Icosapent Ethyl

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jun 28, 2024

Warnings

Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Icosapent ethyl can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options for elevated triglyceride blood levels if you are at an increased risk of complications from this medication.

HEART RHYTHM PROBLEMS: Taking icosapent ethyl can increase your risk of developing an irregular heart rhythm, which may even require hospitalization. This risk is higher in people with pre-existing heart rhythm abnormalities such as atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Tell your doctor right away or seek emergency medical care if you develop dizziness, chest discomfort, weakness, or shortness of breath after taking icosapent ethyl.
FISH ALLERGY: Icosapent ethyl contains ethyl esters of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) which is obtained from fish oil. This medication may therefore cause allergic reactions in people with allergies to fish or shellfish. Stop taking icosapent ethyl and seek emergency medical care if you develop a skin rash, hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing after taking this medication.
BLEEDING: EPA treatment with icosapent ethyl can increase the risk of bleeding, especially if you are on blood thinners (anticoagulants) such as warfarin or medications that prevent platelet aggregation, such as aspirin or clopidogrel. Seek immediate medical attention if you notice any unusual bleeding or bruising, such as coughing up blood or blood in urine or stool, or feel lightheaded or faint.

Precautions Before Starting Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to icosapent ethyl, omega-3 fish oil supplements, fish, or shellfish (shrimp, clams, lobster, mussels, scallops, crab, crayfish, oyster, others), any of the active or inactive ingredients in icosapent ethyl capsules, or any other drugs. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medicines, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between icosapent ethyl and your other medicines.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Icosapent ethyl may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, irregular heart rhythm, heart disease, constipation, gout, liver disease, thyroid disease, or pancreatic disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy, or are breast-feeding.

Precautions During Use of Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa)

Take icosapent ethyl exactly as prescribed. Keep all your medical and lab appointments during treatment with this medication.

Follow a low-fat, low-cholesterol meal plan, get regular exercise, and limit alcohol intake while on this medicine.

Call your doctor if you become pregnant while on icosapent ethyl.

Icosapent Ethyl (Vascepa) Drug Interactions

Certain medicines can affect how icosapent ethyl works. Possible interactions between icosapent ethyl and other medications can increase the risk of severe adverse effects. Some of the medications that can interact with icosapent ethyl include:

Aspirin and aspirin-containing products
Antiplatelet medications such as clopidogrel (Plavix), cilostazol (Pletal), dipyridamole (Persantine, in Aggrenox), ticlopidine (Ticlid), and prasugrel (Effient)
Blood thinners (anticoagulants) such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
Beta-blockers such as atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), labetalol (Normodyne), nadolol (Corgard), and propranolol (Inderal)
Water pills (diuretics)
Estrogen replacement therapy and estrogen-containing birth control pills, patches, injections, and rings

The above list may not contain all the possible drug interactions of icosapent ethyl. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, non-prescription medications, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies to avoid potentially dangerous interactions. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

Find the best discount on Icosapent Ethyl »