What is it used for?
- Lowering raised levels of fats called triglycerides in the blood (hypertriglyceridaemia) in people with a high risk of heart disease or pancreatitis.
People taking Maxepa will also need to follow an appropriate low-fat diet to help reduce triglyceride levels. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
How does it work?
Maxepa capsules and liquid contain concentrated fish oil, which provides two active ingredients, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These are more commonly known as omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids, which means they need to be obtained in the diet because the body cannot produce them. They have been shown to have various protective effects on the heart and blood circulation.
EPA and DHA have two main actions that have a protective effect on the heart and blood circulation. Firstly, they reduce the production of 'bad fats', called triglycerides in the liver. High levels of triglycerides in the blood increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as causing inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis).
Secondly, EPA and DHA also decrease the production of a substance called thromboxane, which is one of the chemicals that cause platelets to clump together and start off the process of blood clotting. Reducing the amount of thromboxane may help to reduce the likelihood of clots forming within blood vessels, which may help reduce the overall risk of heart attack.
How do I take it?
- Maxepa should be taken with or after a meal to help avoid any side effects on the gut, such as indigestion or feeling sick.
- The usual dose of Maxepa capsules is five capsules to be taken twice a day. The capsules should be swallowed whole with a drink of water.
- The usual dose of Maxepa liquid is one 5ml spoonful to be taken twice a day.
Use with caution in
- People with type 2 diabetes.
- People in whom aspirin or other NSAIDs, eg diclofenac, cause allergic reactions such as asthma attacks.
- People at high risk of bleeding, for example due to surgery, injury or disease.
- People taking medicines to prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants, eg warfarin).
Not to be used in
- People who have an allergy to fish.
- This medicine is not recommended for use in children, as its safety and effectiveness have not been established in this age group.
This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy.
If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.
- The safety of this medicine for use during pregnancy has not been fully established. It should be used with caution during pregnancy, and only if the expected benefit to the mother is greater than any possible risk to the developing baby. Seek medical advice from your doctor.
- It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk. If you are breastfeeding you should get advice from your doctor before taking this medicine.
Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.
The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine's manufacturer.
For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How can this medicine affect other medicines?
It is important to tell your doctor or pharmacist what medicines you are already taking, including those bought without a prescription and herbal medicines, before you start treatment with this medicine. Similarly, check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medicines while taking this one, to make sure that the combination is safe.
This medicine may slightly increase bleeding time and so should be used with caution in people who are taking medicines to prevent blood clots (anticoagulants), for example warfarin. If you are taking warfarin your doctor may want to monitor your blood clotting time (INR) while taking this medicine and after stopping treatment.
Other medicines containing the same active ingredient
There are many other omega-3 fatty acid supplements available from pharmacies and health food stores. Not all of these come from fish oils. Those that don't include Omacor and Prestylon.