Fish Oil causes headache?

ozzygold · 01-19-2007, 09:39 PM

Hi everyone I know I dont post very much and when I do usually someone makes me look like an idiot.
Anyways,
I have searched everywhere and can not find a link between fish oil and headaches, yet everytime I take my fish oil supplement I get headaches that last hours on end. It is a pretty good company that makes the oil so I dont think its metal contaminants or anything.
I have never heard of too much EPA & DHA causing headaches so did I just get a bad batch of Salmon or is this a common link?
Anyone else have similar experience?

naten186 · 01-19-2007, 09:51 PM

So far as I can see fish oil is known to treat headaches.... You may be having an allergic reaction to something in the coating, what is the company and what type of fish oil? Also if it has Vitamin A in it, that is known to cause headaches in high doses, rarely, but it happens.

joed · 01-19-2007, 10:39 PM

How much are you taking, and are you taking it with meals? Is the batch fresh - check expiration date.

davielawson · 01-20-2007, 05:32 AM

The most likely causes of your headache may be the vitimans added or peroxides in your oil.. Heavy metal contamination would take much longer to have an effect...
Some oils contain added A and D vits... Not good!!
You need Vit E in the oil to prevent PUFA oxidation...
If your bottle of oil is not stored in a fridge in the dark, or is older than 3 monts open, it is likely to contain peroxides...
Does this give you any help??
Ive never heard of any side effects of Omega 3 as it is easily oxidised to saturate on demand by the liver....

jane529 · 10-12-2008, 02:46 PM

has anyone had the same problem? ive been taking fish oil for about 8 weeks and since i started, ive been getting raging headaches that start about 2 hours after ive taken the pills.

bonestick · 10-14-2008, 07:41 AM

Fish oil contains EPA & DHA and a whole bunch of other fatty acids, including stuff in fish fat like fat soluble chemicals etc.

If you develop symptoms within 1.5 -2.5 h, it's very likely to be related to the fish oil capsules. Longer than 2-3 hours and shorter than 1.5 h usually indicates something else because by then the fish oil has either not been absorbed yet or already in the system for quite a long time.

While EPA & DHA - the "good stuff" in fish oil- do not usually cause problems, thousands of other chemicals in normal fish oil MAY cause headache. Try Flaxseed oil instead.

strength77 · 10-14-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jane529

has anyone had the same problem? ive been taking fish oil for about 8 weeks and since i started, ive been getting raging headaches that start about 2 hours after ive taken the pills.

no probs here bro

Loomy · 10-14-2008, 09:17 AM

guys if you get headaches from a pill you should stop taking it. this isnt a good science thread topic either, it is common sense. people who are allergic to things stop taking them. people who get sick from things stop eating them. get some sense.

j0e · 10-14-2008, 11:19 AM

Is it the cheap fish oil from Walmart? That stuff gave me a headache when I first started taking it, but the other fish oil I bought from GNC didn't do it to me.

UNCnate · 10-14-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzygold

Hi everyone I know I dont post very much and when I do usually someone makes me look like an idiot.
Anyways,
I have searched everywhere and can not find a link between fish oil and headaches, yet everytime I take my fish oil supplement I get headaches that last hours on end. It is a pretty good company that makes the oil so I dont think its metal contaminants or anything.
I have never heard of too much EPA & DHA causing headaches so did I just get a bad batch of Salmon or is this a common link?
Anyone else have similar experience?

Is that all youre taking? How much are you taking?

hulkinout · 10-14-2008, 11:40 AM

I used to buy the non-enteric coated fish caps, which gave me horrible stomach reactions. Since I switched to the coated ones (Costco has them), I've had no problems.

Try those if you want, but I'd definitely stop taking what you're taking now, and take a couple weeks without anything.

KingOfChaos · 10-14-2008, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hulkinout

I used to buy the non-enteric coated fish caps, which gave me horrible stomach reactions. Since I switched to the coated ones (Costco has them), I've had no problems.

Try those if you want, but I'd definitely stop taking what you're taking now, and take a couple weeks without anything.

I have never had an issue with fish oil other than the disgusting taste of the non enteric coated pills.

dburcher · 10-31-2008, 12:46 PM

A couple of years ago, I was getting daily headaches. My doctor asked if I had changed fish oil brands, and I had. I stopped taking them, and voila, no more headaches.

So I've been taking a new brand for the past couple years. Now once again, I'm having daily headaches and suspect the fish oil. Either they made some change in the manufacturing process, or there was a "bad" batch that affects me.

DaddyR · 10-31-2008, 01:55 PM

Seems common enough that there ought to be a theory of the cause. Has anyone seen anything tying it to heavy metal contamination or other bioaccumulated toxins?

I take Udo's Oil (a blend containing mainly flax seed oil) rather than fish oil just because I'm paranoid of heavy metals etc. that may be in fish oil.

Camel_Toad · 11-03-2008, 08:21 PM

Recently I started getting a terrible headache when I lift in proportion with how much I exert myself. Leg day is the worst.

This all started within a week of changing to non coated fish oil. Everything else in my life- diet, routine, rest is the same.

I'm highly skeptical, but changing back to coated just in case.

My only guess would be a sudden drop off in the dose my body is actually absorbing on a daily basis.

ethan31 · 11-03-2008, 08:24 PM

I have never had any type of reaction.. how much are you taking?

818tony · 12-03-2008, 12:16 AM

i just took my first fish oil capsule about an hour ago. this is the first time ive ever taking this. my bro had some so i popped one. man now i have a headache. i feel all woozy n ****. and my burps are nasttieee

Need2fly · 12-06-2008, 05:43 PM

ive been getting headaches too - not sure if its the fishoils- and they seem to be only on weekends when i sleep in- ill stop taking them for a week and see what happens

awbazar · 01-28-2009, 07:02 AM

I recently started taking Berkeley & Jensen fish oil concentrate, 1000 mg with omega-3 fatty acids. These are softgels and not listed to contain any other vitamins.

I have detected slight headaches within 2 hours from taking them. My wife starting taking them at the same time and has given up on them since she noted rather severe headaches. I thought it was a coincidence that she claimed to have headaches from them but once I noted similar results, I was fairly convinced that it was no coincidence.

I plan to stop taking this brand and would be interested in any advice from anyone if they have found a "non-headache" brand. I started taking them after asking my doctor if it was a good idea and he suggested 1000 mg per day if I didn't routinely have 2 fish meals per week.

manofmany · 01-28-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0e

Is it the cheap fish oil from Walmart? That stuff gave me a headache when I first started taking it, but the other fish oil I bought from GNC didn't do it to me.

I take 2 year expired fish oil from walmart and get no headaches brah.

e4freedom · 02-15-2009, 10:26 AM

Have always taken pills (pill = smaller dose), but recently bought expensive highest quality oil in liquid form. Always get headache 1-2 hours after swig, never experienced this prior.

xdanimal17x · 02-15-2009, 11:08 AM

Are the fish oils supposed to be refridgerated?

ace18 · 04-19-2009, 12:33 PM

bump bump bummmppp

Acetyl-CoA · 04-19-2009, 12:39 PM

Fish is a common allergen in adults. Go see your GP or allergist and see if you are allergic to fish with a skin-prick test. Because some fish oils are more pure than others, they may have varying trace amounts of fish protein, which could cause a headache in an allergic individual.

You can buy DHA/EPA capsules 100% fish-free from algal oil. I think the manufacturer is in the UK and they are a little more pricey, but pure for sure.

brighamw · 04-19-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzygold

Hi everyone I know I dont post very much and when I do usually someone makes me look like an idiot.
Anyways,
I have searched everywhere and can not find a link between fish oil and headaches, yet everytime I take my fish oil supplement I get headaches that last hours on end. It is a pretty good company that makes the oil so I dont think its metal contaminants or anything.
I have never heard of too much EPA & DHA causing headaches so did I just get a bad batch of Salmon or is this a common link?
Anyone else have similar experience?

Never had that problem, all you can do is stop taking it for a week or so & see if headaches go away. If they go away there's your answer, if you still have them it's something else...

ace18 · 04-19-2009, 01:10 PM

I eat fish all the time so it cant be be allegery for me. I know for sure that its the EYE Q fish oil because i stoped taking it for a week and the headaches go away, and they day i take, i get the headache the same day, plus its really painfull headache even the eyes hurt.

Feel like i am missing out not being able to take EPA/DHA. I cant seem to find any oils without Vitamin E, which might be causing the headaches.

joe7795 · 06-08-2009, 01:36 PM

Glad I found this thread...I was starting to think I was nuts.

I'm guessing it was about three years ago that I first tried fish oil supplements...I only took a few servings and then stopped because I was pretty sure it was giving me a weird headache.

About a year or so later I tried a "higher quality" brand that was "stringently tested for PCBs, pesticides and heavy metal contamination," but after a few doses, same problem. I then moved on to Zone Perfect molecular distilled...took a few doses...stopped.

I decided I'd buy one more bottle of these damn things (Nutraceutical mega EFA) to see how they worked out. I've taken just two HALF doses over the past two days and woke up today with what I felt was a slight headache, but not enough to be sure. (Took third "half dose" about an hour ago...just gonna wait and see.)

If anything, I'm starting to think I might have an intolerance to fish. I know if I eat too much swordfish or tuna it gives me a headache...I always thought that could be from other contaminants, but I'm starting to think (since the past three fish oil supplements have supposedly been free of these contaminants) that it could be the fish itself. ...If that turns out to be the case, guess I'll try flaxseed.

joe7795 · 06-12-2009, 09:08 PM

Ok...nice "full" headache today. (Took a HALF dose for 6 days, didn't take one today because I had a bit of a headache when I woke up, got worse as the day progressed.) Seems pretty tough to believe it's just a coincidence. Guess I'm done with the Fish Oil...If I get around to trying flaxseed I'll post the results.