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

Side effects of Oenothera include:

• headache,
• indigestion,
• nausea, and
• diarrhea.

Other side effects include:

• increase bruising,
• bleeding, and
• seizures.

(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.

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.

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 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.