Evening Primrose Oil

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 1, 2021.

What are other common names?

• Oenothera biennis
• Oenothera muricata
• Oenothera purpurata
• Oenothera rubricaulis
• Oenothera suaveolens
• Cis-Linoleic Acid
• Common Evening Primrose
• EPO
• Evening Primrose
• Evening Primrose Seed Oil
• Fever Plant
• King's Cureall
• Night Willow Herb
• Oil of the Evening Primrose
• Primrose Oil
• Scabish
• Sun Drop

What is this product used for?

Evening primrose oil is also called EPO. Some people may use it to help with rheumatoid arthritis. Other people who have diabetes may use it to help with nerve pain that causes tingling and burning in their feet and legs.

What are the precautions when taking this product?

• Always check with your doctor before you use a natural product. Some products may not mix well with drugs or other natural products.

• This product may interfere with some lab tests. Be sure to talk with your doctor about this and all drugs you are taking.

• Be sure to tell your doctor that you take this product if you are scheduled for surgery or tests.

• Be sure to tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breastfeeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using this natural product.

• Take extra care if you are taking drugs to thin your blood. These are drugs like warfarin, heparin, or enoxaparin.

• Take extra care if you are taking drugs to dissolve blood clots. These are drugs like alteplase, reteplase, or streptokinase.

• Take extra care if you are taking drugs to help with swelling or inflammation. These are drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen.

• Take extra care and check with your doctor if you have:

  • Bleeding problems

What should I watch for?

• Upset stomach

• Feeling full

• Abdominal pain

When do I need to call the doctor?

• Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.

• Very bad throwing up

• Very bad loose stools

• Bruising or bleeding that is not normal

• Changes in menstrual periods like lots of bleeding, spotting, or bleeding between cycles

Where can I learn more?

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/eveningprimrose

Last Reviewed Date

Consumer information use

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications...