Omegaven Side Effects
Generic name: fat emulsion
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 13, 2025.
Note: This document provides detailed information about Omegaven.
Applies to fat emulsion: intravenous emulsion Side Effects associated with fat emulsion. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name Omegaven.
Applies to fat emulsion: intravenous emulsion.
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your or your child's progress closely while you are receiving this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests will be needed to check for unwanted effects.
This medicine may cause parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease (PNALD). This usually occurs in patients who have been receiving parenteral nutrition for a long time, especially pre-term infants. Check with your doctor right away if you have chills, clay-colored stools, dark urine, diarrhea, dizziness, fever, headache, itching, loss of appetite, nausea, rash, unpleasant breath odor, unusual tiredness or weakness, vomiting of blood, or yellow eyes or skin.
This medicine may cause acute respiratory distress syndrome and metabolic acidosis in newborns and infants after rapid infusion. Check with your doctor right away if your child has blue lips, fingernails, or skin, difficult, confusion, drowsiness, fast breathing, muscle tremors, nausea, restlessness, stomach cramps, or unusual tiredness or weakness.
This medicine may cause a rare condition called fat overload syndrome. Tell your doctor right away if you or your child have a fever, chills, cough, sore throat, upper right abdominal or stomach pain and fullness, or unusual bleeding, bruising, or weakness.
This medicine may cause a serious allergic reaction, which can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, or mouth after using this medicine.
This medicine may increase your risk of developing infections. Avoid being near people who are sick or have infections while you or your child are receiving this medicine. Wash your hands often. Tell your doctor if you have any kind of infection before you start receiving this medicine. Also tell your doctor if you have ever had an infection that would not go away or an infection that kept coming back.
Call your doctor right away if you or your child start to have a cough that will not go away, weight loss, night sweats, fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms, such as a runny or stuffy nose, headache, blurred vision, or feeling generally ill. These may be signs that you have an infection.
This medicine may cause aluminum toxicity (too much aluminum in the blood), which may damage the brain and can be life-threatening. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns.
Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are receiving this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Serious side effects of Omegaven
Along with its needed effects, fat emulsion (the active ingredient contained in Omegaven) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking fat emulsion:
More common side effects
- blurred vision
- dry mouth
- flushed, dry skin
- fruit-like breath odor
- increased hunger
- increased thirst
- increased urination
- nausea
- sweating
- trouble breathing
- unexplained weight loss
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- vomiting
Less common side effects
- bladder pain
- bloody or cloudy urine
- chills
- confusion
- difficult, burning, or painful urination
- dizziness
- fainting
- fever
- frequent urge to urinate
- headache
- lower back or side pain
- nervousness
- pale skin
- pounding in the ears
- rapid, shallow breathing
- slow or fast heartbeat
- unusual bleeding or bruising
Rare side effects
- chest pain or tightness
- changes in skin color
- clay-colored stools
- cough
- dark urine
- eye pain
- general feeling of illness
- itching, skin rash
- loss of appetite
- pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg
- sneezing
- sore throat
- unpleasant breath odor
- vomiting of blood
- yellow eyes or skin
Incidence not known
- black, tarry stools
- bleeding gums
- blood in the urine or stools
- blue lips, fingernails, or skin
- bluish color
- chest tightness
- confusion
- difficulty in swallowing
- irregular heartbeat
- muscle cramps, pain, or tremors
- numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the hands or feet
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- problems with bleeding or clotting
- restlessness
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- stomach cramps
- swelling of the face, throat, or tongue
- swollen glands
- trouble breathing
- upper right abdominal or stomach pain and fullness
Other side effects of Omegaven
Some side effects of fat emulsion may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common side effects
- acid or sour stomach
- belching
- bloated
- excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
- full feeling
- heartburn
- indigestion
- passing gas
- stomach discomfort or upset
Rare side effects
- change in taste
- loss of taste
Incidence not known
- increased sweating
For healthcare professionals
Applies to fat emulsion: intravenous emulsion.
General adverse events
The most common adverse events in pediatric patients were anemia, vomiting, increased gamma-glutamyl transferase, and nosocomial infection.
Gastrointestinal
Adult patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Nausea, vomiting, flatulence, abdominal pain, dyspepsia
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Diarrhea
Pediatric patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain[Ref]
Dermatologic
Adult patients:
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash, pruritus
Pediatric patients:
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Rash
Postmarketing:
- Frequency not reported: Hyperhidrosis[Ref]
Cardiovascular
Adult patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Tachycardia
Pediatric patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Tachycardia
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Hypertension
Postmarketing:
- Frequency not reported: Palpitations, phlebitis[Ref]
Genitourinary
Adult patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Urinary tract infection[Ref]
Hepatic
Adult patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Increased blood bilirubin
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Cholestasis, liver function test abnormalities, increased gamma-glutamyl transferase
- Frequency not reported: Cholecystitis, cholelithiasis
Pediatric patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Increased gamma-glutamyl transferase, cholestasis, hyperbilirubinemia, increased conjugated bilirubin, increased alanine aminotransferase
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): liver function test abnormalities
Postmarketing:
- Frequency not reported: Cholestasis[Ref]
Hematologic
- Common (1% to 10%): Anemia
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Leukocytosis, increased C-reactive protein
Pediatric patients:
- Very common (10% or more): Anemia
- Common (1% to 10%): Thrombocytopenia, increased C-reactive protein[Ref]
Adult patients
Nervous system
Adult patients:
- Frequency not reported: Dysgeusia, headache, dizziness[Ref]
Metabolic
Adult patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Hyperglycemia, increased blood triglycerides
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased alkaline phosphatase
Pediatric patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Hyperglycemia
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Increased alkaline phosphatase, metabolic acidosis, increased blood triglycerides
Postmarketing:
- Frequency not reported: Fatty acid deficiency[Ref]
Other
Adult patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Pyrexia, fever, device related infections, sepsis
Pediatric patients:
- Common (1% to 10%): Nosocomial infection, pyrexia, sepsis
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Infection, fluid overload
Postmarketing:
- Frequency not reported: Chills, malaise[Ref]
Respiratory
Adult patients:
- Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Dyspnea, pneumonia
Postmarketing:
- Frequency not reported: Dyspnea, chest pain[Ref]
See also:
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References
1. (2018) "Product Information. Intralipid (fat emulsion, intravenous)." Baxter I.V. Systems Division
2. (2018) "Product Information. Smoflipid (fat emulsion, intravenous)." Fresenius Kabi USA, LLC
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Further information
Omegaven side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.