What brand names are available for evening primrose oil?
Evening primrose oil, Common Evening Primrose, Fever plant, Sun drops
Is evening primrose oil available as a generic drug?
Yes
Do I need a prescription for evening primrose oil?
No
What are the side effects of evening primrose oil?
Side effects of Oenothera include:
- headache,
- indigestion,
- nausea, and
- diarrhea.
Other side effects include:
What is the dosage for evening primrose oil?
(dosing recommmendations may vary with supplier):
- Breast pain: Take 3 to 4 g by mouth once daily.
- Eczema: Take 4 to 6 g by mouth once daily.
- Premenstrual syndrome: Take 2 to 4 g by mouth once daily.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Take 540 mg to 2.8 g by mouth daily.
Which drugs or supplements interact with evening primrose oil?
Oenothera should be used with caution
with medications that increase bruising and bleeding risks. Medications like
aspirin, celecoxib (Celebrex), ibuprofen (Motrin), diclofenac (Voltaren),
meloxicam (Mobic), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), warfarin (Coumadin), enoxaparin
(Lovenox), and clopidogrel (Plavix) should be used with caution with Oenothera.
Is evening primrose oil safe to take if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
There are no adequate studies of Oenothera use by
pregnant women to determine its safety during pregnancy. It should be avoided by
pregnant women.
It is not known whether Oenothera enters
breast milk.
What else should I know about evening primrose oil?
What preparations of evening primrose oil are available?
Oenothera is available in capsules, softgels,
and liquid extract forms. Concentration of Oenothera may vary from
product-to-product due to multiple manufacturers producing various products.
How should I keep evening primrose oil stored?
Because multiple manufacturers make different forms of Oenothera, storage requirements may vary based on individual manufacturer practices.