The prescription drug clopidogrel bisulfate, sold commercially as Plavix, and fish oil can prevent clot formation by interfering with platelets' ability to stick together. You can buy fish oil supplements over the counter without a prescription, although a high-dose fish oil is available by prescription. Taking the two substances together could potentially cause harmful side effects; do not take fish oil with Plavix without your doctor's approval.
Purpose
Platelets, small, irregularly shaped blood cells, congregate at the site of injury in blood vessels and stick together to form a mesh that stops bleeding. Blood clots that form in blood vessels damaged by smoking, high blood pressure of atherosclerosis can block blood vessels or break off and lodge in arteries, reducing blood flow. Fish oil is not sold specifically as a way to prevent blood clots, but rather as a way to lower triglyceride levels and reduce the risk of heart disease. Plavix is sold specifically as an anticoagulant to decrease the risk of heart disease.
Interactions
Since Plavix and fish oil both inhibit platelet aggregation, taking them together could decrease your blood's ability to clot, increasing your risk of hemorrhage or excessive bleeding after injury. Spontaneous bleeding could also occur. Up to 3.7 percent of people taking Plavix experience major bleeding, according to eMedTV; fish oil could increase the problem.
Side Effects
You could have an increased risk of developing a hemorrhagic stroke, uncontrolled bleeding into the brain, if you take Plavix and fish oil together; large doses of fish oil can increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, according to MayoClinic.com. You may also notice excessive bruising after minor injury or even after no injury at all. If you notice blood in the urine or stool or cough up or vomit blood, you may have internal bleeding. Plavix can also cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a condition that causes blood clots to form within blood vessels. You may notice small pinpoint spots on your skin. Report any of these symptoms to your doctor immediately.
Considerations
Because fish oil is sold as a dietary supplement rather than a drug, the amounts of active drug in the supplement may vary, making it difficult to determine exactly what effect it may have. Taking fish oil doses greater than 3 g increases your risk of bleeding problems, according to MedlinePlus. The effects of Plavix on platelet aggregation have been clinically tested, unlike fish oil.
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