Is vascepa a fish oil?

Is Vascepa the same as fish oil?

Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) is a prescription omega-3 fatty acid product, derived from fish oil, but it is not “generic fish oil” (like over-the-counter fish oil supplements). It contains a purified form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) rather than a typical mix of fats found in many fish-oil supplements. [1]

What’s inside Vascepa vs. typical OTC fish oil?

Most over-the-counter fish oil products contain a combination of omega-3s, often including both EPA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), with varying amounts depending on the brand. Vascepa is specifically formulated as high-purity EPA, with dosing and composition designed for medical use. [1]

Can you substitute OTC fish oil for Vascepa?

Not automatically. Because Vascepa and OTC fish oil products can differ in EPA/DHA content and in how the product is formulated and dosed, they are not interchangeable without your clinician’s guidance. [1]

What is Vascepa used for?

Vascepa is used to help reduce triglycerides in specific patient groups and, in some settings, for cardiovascular risk reduction in people with elevated triglycerides who are already on statin therapy (as indicated by its prescribing information). [1]

Sources:
[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/p/v/vascepa.html