Fish Oil Tablets

Omega-3 fish oil pills promote heart health, memory and concentration and improve general physical health. While Omega-3 is very beneficial, too much of a good thing can be bad.

Considerations

• As of 2009, there is no FDA-recommended appropriate daily dose of fish oil tablets. The FDA does caution people not to consume more than 3,000 mg of fish oil per day.

Pills

• Each brand of Omega-3 fish oil will have a different amount of Omega-3 in its capsules. High-quality fish oils will be safest and offer the fewest side effects, so find a brand that uses mercury-free fish and avoid cheap brands that say "marine lipids" on their label.

Blood Side Effects

• Taking too much Omega-3 can have adverse side effects for people with low blood pressure, since the fish oil acts as a blood thinner. Too much Omega-3 can also inhibit the body's natural blood clotting ability and cause nosebleeds, strokes or bloody urine.

Gastrointestinal Side Effects

• Some users report upset stomachs and fishy tasting burps when using Omega-3. These may be linked to dosage levels. All users should begin with one tablet of Omega-3 fish oil per day and increase if needed.

Allergens

• Individuals with fish allergies should avoid Omega-3 tablets in the form of fish oil since they may experience allergic reactions. There are vegetarian Omega-3 tablets that will be safe for these individuals.