It is very interesting!
Here is a copy of the Mayo website on EPO...
Quote:
Side Effects and Warnings
Several reports describe seizures in individuals taking evening primrose oil (EPO). Some of these seizures developed in people with a previous seizure disorder, or in individuals taking EPO in combination with anesthetics. Based on these reports, people with seizure disorders should not take EPO. EPO should be used cautiously with drugs used to treat mental illness such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine®), thioridazine (Mellaril®), trifluoperazine (Stelazine®), or fluphenazine (Prolixin®), due to an increased risk of seizure. Patients who plan to undergo surgery requiring anesthesia should stop taking EPO two weeks ahead of time because of the possibility of seizure.
Other reports describe occasional headache, abdominal pain, nausea, and loose stools in people taking EPO. In animal studies, gamma-linolenic acid (an ingredient of evening primrose oil) is reported to decrease blood pressure. Early results in human studies do not show consistent changes in blood pressure.
|
from
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/eve...tient-Primrose
I searched this subject on 2 occasions in the past and found one paper using the abbreviation GLA seizures...but the GLA was a toxin..not from evening primrose oil. I can't find it today on PubMed since they reorganized the site.
But a meta-analysis in the past would have tagged that paper.
The warning about GLA involves people who already have a seizure disorder, or who take antipsychotic drugs. The incidents of seizure were very few.
At the typical intake to supplement food, for a normal person, I don't see an issue. But many people take GRAMs of EPO...and when increasing to that
amount, yes, caution is a good idea. Also from the standpoint that one is skewing normal EFA metabolism and may overload certain chemical systems.
Fish oil is basically anti-inflammatory. Also fish oil does affect neurotransmitter functions, supposedly by improving cellular membrane fluidity and hence enhances neurotransmitter effects. This is the postulated theory for why fish oil helps with depression. But I wonder if enhancing neurotransmitter status, it is stimulating dopamine receptor function for TS patients..hence the tics?
People really have genetic variability in handling fatty acids. Males for example are low in conversion to EPA and DHA in vivo compared to females (who carry fetuses who depend on DHA for brain growth). Males therefore, possibly handle fish oil differently, since their needs are less. So this too may change the response a male has to high dose fish oil compared to a female.
Fatty acid chemistry is really complex... so it is difficult to generalize for each person. Dietary use, is easier to handle. When you get into the higher doses, these variabilities become more obvious.
This is the Miller 1998 paper often cited:
Quote:
Arch Intern Med. 1998 Nov 9;158(20):2200-11.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Arch Intern Med. 1999 May 24;159(10):1142-3.
Arch Intern Med. 1999 Sep 13;159(16):1957-8.
Herbal medicinals: selected clinical considerations focusing on known or potential drug-herb interactions.
* Miller LG.
Department of Pharmacy Practice, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo 79121, USA.
Herbal medicinals are being used by an increasing number of patients who typically do not advise their
clinicians of concomitant use. Known or potential drug-herb interactions exist and should be screened for. If used
beyond 8 weeks, Echinacea could cause hepatotoxicity and therefore should not be used with other known hepatoxic
drugs, such as anabolic steroids, amiodarone, methotrexate, and ketoconazole. However, Echinacea lacks the 1,2
saturated necrine ring associated with hepatoxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
may negate the usefulness of feverfew in the treatment of migraine headaches. Feverfew, garlic, Ginkgo, ginger, and
ginseng may alter bleeding time and should not be used concomitantly with warfarin sodium. Additionally, ginseng may
cause headache, tremulousness, and manic episodes in patients treated with phenelzine sulfate. Ginseng should also
not be used with estrogens or corticosteroids because of possible additive effects. Since the mechanism of action of
St John wort is uncertain, concomitant use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors and selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors is ill advised. Valerian should not be used concomitantly with barbiturates because excessive sedation
may occur. Kyushin, licorice, plantain, uzara root, hawthorn, and ginseng may interfere with either digoxin
pharmacodynamically or with digoxin monitoring. Evening primrose oil and borage should not be used with
anticonvulsants because they may lower the seizure threshold. Shankapulshpi, an Ayurvedic preparation, may decrease
phenytoin levels as well as diminish drug efficacy. Kava when used with alprazolam has resulted in coma.
Immunostimulants (eg, Echinacea and zinc) should not be given with immunosuppressants (eg, corticosteroids and
cyclosporine). Tannic acids present in some herbs (eg, St John wort and saw palmetto) may inhibit the absorption of
iron. Kelp as a source of iodine may interfere with thyroid replacement therapies. Licorice can offset the
pharmacological effect of spironolactone. Numerous herbs (eg, karela and ginseng) may affect blood glucose levels
and should not be used in patients with diabetes mellitus.
PMID: 9818800 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Related Links
|
__________________
All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.-- Galileo Galilei
************************************
.
Weezie looking at petunias 8.25.2017
****************************
These forums are for mutual support and information sharing only. The forums are not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment provided by a qualified health care provider. Always consult your doctor before trying anything you read here.