Prescription fish oil? You have got to be kidding me!

Erikadawn RN · Mar 31, 2010

I have seen this medication prescribed many times by docs, i am a correctional nurse and this drug requires special authorization

katkonk, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2010

Although I am not COMPLETELY sold on the efficacy, the literature states that the benefits are other than just lowering cholesterol. And it is typically used as an adjunct to other meds like Lipitor and/or Crestor. I will be interested to see what the long term results are after a few years. But, regarding the other drug developments, research goes where the money flows from, and more people die and/or suffer from the effects of cardiovascular disease than most of the other major diseases and causes of mortality combined. And the boomers are well into needing all the CV disease drugs, so there is a huge market share.

vegas2009 · Mar 31, 2010

It's not anything new. I've seen fish oil pills being sold in places like Walmart for years. They're sold as a herbal OTC treatment and/or supplement. I think they became popular because of a research study in the past about MS and fish oil. Fish oil is suppose to be VERY good for the CNS. I don't know how effective it is but, another research study said that actual fish, is better than the fish oil pills that were being sold OTC. The people who had CNS problems responded better to actually eating fish, compared to the people who just took fish oil pills. I figured they can be found anywhere (sold OTC) so, people didn't need prescription for them.

Anyway, fish oil pills have been in the market for years.

PocketOSunshine · Mar 31, 2010

I have a family member that has been taking this drug since before the commercials and advertisements started. After not responding to any cholesterol medication on the market or OTC the doctor decided to try this drug. With the addition of mild exercise (and by mild I mean taking a 15 minute walk a couple times a week) and this drug, my family member's cholesterol is down 200 points.

Just my :twocents:

phoenixrn · Mar 31, 2010

Flax seed oil is a good alternative, as there is some concern about heavy metals and PCBs building up in some kinds of fish that may be used for the fist oil supplements.

My question to the OP: why does the use fish oil seem so far fetched to you? There is plenty of research supporting many helpful affects of supplementation. If doctor's are beginning to actually prescribe it, that seems like progress to me. I'm interested to hear other opinions, however.

Straight from the mouth of Medline:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-fishoil.html

vegas2009 · Mar 31, 2010

I have a family member that has been taking this drug since before the commercials and advertisements started. After not responding to any cholesterol medication on the market or OTC the doctor decided to try this drug. With the addition of mild exercise (and by mild I mean taking a 15 minute
No kidding? One of my neighbors in the past did the same thing, I said, "I guess taking the pill is easier than eating fish, huh?" She just smiled and said she hated fish. Anyway, eating oatmeal everyday supposedly lowers cholesterol as well. I just wish I LIKED oatmeal. I had to get back to this routine again, and it's always been a struggle for me to eat oatmeal. The things we do to (at least) try to stay healthy. Oh, wait, was it BP, cholesterol, or both? Well, either way, as long as oatmeal LOWERS something bad! :) I'm not going through this struggle for nothing!

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2010

I don't think the OP meant that the use of fish oil is ludicrous. I think he meant that now GSK has made a prescription form of it. I wonder if it is any different than the OTC fish oil sold at Walgreens. I doubt it. But GSK and other Pharma companies will do anything to maximize their profits. They will even make a variation of a drug that is now OTC. Omeprazole is offered OTC as Prilosec OTC. In response, the makers of Prilosec make esomeprazole, which is still prescription only.

cherrybreeze, ADN, RN · Mar 31, 2010

It's not anything new. I've seen fish oil pills being sold in places like Walmart for years. They're sold as a herbal OTC treatment and/or supplement. I think they became popular because of a research study in the past about MS and fish oil. Fish oil is suppose to be VERY good for the CNS. I don't know how effective it is but, another research study said that actual fish, is better than the fish oil pills that were being sold OTC. The people who had CNS problems responded better to actually eating fish, compared to the people who just took fish oil pills. I figured they can be found anywhere (sold OTC) so, people didn't need prescription for them.
Anyway, fish oil pills have been in the market for years.

Exactly....the issue is the fact that is now available BY prescription....

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Mar 31, 2010

I've taken fish oil for about a year now, and it not only lowered my triglycerides by over 250 points, it's helped my arthritis as well. And yes, I do eat fish whenever I can, but the rest of my family is not as enthusiastic about it as I am so my consumption is rather irregular. Unfortunately, fish is also expensive, while chicken and turkey can be found for less than a dollar per pound on sale. So I take my enteric-coated fish oil capsule at bedtime (avoids the fishy burps) and know I've done something positive for my health.

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Mar 31, 2010

At my doctor's advice, I take an OTC fish oil product 2X/day. My triglycerides are lower. Don't know if it's from the fish oil or exercise.

vegas2009 · Mar 31, 2010

Exactly....the issue is the fact that is now available BY prescription....

The ONLY issue why it's made BY prescription now is, because there's more money to be made on it. That's the only reason why it's made BY prescription.

OP sounded like it's a new thing. Then, another person said, that she's seen it as a prescription.

Like I said, it's nothing new. So, is it any wonder why a drug company would capitalize more on it?