The following sections explain in detail the potentially negative interactions that can occur when docosahexaenoic acid is combined with any of the drugs listed above.

 

Theoretically, taking aspirin with fish oil (which contains docosahexaenoic acid) may increase the risk of bleeding. However, it is not clear if docosahexaenoic acid alone also has this problem. If you take aspirin and docosahexaenoic acid together, let your healthcare provider know if you develop any unusual bruising or bleeding.

 

Taking fish oil (which contains docosahexaenoic acid) with high blood pressure medication may decrease your blood pressure too much, increasing the risk of low blood pressure (hypotension). However, it is not known if this interaction applies to docosahexaenoic acid alone. Check with your healthcare provider before combining docosahexaenoic acid supplements with blood pressure medication, as your healthcare provider may need to monitor you more closely and adjust the dose of your blood pressure medication as necessary.

 

It is possible that clopidogrel may interact with fish oil (which contains docosahexaenoic acid), increasing your risk of bleeding. It is not yet known if this interaction applies to docosahexaenoic acid alone. Check with your healthcare provider before taking clopidogrel and docosahexaenoic acid together.

 

Theoretically, taking heparin with fish oil (which contains docosahexaenoic acid) may increase the risk of bleeding, although it is not known if this is also true for docosahexaenoic acid alone. Check with your healthcare provider before taking docosahexaenoic acid and heparin together. If you know in advance that you will need to take heparin (such as for a surgery), it may be a good idea to stop taking docosahexaenoic acid temporarily.