omega-3 acid ethyl esters
Brand names: Lovaza, Vascepa
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are a type of medicine that helps lower very high triglyceride levels in adults. You should also follow a healthy diet while taking this medicine.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.17/unit
Generic Available
Yes (0 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine is used to lower very high triglyceride levels.
Common side effects
Burping, Upset stomach, Changes in taste
Key warnings
If you have liver problems, your doctor should check your liver enzyme levels regularly.
How It Works
Omega-3-acid ethyl esters are made from fish oil. They work by reducing the amount of triglycerides in your blood. The exact way they do this is not fully known.
How to Take It
Take 4 grams of this medicine each day with food. You can take all 4 capsules at once, or 2 capsules twice a day. Swallow the capsules whole; do not crush, chew, or dissolve them.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if this medicine will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Omega-3 fatty acids have been found in breast milk.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store at room temperature (68° to 77°F). Protect from light and do not freeze. Keep out of reach of children.
Serious Warnings
If you have liver problems, your doctor should check your liver enzyme levels regularly. This medicine may increase your LDL cholesterol levels, so your doctor should also check those levels. If you have a fish or shellfish allergy, use this medicine with caution. This medicine might cause irregular heartbeats.
Common Questions
What should I do if I have a fish allergy?
Can this medicine be taken with other medications?
Will this medicine prevent a heart attack?
Can this medicine cause pancreatitis?
What if I experience side effects?
How quickly will this medicine lower my triglycerides?
Can I stop taking this medicine if my triglycerides are normal?
Are there other lifestyle changes I should make?
What do the capsules look like?
What ingredients are in the capsule?
What are the common side effects of omega-3 acid ethyl esters?
What drug class is omega-3 acid ethyl esters?
Is omega-3 acid ethyl esters safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for omega-3 acid ethyl esters
The FDA label for omega-3 acid ethyl esters (sold under brand names such as Lovaza, Vascepa) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Omega-3 Fatty Acid class. This medicine is used to lower very high triglyceride levels. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Burping, Upset stomach, Changes in taste.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. Interaction data is drawn directly from FDA-approved prescribing information. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.17.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 6, 2023
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages