Icosapent for Hypertriglyceridemia User Reviews (Page 3)

• Miche...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 4, 2018

Vascepa (icosapent) "I started this drug on 4/13/2018 and within a week of being on it I became bloated, gassy and constipated. My skin is like an oil spill and I'm retaining water like a blow fish. I'm on a diuretic for hpyertension and retaining water only shoots my BP up. As much water as I drink throughout the day, I might go to the bathroom 3 times total. My muscles ache constantly with no relief of any of these side effects I stopped taking it as of yesterday. Statins I cannot take without the joint and muscle pains and literally not able to walk or go up/down stairs. My triglyscerids on April 5th were 257 and my total cholesterol was 211."

• Sue
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2018

Vascepa (icosapent) "Took Vascepa for 2 months, about to start 3rd month when I started to have flashes (floater type) in my eye to the extreme. I also felt pressure in my left eye. I went to my opthalmologist who told me the gel inside my eye was pushing forward and might cause tear to my retina. I was given another appointment in 7 days for a wait and see what happens. If a tear occurred, he would have to laser the eye to save my retina and my sight. I don't have problems like this, I am healthy -I thought. What am I doing new that caused this or is causing this? Vascepa...stopped taking it and 4 days later, noticed that the flashes were a lot less and no pressure to my eye. I have stopped taking Vascepa and started taking regular fish oil...."

• Ducks...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 3, 2018

Vascepa (icosapent) "I have never seen medication manufactured as poorly as this one. The capsules keep popping in the bottle, and the EPA oil gets all over everything. When I take the gelcaps out, I have to wipe the good one off one by one, then try to get the fishy smell off my hands -- which won't come off with just soap and water. Usually I have to rub white vinegar into my hands, and sometimes more than once. That smell turns my stomach -- it's like rancid fish. Moreover, Express Scripts won't take the medication back after 60 days -- even though they fill the prescription for 90 days. On top of all that, I don't think Vascepa has done my triglycerides much good. And that's not even taking into consideration all the side effects people describe here. I don't see how this is any better than a good fish oil supplement, which is only a fraction of the cost -- and I've never had fish oil gelcaps pop in the bottle. Going to ask my doctor to take me off this garbage next time I see him."

• N40k
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 8, 2016

Vascepa (icosapent) "Vascepa since 4/1/2013, 79 years old, T1 D since 1957. Other meds=40 mg/day Zocor>20yrs; Insulin. HbA1c =6.5; FBG=111 mg/dL. Total Cholesterol=144 mg/dL; TGCs=63 mg/dL; HDL=61 mg/dL; VLDL=13 mg/dL; LDL-C=70 mg/dL; C-reactive protein=2.2 mg/dL; APO B=60mg/dL; Lp-PLA2=216; EPA=7.0%;AA=5.3%; EPA/AA ratio=1.3; DHA=2.1%; O-6/O-3 ratio=1.8; O-3(EPA DHA) Index=9.1%, optimal>3.2%. No side effects known; no aches; DES(dry eye) disappeared within 3-4 days 1st dose; walking speed is better, feel more flexible. Vascepa is easy to use; PCP[I.M.] describes my health as excellent, and that Advanced CV risk parameters=excellent profile and optimally suppressed."

• HighTry
• July 19, 2015

Vascepa (icosapent) "I've been on Vascepa (2 pills daily) for about 7 months now. I went from 475 to 625 in three months. I don't know how my try spiked. Now I have stomach pain along with knee and back pain. I had back surgery 4 years ago unrelated to taking the drug obviously. However I do have some stomach pain when laying on my belly."

• Jidge
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2018

Vascepa (icosapent) "Started with 1 gram twice daily. After week took 2 Gram twice daily. After 6 weeks triglycerides dropped from 950 to 625. Meantime my right eye was troubling me from macular degeneration. Got two treatments. Trouble reading. Also experienced right arm muscle pain weakness. Couldn’t lift it straight out. After few weeks I stopped Vacepa. Eye got much better. Arm somewhat better. Still waiting for arm to resume normalcy. Possible my eye Vitamin added to problem."

• Robert...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2019

Vascepa (icosapent) "I was taken off Lipitor and placed on 4 (2x a day) Vascepta. I know all the details in 3 of my bathrooms after getting up 4~5 X a night and have the 'urge to purge'. I felt like having a bowel movement, BUT, I just end up w/fissures. I I currently have a carbuncle on my butt. Nothing but liquid[s] come out for a few secs. and then [if it does] it's not 'firm'. I go back to bed and need to 'go again' 2 hrs. later. I have also 'lost it' before getting to the bathroom. Going back to Lipitor"

• Arby
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 9, 2019

Vascepa (icosapent) "On Vascepa 1 month, Dr wanted to see if it lowered my LDL. However, my triglycerides are very normal (<100), so not sure if this is really the right drug for me. Too soon to say if any benefit. My only comment is on the price. The best I can do is $198 per month (4 gm/day). I am going to split Vascepa with a 1000mg pure EPA product from GNC, at 1/3 the cost."

• RobW
• May 25, 2017

Vascepa (icosapent) "Triglycerides 515, so doctor put me on Vascepa because I was concerned about muscle weakness with statin rx use. Took Vascepa for one month and I have constant generalized joint pain. I have arthritis, but the pain was manageable until I took Vascepa. I am not taking it anymore. Plus Medicare will not cover it and even with the Vascepa drug discount program it cost me $74 for a one month supply of 1gram twice a day."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 23, 2020

Vascepa (icosapent) "Noticed severe restless leg syndrome after starting Vascepa, something I never had before (other than when pregnant) and since this was the only new medication (I'm only on a blood pressure lowering drug otherwise) I knew it was from Vascepa. Also problems as others mentioned such as heart beating faster, severe gastrointestinal issues, joint pain and heart burn. Other issues I had were hair loss and my nails started to crack and virtually stop growing and my skin aged quickly. I tried Vascepa for around 9 months at half dose (2 a day instead of 4). I wonder how bad my situation would have been at full dose! Since stopping, virtually all symptoms went away, even nail issue. Hoping my hair will return. Would NOT recommend this drug. Also, did very little to lower triglycerides, only about 20 points."

• jbano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2020

Vascepa (icosapent) "After 2 months of Vascepa 2 caps twice daily had an occurrence of gout which I didn't associate with Vascepa usage. Also, developed a progressive problem with shortness of breath which started mildly which grew severe. Decided to review Vascepa side effects since it was the only drug added to my normal regime of meds. Appears "gouty arthritis" and SOB is listed as a patient side effect. I've discontinued use. The plasma 1/2 life of Vascepa is 89 hours so it remains in the blood extremely long and is not excreted thru the kidneys. Vascepa may have helped my high triglycerides, I will never know since side effects outweigh possible benefits"

• foget...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2021

Vascepa (icosapent) "Cardiologist prescribed generic Vascepa because I have high trigs and suffer real bad allergic reactions to all statins. Took the Vascepa for 2 weeks and experienced terrible muscular pains similar to that from statins (although doc says the two drugs don't work the same). Then discovered at several medical sites with authority that Vacepa works when taken alongside special diet and exercise programs. Also takes 5 years to see any beneficial results equal to the original research numbers. So, waste of money and pain to swallow 4 "horse pills" daily especially if you are age 77 like me with probably only another 5 good years of life left before nature takes its course on the average human body."

• JKano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 9, 2018

Vascepa (icosapent) "I've been taking Vascepa for high Triglycerides for about 2 years now. After my first year, I had some joint pains in my left arm but didn't attribute it to Vascepa because I'd been on it for a year already. I spent about 2 month in physical therapy and am all better now, and am still currently on Vascepa. Amarin's website does say that joint pain is a side effect of Vascepa. My Triglyceridemia levels were at about 750 when I was prescribed, and now it's about 500 so I think that it has helped me lower my Trig level although I haven't had a blood test done in about 8 months so I'm not sure what it is currently but I'm told that I might need to take Vascepa indefinitely so that's that. I am also taking phenophribrate but my doctor has said that Vascepa is a better option than phenophribrate because it's a natural fish oil but I have read that Vascepa is really bad for the environment though."

• LLano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2020

Vascepa (icosapent) "I was started on vascepa to help high triglycerides and to raise HDL. Was not consistently taking them. Twice a day because they were big pills and one time I had a mild bad fish taste. Had been on them for about 3 months and noticed heart irregularity, lightheaded for brief moments. Wore a monitor and it showed SVT, PAT,s and poss short bout of A-Fib . Mentioned to my cardiologist that my newest med was vascepa but he did not think anything of it. So. Two ER visits later, I looked vascepa up and saw that a small percentage of patients had these side effects. I stopped taking them on my own and messaged my doctor that I stopped. I now am taking metoprolol small dose. My question is. Will these heart symptoms go away or is this now a permanent problem."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 18, 2017

Vascepa (icosapent) "I went to see a physician at a clinic for sleep apnea, During this visit he placed a prescription for vascepa in my paperwork. He never even discussed it with me. He never did any blood work on me and I wondered how he knew what my triglyceride were. Long story, short. After filling the script and reading the brochure I figured that it was simply like taking a vitamin . No harm done, right? Wrong. After taking this for about three weeks I started having terrible backaches. I could barely walk, turn etc.I told the doctors nurse that I thought that it was the Vascepa and she said that was impossible she accused me of using abusive language and hung up the phone on me. This was a horrible experience. 1.Severe backache 2.terrible staff."

• Jamie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 26, 2023

Vascepa (icosapent) "I have been on Vascepa for one month for familial extremely elevated triglycerides over 600. This medication has caused severe stomach pains, heartburn, GERD, not to mention daily headaches and extreme fatigue. I stopped it today and won’t be taking it anymore."

• vin
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2018

Vascepa (icosapent) "I think this drug thins your blood. After I started taking it, I had constant bleeding on my sclera of the eye. I didn't realize it was the medicine at first until I looked up the side effects. My knees also hurt."

• Sweet
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 22, 2019

Vascepa (icosapent) "Vascepa is not doing much for my triglyceride levels yet, but once I lower my sugar intake I think it will help. It has done wonders for my mental health. Less negative thoughts, better attitude. I do think it is causing some type of skin condition. I am prone to a type of condition known as melei, not sure of spelling, it’s gotten so bad I’m going to stop the medicine for a while and see what happens. Otherwise I highly recommend it for slight depression."

• jlmh
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 12, 2017

Vascepa (icosapent) "Have only taken now for 3 weeks. Thus far; I can't say I've noticed any side effects other than I swear my skin is softer. I was put on low-carb diet; less than 100 grams daily in attempt to lower triglycerides. I had started a regular walking program of at least 5 miles daily. My HDL's had increased 10 points in 6 months; my LDL & VLDL went down; cholesterol dropped a few points. I had even lost 4 pounds but my triglycerides almost doubled to 273! She asked me at that point, "eating carbs by chance?" :| who me??? yes, I'm a bread lover......(sigh). So even though I'm not needing to lose but maybe 5 lbs; my triglyceride number has got to improve! I'll re-rate this script when she re-does my blood work in October 2017."

• Mano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2020

Vascepa (icosapent) "I have always had high triglycerides on annual physicals. IMMEDIATELY lowered after taking Vascepa, without changing diet. Have before and after blood tests. I've been on for about 5 months with no side effects. I also take 10mg atorvastatin, which I've been on for 15 years."

• Margie
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 7, 2020

Vascepa (icosapent) "Took Vascepa for 3 months. Had blood work done before starting and after 3 months. My triglycerides dropped 4 points. It's not working so I'm going to stop it and save $200 a month. No side effects."

• doug...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2021

Vascepa (icosapent) "Heart doctor put me on it for high trig. and increased dosage to 4 a day. I no longer can ride in a car or hardly walk from the severe pain these pills have caused. I have regular feelings of gout, aching in both shoulders, and Afib. !!! I wouldn't wish this on my worse enemy. Didn't start out his way but sure has ended this way. Got to get in and figure something else out before something else gives out on my body."

• Sleep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2021

Vascepa (icosapent) "I took Vascepa at my Dr's request. I am awake now at 1AM because EVERY muscle and joint in my body ache. I can now barely function during the day the pain is so bad and I wake up in the middle of the night numerous times to use the bathroom. My knee joints now crackle every time I sit down. Right arm from elbow to wrist is swollen and I can no longer make a fist. I only took this medication for 6-8 weeks and had to stop because it felt like a cinderblock on my chest. I used to be able to take walks and ride a stationary bike. I can no longer do either. I am now doing a liver cleanse to try and get this stuff out of my body. If I don't improve soon, I don't know how I will continue to function."

• YogiB...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 9, 2021

Vascepa (icosapent) "I really wasn't aware of the outrageous cost until my insurance briefly lapsed. It's $330 a month. For fish oil. I almost felt bad for my health insurance co. Almost. I've been taking this Gucci fish oil for two years and my cholesterol has barely budged. A little research seems to show only two studies that were paid for by Amerin that show good results in a very carefully selected group of people. I'm done with Vascepa. It all sounds more like snake oil."

• Anonymous
• July 10, 2021

Vascepa (icosapent) "Was on vescepa for 6 months. No side effects. My triglycerides STAYED THE SAME and my LDL INCREASED by 100 and my HDL increased by 5. No diet changes or exercise changes during the six months. So not worth it."