Vascepa interactions: Alcohol, medications, and other factors

Before you start treatment with Vascepa, tell your doctor and pharmacist which prescription, over-the-counter, and other medications you take. By sharing this information with them, you may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether Vascepa interacts with supplements, herbs, or vitamins, see the “Vascepa and other interactions” section below.)

If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Here’s a table of drugs that can interact with Vascepa. Keep in mind that this table doesn’t include all drugs that may interact with Vascepa. Some of these interactions are described in detail just below in “Drug interactions in depth.”

In some cases, factors or conditions could prevent your doctor from prescribing Vascepa due to the risk of harm. These are known as contraindications. The only contraindication of Vascepa is allergic reaction.

Having had an allergic reaction to Vascepa or any of its ingredients

If you have had an allergic reaction to Vascepa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vascepa. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask them about other treatments that may be better choices for you.

There aren’t any known interactions between Vascepa and alcohol. However, your doctor may advise you to avoid or limit alcohol consumption during Vascepa treatment.

This is because drinking alcohol can increase your triglyceride levels. (Vascepa is prescribed to lower triglyceride levels.) If you have questions about drinking alcohol while taking Vascepa, talk with your doctor.

Here’s a closer look at certain drug interactions of Vascepa.

Antiplatelets

Vascepa can interact with antiplatelet medications. This is a class of blood thinners prescribed to help prevent blood clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke. Antiplatelet drugs can also be prescribed to help prevent the recurrence of blood clots after a heart attack or stroke.

Interaction result: Taking Vascepa with an antiplatelet medication can increase your risk of bleeding.

Interaction explained: Antiplatelet drugs help to stop your blood from forming clots, so they can increase your risk of bleeding. One of Vascepa’s side effects* is an increased risk of bleeding. Taking these drugs together could increase your risk of bleeding more than taking either drug on its own.

Examples of antiplatelet drugs: Here are some antiplatelet drugs that may interact with Vascepa:

• aspirin
• clopidogrel (Plavix)
• dipyridamole (Persantine)
• prasugrel (Effient)
• ticagrelor (Brilinta)
• vorapaxar (Zontivity)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor has you take an antiplatelet drug with Vascepa, tell them if you have any unusual bleeding. For example, tell your doctor if you have nosebleeds or bleeding gums or if it takes longer than is typical to stop bleeding following an injury.

If you have symptoms of more serious bleeding, such as coughing up blood, vomiting blood, or passing black or tar-like stools, contact your doctor right away.

If needed, your doctor may reduce your dosage of Vascepa or the antiplatelet drug.

* To learn more about Vascepa’s side effects, see this article.

Anticoagulants

Vascepa can interact with anticoagulant medications, which are a class of blood thinners prescribed to treat and help prevent blood clots. These include deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, and blood clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke.

Interaction result: Taking Vascepa with an anticoagulant medication can increase your risk of bleeding.

Interaction explained: Anticoagulant drugs help to stop your blood from forming clots, so they can increase your risk of bleeding. One of Vascepa’s side effects* is an increased risk of bleeding, so taking these drugs together may increase your risk of bleeding more than taking either drug on its own.

Examples of anticoagulant drugs: Here are some anticoagulant drugs that may interact with Vascepa:

• apixaban (Eliquis)
• dabigatran (Pradaxa)
• dalteparin (Fragmin)
• enoxaparin (Lovenox)
• rivaroxaban (Xarelto)
• warfarin (Jantoven)

Steps you or your doctor may take: If your doctor has you take an anticoagulant drug with Vascepa, tell them if you have any unusual bleeding. For example, tell your doctor if you have nosebleeds or bleeding gums or if it takes longer than is typical to stop bleeding following an injury.

If you have symptoms of more serious bleeding, such as coughing up blood, vomiting blood, or passing black or tar-like stools, contact your doctor right away.

If needed, your doctor may reduce your dosage of Vascepa or the anticoagulant drug.

* To learn more about Vascepa’s side effects, see this article.

Vascepa may have other interactions, such as with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. You’ll find details below. Keep in mind that the following information does not include all other possible interactions with Vascepa.

Vascepa and supplements

It’s possible for drugs to interact with supplements such as vitamins and herbs.

Vascepa and herbs

There are no specific reports of herbs interacting with Vascepa. However, that doesn’t mean herbal interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products during Vascepa treatment.

Vascepa and vitamins

There are no specific reports of vitamins interacting with Vascepa. However, that doesn’t mean vitamin interactions won’t occur or be recognized in the future. Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Vascepa.

Vascepa and food

There were no reports of food interactions with Vascepa. If you’d like to learn more about eating certain foods during treatment with Vascepa, talk with your doctor.

Vascepa and vaccines

There aren’t any known interactions between Vascepa and vaccines. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out whether you’re due for any vaccines.

Vascepa and lab tests

Vascepa isn’t known to interact with any lab tests. If you have concerns about this medication interacting with lab tests, talk with your doctor.

VASCEPA INTERACTION WITH CANNABIS OR CBD

Cannabis (often called marijuana) and cannabis products, such as cannabidiol (CBD), have not been specifically reported to interact with Vascepa. However, as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis in combination with Vascepa. The effects of cannabis may affect how well you stick to your Vascepa treatment plan.

Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.

Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Vascepa. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Vascepa may not be the right treatment option for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.

Health conditions or factors that might interact with Vascepa include:

• History of atrial fibrillation or flutter: Vascepa may rarely cause atrial fibrillation (AFib) or atrial flutter, which are abnormal heart rhythms. If you have a history of AFib or atrial flutter, you may have a raised risk of this side effect with Vascepa. Talk with your doctor about whether Vascepa is right for you.
• Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Vascepa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Vascepa. Taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can talk with your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
• Fish or shellfish allergy: Vascepa is obtained from fish oil. It’s not known whether Vascepa can cause allergic reactions in people with a fish or shellfish allergy. If you’re allergic to fish or shellfish, talk with your doctor about whether Vascepa is right for you.
• Breastfeeding: It’s not known whether it’s safe to take Vascepa while breastfeeding. There isn’t enough information to determine whether the drug passes into breast milk or what effects Vascepa may have on a child who is breastfed. If you’re breastfeeding or planning to, talk with your doctor before starting Vascepa. They can talk with you about treatment options and ways to feed your child.
• Pregnancy: There haven’t been enough clinical trials to determine whether Vascepa is safe to take while pregnant. Animal studies show that the drug may cause congenital anomalies (commonly known as birth defects) or pregnancy loss. However, it’s important to note that animal studies don’t always indicate what may happen in humans. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, tell your doctor before starting Vascepa. They can advise you on the right treatment plan for you.

You can take certain steps to help prevent interactions with Vascepa. Your doctor and pharmacist are key resources, so reach out to them before starting treatment. For example, you should plan to do the following:

• Let them know if you drink alcohol or use cannabis.
• Tell them about any other medications you take, as well as any supplements, herbs, and vitamins.
• Create a medication list, which your doctor and pharmacist can help you fill out.

It’s also important to read the Vascepa label and other paperwork that may come with the drug. The label may have colored stickers that mention an interaction. And the paperwork, sometimes called the medication guide or patient package insert, may contain details about interactions.

If Vascepa doesn’t come with paperwork, you can ask your pharmacist to print a copy. If you need help reading or understanding this information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

You can also help prevent interactions with Vascepa by taking it exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Besides learning about interactions, you may want to find out more about Vascepa. These resources might help:

• Overview of Vascepa: For a general overview of Vascepa, you can see this article.
• Side effects: If you’re interested in the side effects of Vascepa, see this article. Another option is to refer to the Vascepa prescribing information.
• Dosage specifics: To learn about the dosage of Vascepa, see this article.
• Facts about your condition: To learn more about the conditions Vascepa is prescribed to treat, see our cardiovascular health hub and these related articles.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.