Fish oil provides your body with the essential omega-3 fatty acids or docosahexaenoic acid, commonly called DHA, and eicosapentaenoic acid, referred to as EPA. These are important for brain function, can reduce inflammation and may lower risk for diseases like arthritis, cancer and heart disease. Carlson Fish Oil comes in 1,000 mg soft gels that have 160 mg EPA and 100 mg DHA. It's generally regarded as safe to take up to 3g, or 3,000mg, of omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oil, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. You may notice a few annoying side effects with regular doses, and high doses may even have harmful effects, advises the Mayo Clinic.
Bleeding Risk
Fish oil might increase your risk for bleeding if taken in large doses, according to the Mayo Clinic. High doses may raise the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, and are sometimes associated with blood in the urine or nosebleeds. Fish oils appear to decrease platelet aggregation, which is needed for blood clotting. They also may prolong bleeding time. Fish oil may increase fibrinolysis in your body, which means the breaking down of blood clots. University of Maryland Medical Center recommends you consult a doctor and use fish oil cautiously if you have a bleeding disorder, bruise easily or take blood-thinning medications. At lower doses, there's little evidence of higher bleeding risk, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Lower Blood Pressure
If you have low blood pressure, or take medicine to lower your blood pressure, consult a doctor before taking fish oil. Human studies show small reductions in blood pressure can occur when you take omega-3 fatty acids. Higher doses can have greater effects, and DHA appears to have more of an impact than EPA, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Blood Sugar Impact
If you have type 2 diabetes, use Carlson Fish Oil under supervision from a health care provider, advises UMMC. That's because fish oil might lead to increases in your fasting blood sugar levels.
Vitamin E
If you take fish oil for several months it can cause an elevation in vitamin E, according to the Mayo Clinic. Carlson Fish Oil includes 1/3 of the daily recommended vitamin E, or 10 IU, in each gel. If you use a product enriched with vitamin E regularly, you may end up with elevated levels of this fat-soluble vitamin. Elevated vitamin E levels can lead to fatigue, nausea, muscle weakness and diarrhea, according to The Merck Manuals. Such symptoms are rare, however, with people sometimes taking large doses of vitamin E for months, or even years, without suffering harm.
Gastrointestinal Issues
You might experience gastrointestinal upset when taking fish oil, as this is a common side effect, advises the Mayo Clinic. Reports include heartburn, belching, abdominal bloating and abdominal pain. You might suffer severe diarrhea if you take extremely high doses. You can minimize gastrointestinal side effects by taking your Carlson Fish Oil with meals and by starting at a low dose and gradually increasing it. Time-release preparations also can cut down on such side effects, according to UMMC.
Rare Side Effects
Rare side effects associated with fish oil include worsening of "bad cholesterol" levels, elevations in liver function tests, skin rashes, and mania in people who have major depression or bipolar disorder, according to the Mayo Clinic. You also might experience restlessness or the sensation that ants are crawling on your skin, called formication. Avoid Carlson Fish Oil supplements if you have an allergy or hypersensitivity to fish, advises the Mayo Clinic.
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