Potential Evening Primrose Oil Side Effects, Adverse Reactions And Contraindications

Evening primrose oil is extracted from the seeds of the Evening Primrose Plant, properly called Oenothera Biennis. The herb gets its name from its flowers that bloom as the sun is setting. The flowers will wither away the following day.

It is a native North American plant, but it can be found in Europe as well. The seeds are used to extract the oil and this oil is very rich in gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and omega-6 fatty acids.

It is these great substances that have made evening primrose a widely used supplement in both pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. Although relatively safe to use, there are some possible evening primrose oil side effects, adverse reactions and contraindications you should be aware of.

Allergies

If you have allergic tendencies to other plants that belong to the Onagraceae family, you might also produce allergic reactions to evening primrose oil. Also, if you are allergic to GLA, you might have allergic reactions to this oil, too.

The evening primrose oil side effect of allergic reaction might cause a skin rash or hives. If more adverse symptoms, such as breathing difficulties or swollen throat, are present, it is advised to contact your health care provider. You can also prevent this evening primrose oil side effect by testing the supplement in small amounts first before extensive use.

Headaches, gastrointestinal upset and bloating

Relatively rare evening primrose oil side effects are some gastrointestinal upset and bloating. You might also feel some mild nausea. These are not widely reported side effects. Some people might also experience slight headaches when consuming evening primrose oil.

Seizures

There have been some reported cases of seizure in people taking evening primrose oil. Often, these involved individuals with a history of previous seizure disorders or people who took evening primrose oil in conjunction with anesthetics. It is thus advised by various health organizations that people who have seizure disorders should not take evening primrose oil, and people who are taking any prescription drugs, especially those used to treat mental illness, should use this supplement cautiously.

There have been studies that have found increased risk of epilepsy in schizophrenic patients taking anti-psychotic medications like Thorazine and Prolixin together with evening primrose oil, according to the Mayo Clinic reporting in 2006.

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