# Omega Fish Oil Pills, dammnit **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 27, 2016, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027 "2016-09-27T11:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/1 "2016-09-27T11:50:15Z")
Recommended (and even prescribed it) to me by standard doctor. But the pills are [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish\_oil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_oil) huuuge. I used to choke on even regular capsules. And those are 3 times bigger. Surely some one had to use heimlich on me. Not all here have the same size of larynx (and reflex gags also varies). Usually works for me just to open capsule and pour its cargo on the tongue. But, o boy. Not this time. Blah, bruh, ugh. There are 17 cats on my porch right now (not ours) and all the humans have left the contaminated zone. And after two naga chillies I still smell like shark bait. My stomach is like: really, you think? Is there same other safe way to: - repack those capsules (hmm, mixing them in can of anchovies comes to mind, but I do not want eat these three times a day) - find some reasonable alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/2 "2016-09-27T12:04:29Z")
I tried those huge capsules. I stopped not because of the size, but because my belches would taste like a mass alewife die-off. ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/3 "2016-09-27T15:11:45Z")
I bet you can train yourself to take bigger pills. You probably swallow a bigger bolus of food with every bite. If you don’t want to take the trouble to do that, you can get smaller alternatives - you just have to take more of them. Like [this one](https://smile.amazon.com/Nature-Made-Pearls-Softgel-Count/dp/B00W66QF82/ref=pd_lpo_121_tr_t_3?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=1TWC14W2ZED7D4CQ7FCF). ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/4 "2016-09-27T15:20:22Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I tried those huge capsules. I stopped not because of the size, but because my belches would taste like a mass alewife die-off. There are enteric coated ones that don’t dissolve until lower down. I stopped taking them after years because continuing research seemed to show the benefits were minimal to imaginary. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/5 "2016-09-27T16:54:13Z")
I had similar issues with calcium pills. It’s mostly women who take them, who presumably have smaller mouths and gullets, but the damned things are huge. A woman I worked for once nearly choked on one of them. If her husband hadn’t known how to do the Heimlich maneuver, she’d be dead today. After I heard her story, I shopped around and found petite versions of calcium pills. Unfortunately, I can’t find a generic version yet and so must pay for brand-name Citracal Petites. But they’re a heck of a lot easier to swallow. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/6 "2016-09-27T17:01:20Z")
> [@yo\_han\_go](#): > > - find some reasonable alternatives. Eat fish. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/7 "2016-09-27T18:21:30Z")
Have no problem with fish. Medical diet in my case requires fish. No appetite, so they just capsuled me. It is like eating random 165 fish at once (if you took took that capsule in a raw ruptured way). ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/8 "2016-09-27T18:25:20Z")
I have a harder time swallowing solid multivitamins that, while large, are not as large a fish oil pills. Fish oil pills glide down my throat and don’t get stuck, unlike multivitamins. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/9 "2016-09-27T18:56:03Z")
Try taking them with a spoonful of mashed potatoes or ice cream. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/10 "2016-09-28T03:11:31Z")
I have to take four prescription-strength ones a day. I have no trouble swallowing them, as well as other similar-sized supplements. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/11 "2016-09-28T03:19:46Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > There are enteric coated ones that don’t dissolve until lower down. > > I stopped taking them after years because continuing research seemed to show the benefits were minimal to imaginary. And AFAIK they are prescription only. If (generic) you find the taste bothersome, why not try flax oil? You get the omega-3 supplementation without the fishy taste, and it’s also suitable for vegetarians. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/12 "2016-09-28T06:25:56Z")
Did some googling. Flax oil should do. So lettuce salad will be. Thanx. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/13 "2016-09-28T06:35:13Z")
Just realized I have some in the house, so I tried a spoon of it. Still has some of the same taste but 100 times less. With some pumpkin oil and vinegar in lettuce or tomato salad it should be ok. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/14 "2016-09-28T06:58:40Z")
They sell Omega supplements made from Flax Oil. Perhaps those might work for you? ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/15 "2016-09-28T08:20:25Z")
Nah. Flax oil here is cheap enough. Omega fish oil capsules are also cheap and not regulated here. Like 4$ for 60 capsules or 15$ for half a liter of flax oil. If any vegans or other users read this, what should be the daily dosage. Teaspoon? Full spoon? Two? That thing can be dangerous if consumed in wrong quantity. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/16 "2016-09-28T10:49:29Z")
Where would ‘here’ be? ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/17 "2016-09-28T10:59:54Z")
Basically Central Yurp. Can check details in profile … ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/18 "2016-09-28T15:36:23Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > And AFAIK they are prescription only. > > If (generic) you find the taste bothersome, why not try flax oil? You get the omega-3 supplementation without the fishy taste, and it’s also suitable for vegetarians. I buy fish oil capsules from Target with enteric coating. They are not “prescription only.” It’s their up & up brand. Called “burp less fish oil”. And to the OP, they are 15/16 inch long and 3/8 inch wide which seem to be about the same size as others I have tried. I have no trouble swallowing them. I also never burp them. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/19 "2016-09-28T22:54:41Z")
> [@yo\_han\_go](#): > > Nah. Flax oil here is cheap enough. Omega fish oil capsules are also cheap and not regulated here. > > Like 4$ for 60 capsules or 15$ for half a liter of flax oil. > > If any vegans or other users read this, what should be the daily dosage. Teaspoon? Full spoon? Two? That thing can be dangerous if consumed in wrong quantity. First of all, as to your original problem, [something like MegaRed](https://www.amazon.com/MegaRed-Omega-Krill-Oil-Combination/dp/B00ECBQQME?th=1) sounds like it would work best for you. The Omega-3 from krill oil is more concentrated, so the pills are much smaller. Second of all, you should almost surely NOT be taking flax oil/seed for the Omega-3s. What’s important with essential fatty acids is THE RATIO of Omega 3/6/9. The typical American diet provides waaaaay too much Omega 6, which is why supplementing Omega 3, _specifically_, is encouraged in order to improve the ratio. Problem with Flax is that the Omega ratios are all lopsided, and you will be making your Omega ratios \*worse \*than if you had done nothing at all. [http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/why-not-flaxseed-oil](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12442909) ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2016, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027/20 "2016-09-29T00:03:19Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > And AFAIK they are prescription only. The enteric coated ones? Bought them in 300-capsule bottles at Sam’s for years. There are many enteric capsules and pills in the OTC market. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/omega-fish-oil-pills-dammnit/767027.md?page=2)