Heart doctors warn against combining fish oil with blood pressure medications

2026-07-04T22:20:00.119Z

Heart doctors warned against taking fish oil supplements (omega-3) simultaneously with blood pressure medications without prior medical consultation, stressing that this interaction may cause excessive drop in blood pressure or increase bleeding risk in some patients, especially when using high doses or low-quality products.

Heart doctors warned against taking fish oil supplements (omega-3) with blood pressure medications without consulting the treating physician, explaining that the supplement, despite its reputation for potential heart benefits, may interact with prescribed medications and cause excessive drop in blood pressure or increase bleeding risk in some patients.

According to a report on the health website 'Parade', experts explained that dietary supplements are not subject to the same strict regulations as medications, which makes their concentrations and quality vary among manufacturers, potentially affecting the safety of their use with drug treatments.

4 potential risks

Cardiologists pointed out that the most prominent risks are as follows:

1- Increased bleeding risk: Fish oil has a mild blood-thinning effect, and bleeding likelihood may increase when taking high doses, especially from high-concentration EPA supplements.

2- Excessive blood pressure drop: Fish oil relaxes blood vessels, and when combined with antihypertensive drugs, blood pressure may drop to levels causing dizziness or fainting in some patients.

3- Excessive dosing: Doctors warned against the belief that 'a larger dose means greater benefit,' stressing that some patients consume high amounts of omega-3 supplements without informing their physicians, raising the likelihood of drug interactions and side effects.

4- Supplement oxidation: Some fish oil products may undergo oxidation due to light, heat, or air, reducing their benefits and possibly altering their biological properties, especially when stored improperly or using low-quality products.

Cardiology consultant Dr. Majed Basit said: 'My goal is to achieve a balance between prescribed medications and dietary supplements, because supplement marketing often exaggerates their benefits and downplays their risks.'

Medical consultation first

Doctors emphasized that fish oil is not banned for all hypertension patients, but it requires individual medical assessment, especially for those who already have low blood pressure or take more than one antihypertensive drug or blood thinners.

Dr. Patrick Kee stressed the necessity of not starting any supplement on one's own, saying: 'Always consult your doctor before adding any dietary supplement, and report immediately symptoms such as dizziness, unusual bruising, or unexplained bleeding.'

Healthy food is better than supplements

Experts considered that obtaining omega-3 fatty acids from food remains the best option, by consuming fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, and tuna, as part of a balanced diet.

They also stressed the importance of regular physical activity, weight management, smoking cessation, and treating cholesterol and diabetes disorders, affirming that these measures have proven more effective in reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes than relying on supplements alone.