Evening Primrose Oil Side Effects, Adverse Reactions and Contraindications

Are there any potential evening primrose oil side effects and contraindications?

Evening primrose oil is used for its variety of health benefits, but does it come with any adverse reactions that might be harmful?

For the most part, evening primrose oil is pretty safe to use and take. Most of its side effects are mild and can include headaches, upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea. However, there are a few instances when it might be unsafe to take evening primrose oil.

There have been few studies conducted on the safety of taking evening primrose oil while pregnant or breastfeeding. If you are pregnant, it is probably best to avoid taking it, as it could cause some unwanted complications. Likewise, it is debatable as to whether or not it is safe to take while breastfeeding. Talk to your health care practitioner if you are breastfeeding in order to find out if it is something that might be safe for you to take.

It is probably better to be safe than sorry, since we cannot be sure that there aren't unwanted evening primrose oil side effects for pregnant or nursing women.

Besides potential evening primrose oil side effects, you should also take note of possible contraindications or situations to avoid this oil.

If you have a bleeding disorder, then you might want to avoid taking this oil as well. A concern exists that it might increase the chance of bleeding and bruising, both of which could complicate an existing bleeding disorder. Likewise, if you are having surgery, then you should cease taking the evening primrose oil 2 weeks before you have surgery, as it can increase the chances and risks of bleeding.

If you have to have immediate surgery, then it is important to let the doctor know that you have been taking the evening primrose oil. Sometimes, it can cause bleeding during and after surgery, so it's important for the anesthesiologist and the doctor to know what you have in your system, as well as how much you might have, too. Special precautions can be taken to ensure that you don't run into any complications.

People who suffer from epilepsy should also avoid taking evening primrose oil. It could increase the likelihood of seizures, so if you have a history of seizures, or have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, then you should probably not take the oil.

There are also reports that those who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia have also suffered from increased seizure activity while taking evening primrose oil, so it is not advised that the oil be used during these instances.

There are no reported drug interactions with evening primrose oil, other than with anticonvulsant medications; in such situations, the chance of seizures could be increased.

If you are allergic to plants in the Onagraceae family or are allergic to any of the ingredients that are contained within the gel caps or in the oil itself, then you should not take evening primrose oil. It could cause an allergic reaction to form; such possible evening primrose oil side effects include a rash.

There have been some animal studies that have shown a decrease in blood pressure. However, it has not been widely reported among humans. Still, if you tend to have low blood pressure, then you should talk to your health care practitioner before you take evening primrose oil.

The mild evening primrose oil side effects that have been reported, such as the headaches and upset stomach, should go away after you have been using the oil for a while. However, if these evening primrose oil side effects persist, then you might need to take a smaller dosage of it and then gradually increase your dose until you reach the full amount.

If you begin taking the oil and notice any strong evening primrose oil side effect or adverse reaction, then stop taking the oil immediately. Do not continue to take it if you experience sharp, piercing headaches, excessive nausea or vomiting, or severe stomach cramps that may or may not be followed by diarrhea. Although these are rare, they should be considered signs of concern and therefore should be taken seriously.

Having read about some possible evening primrose oil side effects, adverse reactions and contraindications, you can learn more about this oil by reading the other related evening primrose oil articles and pages.

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