Like any food, medicine or supplement, fish oil can trigger reactions you'd rather not experience. Fish oil offers a plethora of mental and physical health benefits, and many of the side effects tend to be benign or easily managed by altering how you take the supplement. Most people take fish oil without significant, adverse side effects. However, some people might feel dizziness or have other side effects after taking fish oil, according to Drugs.com.
Benefits of Fish Oil
Fish oil provides benefits that make the potential side effects more than worth the risk for most people. The active ingredients in fish oil are the omega-3 fatty acids, DHA and EPA. Your body can't synthesize these fatty acids; you must obtain them from your diet. Growing research indicates that omega-3 fatty acids might reduce inflammation, tryiglycerides and the risk of cardiovascular disease, according to Medline Plus and the University of Maryland Medical Center. Further possible benefits include reduction of vascular plaque, high cholesterol and high blood pressure; decreasing the risk of osteoporosis, stroke, age-related eye disease and certain types of cancer; and reduction of the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, menstrual pain, Raynaud's syndrome, psychosis, bipolar disorder, kidney problems and dyspraxia in children.
Fish Allergies
The Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network estimates that 2.7 percent of Americans have an allergy to fish. If you have an allergic response to fish, you might also have an allergic response to fish oil. If you do, expect to have certain symptoms occur shortly after you take fish oil. Possible symptoms include dizziness, as well as itchy eyes, runny nose, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, hives, abdominal pain, coughing and wheezing.
Dizzying Side Affects
Other possible side effects to fish oil can potentially include or lead to dizziness. Side effects to fish oil cited at Drugs.com that can lead to dizziness include vertigo, reduced heart rate, arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia and tachycardia.
Medical Conditions and Dizziness
If you have certain medical conditions, you might be more vulnerable to dizziness as a side effect to fish oil. If you have type 2 diabetes and take medications to control blood sugar, such as insulin, fish oil might decrease your blood sugar, reports MedLine Plus, which can cause dizziness in some people.
Other Side Effects
The most commonly reported side effects of fish oil include gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost 5 percent of people report belching, and 3 percent report upset stomach or indigestion, according to Drugs.com. About 4 percent report back or some other pain and more than 4 percent report infection, 3 1/2 percent have flu syndrome and fewer than 2 percent report rashes.
Cautions
Consult with your physician before starting fish oil. Call your physician immediately if you take fish oil and then shortly thereafter experience irregular heart beat, nausea, tightness or pain in your chest or pain in your jaw, arm or back, MayoClinic.com advises.
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