Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 1 of 2 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

Borage Oil Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Vital Nutrients

Borage Oil label
See full label image
Softgel Capsule Category: Fat/fatty Acid
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Borage Oil against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Borage Oil is a dietary supplement by Vital Nutrients with 2 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 seed Oil. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients

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

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Jul 16, 2026

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 2 of its 2 active ingredients.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Borage Oil contains 2 active ingredients: Gamma-Linolenic Acid and Borage seed Oil. The inactive ingredients are gelatin, glycerin, water, and mixed tocopherols (a form of vitamin E).

Borage seed oil is an extract of the borage plant seed and is the main source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. Unlike other parts of the borage plant, the seed oil itself contains little to no pyrrolizidine alkaloids—plant compounds that can damage the liver.

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 limited. For eczema (atopic dermatitis), the data suggests it's likely ineffective.

For attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and alcoholism, there isn't enough reliable evidence to say whether it works or doesn't. If you're considering borage oil for one of these conditions, talk with your doctor 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 is generally well tolerated by mouth when certified to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA). The most common side effects are mild digestive ones—belching, bloating, diarrhea, and soft stools.

A bigger concern is that other parts of the borage plant (leaf, flower, seed) contain liver-toxic compounds. Chronic exposure to these compounds, even from seed, has been linked to veno-occlusive disease, a serious liver condition with symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, and fluid buildup.

The safety data advises against borage oil in pregnancy because of the possible liver-toxic alkaloids and a theoretical risk to the uterus. There isn't enough safety data for breastfeeding—talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking it while nursing.

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 taking Borage Oil, double-check your medications with your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (such as warfarin, aspirin, or clopidogrel)—borage oil may increase bleeding risk. Also flag antipsychotic medications (phenothiazines), where seizure risk could theoretically increase, and any drugs that speed up liver metabolism (CYP3A4 inducers).

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 might be an option if you're interested in omega-6 supplementation, but the evidence for specific conditions is weak or absent. It's important to use a product certified PA-free to lower liver-toxicity risk.

Before starting it, check with your doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take blood thinners, antipsychotics, or other medications—this product has documented interactions with a large number of drugs.

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

Assessment coverage: 1 of 2 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Sep 24, 2019.

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 Vital Nutrients
Barcode (UPC) 693465205211
Net contents 180 Softgel Capsule(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Sep 24, 2019
DSLD ID 207352
Product type Fat/fatty Acid
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 Vital Nutrients, 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:
2 Softgel(s)
Servings per container
90
UPC/BARCODE
693465205211
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories20 Calorie(s)--
Calories from Fat20 Calorie(s)--
Saturated Fat350 mg2%
Cholesterol0 NP--
Total Fat2 Gram(s)3%
Gamma-Linolenic Acid400 mg--
Borage seed Oil2000 mg--

Other ingredients: Gelatin, Glycerin, Water, Mixed Tocopherols

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.
Storage

Store sealed in a cool dry place

Precautions

Keep out of reach of children

Use only if safety seal is intact

Warning If pregnant, consult your physician before taking.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Recommendations 1 or 2 capsules daily with food or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Formulation

Excludes coatings, binders, gluten (wheat, rye, barley), milk/dairy (casein, whey), soy protein, egg protein, sugar.

Extracted without chemicals

General Statements

Verified by independent testing

Raw materials and finished products are independently tested by U.S. labs. Learn more at vitalnutrients.net

Cold pressed

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients label

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

Borage Oil label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients

These are the 2 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 Softgel(s) Dosage formSoftgel Capsule Servings per container90 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

400 mg per serving

Borage seed Oil

Interacts with
226 drugs
2000 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 seed Oil monograph & interactions

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

Interaction report

Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients 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

Borage seed Oil 226

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Borage Oil interact with 226 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 2 ingredients in Borage Oil interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Borage seed Oil

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 seed 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
Borage seed Oil full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

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

Vital Nutrients

See all Vital Nutrients products
Name
Vital Nutrients
Street Address
45 Kenneth Dooley Dr
City
Middletown
State
CT
ZipCode
06457
Web Address
vitalnutrients.net
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients: Common Questions

Does Borage Oil by Vital Nutrients 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 2 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.
What does borage oil actually do?
Borage oil is a source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an omega-6 fat. The research on what it does is limited—for eczema, it appears ineffective, and for ADHD, respiratory problems, and alcoholism, there's not enough evidence to know whether it helps.
Is this product safe if I have liver problems?
Borage seed oil itself contains little to no liver-toxic compounds, but borage plant parts (leaf, flower, seed) do contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver over time. Make sure your product is certified PA-free, and talk with your doctor before using it.
Can I take this while pregnant?
No—the safety data advises against borage oil in pregnancy because of the possible liver-toxic alkaloids and a theoretical risk to the uterus. If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant, skip this supplement and talk with your doctor about other options.
What are the side effects?
Most people who take borage seed oil experience mild digestive side effects—belching, bloating, diarrhea, and soft stools. A rare but serious concern is liver toxicity from pyrrolizidine alkaloids, especially with long-term use of products not certified PA-free.
How do I know if my borage oil is safe?
Look for a product certified to be free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA-free). This removes the biggest toxicity risk. The Vital Nutrients label should tell you if it meets this standard—if not, ask the manufacturer.

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

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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
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Borage Oil’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Borage

Interacts with 226 drugs

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 arthritis with mixed results. The plant's le...

Read the full Borage monograph →
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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