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Omega 3 & Copaxone

Sep 7, 2011 | By Shelley Moore

The prescription drug glatiramer, available as the brand Copaxone, is an injectable medication used to lessen the number of relapse episodes in patients with a type of multiple sclerosis known as relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Omega-3 fatty acids, in contrast, are beneficial nutrients found in oily fish and in flax seed oil, and also available in over-the-counter supplements. Some evidence indicates omega-3 fatty acids may help people with multiple sclerosis. However, consult your doctor before combining these two substances.

Copaxone

Autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis occur when the body's immune system attacks and damages its own healthy tissue. Copaxone is classified as an immunomodulator; it stops the immune system from attacking nerve cells. The exact way it works is unclear, but it likely modifies immune processes responsible for the origin and development of multiple sclerosis, according to DailyMed, a website operated by the National Library of Medicine to report on actions by the FDA.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fish oil is a good source of the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid; these substances decrease inflammation and help prevent heart disease and arthritis. The vegetarian community has taken an interest in flax seed oil for omega-3, but flax seed oil primarily contains the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid. Research is conflicting as to whether flax seed oil has the same effects on your health as fish oil, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Research

A study published in the November 2005 issue of "Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids" evaluated the effects of fish oil on participants with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis who were also receiving conventional treatment. Participants took either fish oil supplements while eating a diet containing 15 percent fat, or they took olive oil supplements as a placebo in a diet containing 30 percent fat. The study lasted one year. The lower-fat diet along with fish oil supplements provided moderate clinical benefits, including fewer relapses, as compared with the olive oil group.

Interactions

The University of Maryland Medical Center does not list an interaction between Copaxone and omega-3 supplements. Omega-3 fatty acids may increase the effects of medications with anticoagulant properties, however. Some of these medications include warfarin, clopidogrel, ibuprofen and aspirin. Drugs.com shows only the drug natalizumab as interacting with Copaxone. Natalizumab is another medication prescribed for patients with multiple sclerosis. Combining it with other drugs that affect the immune system may increase the risk of a rare serious brain infection, according to National Library of Medicine website MedlinePlus.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Sep 7, 2011

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