Fish Oil Pill Dangers

Fish oil supplements contain omega-3 fatty acids that lower the risk of death, heart attack, abnormal heart rhythms and strokes in patients that have been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease, according to the Mayo Clinic. While fish oil pills can benefit your health, they also can cause potentially dangerous side effects.

Drug Interactions

• Perhaps the most dangerous side effect of taking fish oil pills is a drug interaction. Because fish oil thins your blood, it could potentially cause excessive bleeding or an unsafe drop in your blood pressure when taken in combination with certain medications. If you take aspirin, blood pressure medication or any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen), consult with your healthcare provider before taking fish oil pills.

Toxins

• Because high levels mercury and other toxins have been reported in fresh fish, there is a very small chance that fish oil pills may contains some of these toxins. The symptoms of mercury poisoning include numbness in your hands, feet or around the mouth; impaired coordination; problems speaking, hearing and using your peripheral vision; weak muscles; rashes; sudden changes in your mood; and memory problems. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of mercury you have ingested and how your body reacts to the mercury.

Other Side Effects

• Occasionally, fish oil supplements can cause diarrhea, heartburn, nausea and stomach discomfort. You may also experience nosebleeds and be prone to bruising. Generally people only suffer from these side effects when they take large amounts of fish oil on a daily basis. If any of these side effects last for a prolonged period of time, consult your healthcare provider.

  The most common side effect of fish oil pills is the fishy burp, a lingering fishy taste in the mouth after swallowing a fish oil pill. Rancid oil in the capsules causes these fishy burps. While unpleasant, they are not harmful.