Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 3 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Borage Oil Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by NewtonEverett

Softgel Capsule Category: Botanical With Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Borage Oil is a dietary supplement by NewtonEverett with 3 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eczema and dry skin, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 226 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Borage Oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Borage Oil by NewtonEverett

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 4 of its 4 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

NewtonEverett Borage Oil is a 4-ingredient softgel capsule centered on borage seed oil itself. The oil is rich in polyunsaturated fats, including gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, which are the compounds responsible for borage's potential effects in the body.

The capsule is made of gelatin and vegetable glycerin as inactive ingredients.

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Borage product and its label doesn't state a use — see Borage's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for borage oil is mixed and often thin. For atopic dermatitis (eczema), it rates as possibly ineffective — meaning the current data don't support its use.

For attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and alcoholism, there simply isn't enough reliable evidence to say whether it works or doesn't. If you're considering borage oil for a specific condition, talk with your doctor or pharmacist about whether the evidence supports it for your situation.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Borage

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Borage seed oil itself is generally well tolerated, with most people experiencing only mild digestive effects like belching, bloating, soft stools, or diarrhea. The real safety concern is liver toxicity from pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) — compounds found in borage leaf, flower, and seed that can damage the liver, particularly with long-term exposure.

Although the seed oil contains little to no PAs, other plant parts do. The product should be certified PA-free if you're using it.

Borage oil is rated likely unsafe in pregnancy due to the possible liver-toxic alkaloids and a theoretical risk to the uterus, and there isn't enough safety data for breastfeeding. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any liver concerns.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Borage

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Borage.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 227 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Before starting this borage oil, double-check your medications for these types: blood thinners and antiplatelet drugs (Moderate risk of increased bleeding), antipsychotics like phenothiazines (Moderate risk of lowered seizure threshold), and CYP3A4-inducing drugs such as certain anticonvulsants (Moderate risk of increased liver toxins). No interactions are documented for the other ingredients we checked.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Borage Oil may be worth considering if you're exploring options for certain conditions, but the evidence for most uses is weak or absent. If you take blood thinners, antipsychotics, or certain other medications, you'll want to check with your doctor or pharmacist first — the interactions are real, though mostly Moderate in severity.

Pregnant and breastfeeding people should avoid it. Run your exact medications through the checker on this page to see what applies to you.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 4 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jul 25, 2014.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Borage Oil, straight from the product label.

Brand NewtonEverett
Barcode (UPC) 689076031585
Net contents 60 Softgel(s); 1000 mg
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jul 25, 2014
DSLD ID 35397
Product type Botanical With Nutrients
Supplement form Softgel Capsule
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Sugar Free
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Borage Oil by NewtonEverett, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
60
UPC/BARCODE
689076031585
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories10 {Calories}--
Calories from Fat10 {Calories}--
Total Fat1 Gram(s)2%
Polyunsaturated Fat0.5 Gram(s)--
Gamma-Linolenic Acid240 mg--
Linoleic Acid380 mg--
Borage Oil1000 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
General Statements

Pure - Potent - Bioavailable We are driven to deliver highly potent, ultra-pure nutritional products with uncompromised quality. Our premium-grade liquid softgels are designed to provide an ideal delivery vehicle for maximum absorption and enhanced bioavailability.

Made in USA

FDA Statement of Identity

dietary supplement

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: For adults, take one (1) softgel two times daily, preferably with meals.

Precautions

Warning: If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications, planning any medical procedure or have any medical condition, consult your doctor before use.

Discontinue use and consult your doctor if any adverse reactions occur.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Not suitable for vegetarians.

Storage

Store at room temperature.

Formulation

No artificial color, flavor or sweetener, preservatives, sugar, starch, milk, lactose, soy, gluten, wheat, yeast, fish. Sodium free.

Seals/Symbols

newtoneverett(R)

See for yourself

Borage Oil by NewtonEverett label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

What’s inside

The Ingredients in Borage Oil by NewtonEverett

These are the 3 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container60 Amounts shown are per serving.

Most supplement products combine several ingredients, and a medication can interact with the product through any one of them. Each ingredient below shows whether it has known drug interactions.

Gamma-Linolenic Acid

240 mg per serving

Linoleic Acid

380 mg per serving

Borage Oil

Interacts with
226 drugs
1000 mg per serving

Borage is a Mediterranean herb whose seed oil is rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fatty acid studied mostly for skin conditions and arth...

Borage Oil monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Gelatin, Vegetable Glycerin. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Borage Oil by NewtonEverett Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Borage Oil?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

Go to the checker
226Drugs
226 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Borage Oil with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Borage Oil3 drug types · 226 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, borage seed oil may increase the risk of bleeding if used with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs.
In healthy individuals, borage seed oil supplementation does not seem to affect platelet aggregation. However, gamma-linolenic acid, a constituent of borage seed oil, seems to decrease platelet aggregation by 45% and increase the risk of bleeding by 40% in animal and clinical research.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Inducers

Theoretically, taking borage with drugs that induce CYP3A4 might increase levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) toxic metabolites.
Although borage seed oil contains little to no PAs, some borage plant parts, such as the leaf, flower, and seed, can contain hepatotoxic PAs. Hepatotoxic PAs are substrates of CYP3A4, which converts these chemicals into toxic metabolites. Tell patients to avoid borage preparations that are not certified and labeled as hepatotoxic PA-free.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Phenothiazines

Theoretically, taking borage sed oil with phenothiazines might increase the risk of seizures.
Borage seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). There is concern that taking supplements containing GLA might cause seizures, or lower the seizure threshold, when taken with phenothiazines. This is based on limited data from two reports published in the 1980s. In one report, three patients with schizophrenia who had received phenothiazines developed EEG changes suggestive of temporal lobe epilepsy after starting treatment with evening primrose, another source of GLA. However, none experienced an actual seizure. In the other report, two patients with schizophrenia who were stabilized on phenothiazines developed seizures when evening primrose 4 grams daily was added. One of these patients had a prior history of seizures. It is unclear whether evening primrose had any additive epileptogenic effects with the phenothiazines, but there is no evidence that taking GLA-containing supplements alone can cause seizures.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Borage Oil, from the product label.

NewtonEverett

See all NewtonEverett products
Name
Newton-Everett Biotech
Web Address
www.newton-everett.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Borage Oil by NewtonEverett: Common Questions

Does Borage Oil by NewtonEverett interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Borage Oil has a known interaction with 226 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Borage Oil contains 3 active ingredients, and an interaction can come from any of them. We check every ingredient, combine the results into one list per medication, and show which ingredient and mechanism is responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
Will borage oil thin my blood?
Borage oil doesn't thin your blood itself, but it may increase bleeding risk if you're already taking blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin or aspirin. The effect is Moderate in severity. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before combining it with any blood-thinning medication.
What side effects should I watch for?
Most people experience only mild digestive effects — belching, bloating, soft stools, or diarrhea. The serious concern is liver damage from pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can occur with prolonged use of borage plant parts that aren't certified alkaloid-free. Make sure the product is certified PA-free.
Can I take this if I'm pregnant?
No — borage oil is rated likely unsafe in pregnancy because of possible liver-toxic alkaloids and a theoretical risk to the uterus. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Does borage oil work for eczema?
The evidence suggests it's possibly ineffective for atopic dermatitis (eczema). If you're considering it for skin issues, talk with your doctor about other options that have stronger evidence behind them.
What's gamma-linolenic acid and why is it in here?
Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is a polyunsaturated fat naturally present in borage seed oil. It's believed to be the active compound in borage, though the overall evidence for borage's effectiveness remains limited.
Is this product free of liver toxins?
Borage seed oil contains little to no pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA), the liver-toxic compounds in other borage plant parts. However, you should confirm the product is certified PA-free to be sure. If you have any liver concerns, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Not sure if Borage Oil is safe with your meds?

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Borage Oil label
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Borage Oil's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 11 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Borage 11 references
  1. Guivernau M, Meza N, Barja P, Roman O. Clinical and experimental study on the long-term effect of dietary gamma-linolenic acid on plasma lipids, platelet aggregation, thromboxane formation, and prostacyclin production. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty A PubMed
  2. WHO working group. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Environmental Health Criteria, 80. WHO: Geneva, 1988.
  3. Fan YY, Chapkin RS. Importance of dietary gamma-linolenic acid in human health and nutrition. J Nutr 1998;128:1411-4.
  4. Takwale A, Tan E, Agarwal S, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of borage oil in adults and children with atopic eczema: randomised, double blind, placebo controlled, parallel group trial. BMJ 2003;327:1385. PubMed
  5. Chojkier M. Hepatic sinusoidal-obstruction syndrome: toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. J Hepatol 2003;39:437-46. PubMed
  6. Roeder E. Medicinal plants in Europe containing pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Pharmazie 1995;50:83-98.
  7. Wang YP, Yan J, Fu PP, Chou MW. Human liver microsomal reduction of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to form the corresponding carcinogenic parent alkaloid. Toxicol Lett 2005;155:411-20. PubMed
  8. Holman CP and Bell AF. A trial of evening primrose oil in the treatment of chronic schizophrenia. J Orhtomolecular Psych 1983;12:302-304.
  9. Vaddadi KS. The use of gamma-linolenic acid and linoleic acid to differentiate between temporal lobe epilepsy and schizophrenia. Prostaglandins Med 1981;6(4):375-379. PubMed
  10. Bard, J. M., Luc, G., Jude, B., Bordet, J. C., Lacroix, B., Bonte, J. P., Parra, H. J., and Duriez, P. A therapeutic dosage (3 g/day) of borage oil supplementation has no effect on platelet aggregation in healthy volunteers. Fundam.Clin.Pharmacol. 1997;1
  11. Puri BK. The safety of evening primrose oil in epilepsy. Prostaglandins Leukotrienes Essential Fatty Acids 2007;77:101-3. PubMed

See these in context on the Borage monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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