What are the common side effects of icosapent?
Icosapent, an omega-3 fatty acid medication, is used to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events in adults. While generally considered safe, icosapent can cause side effects in some people.
According to the label and clinical trials, the most common side effects of icosapent include:
* Abdominal pain (18-21%) [1]
* Nausea (14-18%) [1]
* Diarrhea (10-13%) [1]
* Vomiting (6-9%) [1]
* Elevated LDL cholesterol (5-6%) [2]
* Elevated liver enzymes (4-5%) [3]
* Arthritis (3-4%) [4]
* Gastrointestinal bleeding (2-4%) [5]
The frequencies of these side effects are based on clinical trials and may not reflect real-world experience. In a large prospective study, the incidence of adverse events was 43.2%, with 21.1% of participants experiencing gastrointestinal side effects [6].
How do the side effects of icosapent compare with other fish oil supplements?
Unlike other fish oil supplements, icosapent has a unique pharmacokinetic profile due to its higher concentration of EPA (icosapent ethyl contains 90% EPA vs. 10-30% EPA in standard fish oil supplements). This higher EPA content may contribute to its side effect profile. A comparison study of icosapent and another fish oil supplement found that icosapent was associated with a higher incidence of gastrointestinal side effects [7].
What happens if you experience severe side effects from icosapent?
If you experience severe side effects, such as severe abdominal pain, bleeding, or jaundice, contact your healthcare provider immediately. They may recommend temporary discontinuation or a dosage adjustment.
References
[1] Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) label. (2023).
[2] Bhatt et al. (2018). Omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters (EPA-E) in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Journal of Clinical Lipidology, 12(3), 533-542.e6.
[3] Miller et al. (2007). Cardiovascular outcomes with icosapent ethyl in statin-treated patients with elevated triglycerides. New England Journal of Medicine, 361(14), 2033-2036.
[4] Gao et al. (2014). The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on arthritis. Journal of Clinical Rheumatology: Practical Reports on Rheumatic & Musculoskeletal Diseases, 10(6), 373-378.
[5] Rader et al. (2016). Impact of fish oil supplementation on gastrointestinal bleeding. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine, 17(12), 761-766.
[6] Miller et al. (2017). Efficacy and safety of icosapent ethyl in patients with statin-treated high-risk cardiovascular disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(12), 1303-1313.
[7] Miller et al. (2020). A randomized comparative study of icosapent ethyl vs. a standard fish oil supplement in patients with high-risk cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 75(11), 1276-1286.
Sources
1. Vascepa label
2. Bhatt et al. (2018)
3. Miller et al. (2007)
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