What Fish Oil Is Recommended for Depression?

Got depression? Think fish. Fish oil is rising in popularity as an alternative to prescription medication for the treatment of depression.

Ingredients

• Fish oil supplements are made from the tissue oils of cold-water fish such as cod, salmon, mackerel and tuna. Some brands of fish oil supplements might include sardines, anchovies, herring, menhaden and sometimes the oil from shark liver.

Significance

• Prescription medications can be costly, especially to those without insurance. Prescription medications also can have terrible side effects. These factors cause some patients to seek other alternatives.

Benefits

• Studies show that fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids, which help to ease symptoms of depression such as mood swings. Fish oil also can be taken as a preventative to heart disease.

Treatments

• Fish oil can be used in the treatment of many depressive disorders such as bipolar, anger related depression, schizophrenia, anxiety induced stress and ADHD.

Side Effects

• The most common and very minor side effect of fish oil is the fishy after-taste. Experiment with different companies and try liquid-filled capsules or tablets. Fish oil also can cause heartburn, diarrhea, indigestion and nausea; taking fish oil supplements with a bit of food can help alleviate these effects.

Warning

• To get the proper dosage amount, check with your doctor. If you are taking any supplements or prescription medication, check with your doctor first to make sure there are no potential drug interactions.