Interactions on record — worth a quick check against your medications. Based on 2 of 6 ingredients. Check your meds →
Dietary supplement

The Total EFA Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Health From The Sun

The Total EFA label
See full label image
Liquid Category: Botanical With Nutrients
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 30, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking The Total EFA 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

The Total EFA is a dietary supplement by Health From The Sun with 6 active ingredients. Its ingredients are commonly taken for eczema and dry skin, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation.Based on those ingredients, 312 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are organic Borage seed oil, Oleic Acid. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against The Total EFA by Health From The Sun

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with The Total EFA by Health From The Sun — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of The Total EFA by Health From The Sun

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 Sep 17, 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 6 of its 6 active ingredients.
  • “Organic Evening Primrose Seed Oil” is listed as a grouped ingredient — the label gives one combined amount (580 mg) without saying how much of each component you get.

The Total EFA is a liquid blend of six essential fatty acids. It contains gamma-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, organic flaxseed oil with its particle matter, and organic borage seed oil.

These are the active ingredients—the building blocks your body needs for cell membranes, hormone function, and inflammation control. The product also includes an antioxidant blend to keep the oils stable.

Does it work?

Moderate evidence
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
Moderate

Some clinical evidence supports this product's ingredients for its stated purpose, but it isn't conclusive.

Why this rating?
  • The label markets this product for: nutritional support for heart brain and body health.
  • We looked for evidence on: Cardiovascular disease (CVD), Coronary heart disease (CHD), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Atopic dermatitis (eczema), Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension — and 4 related terms.
  • The strongest evidence on file: Oleic Acid is rated "Possibly Effective" for Coronary heart disease (CHD) (Natural Medicines).
  • Also on file: Oleic Acid is rated "Possibly Effective" for Hypercholesterolemia.
  • Also on file: Borage is rated "Possibly Ineffective" for Atopic dermatitis (eczema).

Oleic acid—one of the three ingredients we could fully evaluate—is possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease based on research we hold. Borage seed oil appears possibly ineffective for eczema and lacks enough reliable evidence to rate for ADHD, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and alcoholism.

We don't have effectiveness data on file for the other ingredients in this product.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Borage Oleic Acid

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 2 matched ingredients.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 2 of 2.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 2 of 2.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Oleic acid is generally well tolerated in the amounts found in foods like olive oil, but concentrated supplement doses haven't been well studied, especially in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Borage seed oil is usually well tolerated by mouth—the most common side effects are belching, bloating, diarrhea, and soft stools—but safety data during pregnancy and lactation is not adequate; the product is advised against in pregnancy due to possible liver-toxic alkaloids and a theoretical risk to the uterus.

Some borage plant parts can contain liver-toxic compounds called pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs); seed oil certified PA-free is better tolerated, but this product should be avoided while nursing.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Borage Oleic Acid

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?
  • 2 of the 2 matched ingredients can interact with medications — Borage, Oleic Acid.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs; diabetes medications.
  • For scale: 313 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 you start, check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take blood thinners or antiplatelet drugs (borage seed oil may raise bleeding risk), antipsychotics like phenothiazines (theoretical seizure risk), drugs that induce the liver enzyme CYP3A4 (may increase toxic borage metabolites), or antidiabetes medications (oleic acid may strengthen their effect and require dose monitoring).

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with some supporting evidence for its stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

The Total EFA may help with cholesterol and heart health through its oleic acid content, but it carries documented interactions with blood thinners and some other medications. If you take antidiabetes drugs, antipsychotics, or blood thinners, talk it over with your doctor or pharmacist before starting.

Pregnant or nursing women should avoid this product because borage seed oil is not considered safe in those situations.

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

Assessment coverage: 2 of 6 active ingredients matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jun 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 The Total EFA, straight from the product label.

Brand Health From The Sun
Barcode (UPC) 010043050955
Net contents 8 fl. Oz.; 236 mL
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jun 25, 2014
DSLD ID 34312
Product type Botanical With Nutrients
Supplement form Liquid
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Vegetarian, Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic
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 The Total EFA by Health From The Sun, 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 tsp
Maximum serving Sizes:
1 tsp
Servings per container
15
UPC/BARCODE
010043050955
IngredientAmount% DV
Calories130 {Calories}--
Calories from Fat120 {Calories}--
Total Fat14 Gram(s)22%
Saturated Fat1.5 Gram(s)8%
Gamma-Linolenic Acid290 mg--
Linoleic Acid2300 mg--
Oleic Acid1700 mg--
Alpha-Linolenic Acid5800 mg--
Organic Flaxseed Oil and Particulate12.2 Gram(s)--
organic Borage seed oil1400 mg--
Organic Evening Primrose Seed Oil580 mg--

Other ingredients: Antioxidant Blend

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.
Seals/Symbols

USDA ORGANIC

CERTIFIED ORGANIC

General Statements

OMEGA 3-6-9

Together, these potent plant oils supply an optimal fatty acid profile, intended to provide nutritional support for heat, brain and whole body health in just one tablespoon per serving.

This product is shelf stable until opened.

WHOLE BODY NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT

Keep your licensed health care practitioner informed when using this product.

Rigorously quality tested to guarantee purity, potency and truth-in-labeling.

Product of Canada

FDA Statement of Identity

DIETARY SUPPLEMENT

Formulation

ORGANIC

VEGETARIAN

Certified Organic by Pro-Cert

Formula

FLAX~BORAGE~EVENING PRIMROSE

The Total EFA(TM) is of certified organic flax, borage and evening primrose oils.

with Flax Lignans

OMEGA-3 5,800 MG GLA 290 MG

Brand IP Statement(s)

The superior flavor and freshness of the Total EFA(TM) is preserved with a special antioxidant blend and nitrogen-flushed, induction-sealed bottle. Enjoy The Total EFA(TM) by the spoonful or add to smoothies, dips or dressings for easy omega nutrition

Discussion: The Total EFA(TM) 100% vegetarian liquid is a comprehensive, purity plant-based omega-3-6-9 nutritional supplement, fortified with lignan-rich flax particulate.

(C)2011

Precautions

WARNING: Do not use if safety seal is broken or missing.

Keep out of reach of children.

Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Directions: Use only as directed. Take one tablespoon daily with a meal or as directed by your health care practitioner. Shake well before each use.

Storage

Refrigerate after opening.

General

5031956 1011

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

See for yourself

The Total EFA by Health From The Sun label

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

The Total EFA 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 The Total EFA by Health From The Sun

These are the 6 active ingredients this product is made of. Select any to open its full monograph.

Serving size1 tsp Dosage formLiquid Servings per container15 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.

Organic Flaxseed Oil and Particulate

12.2 Gram(s) per serving

Organic Borage seed oil

Interacts with
226 drugs
1400 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...

Organic Borage seed oil monograph & interactions

Organic Evening Primrose Seed Oil

580 mg per serving
  • › Gamma-Linolenic Acid
  • › Linoleic Acid
  • › Oleic Acid
  • › Alpha-Linolenic Acid

Other (inactive) ingredients: Antioxidant Blend. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

The Total EFA by Health From The Sun Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against The Total EFA?

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
312Drugs
312 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

organic Borage seed oil 226
Oleic Acid 86

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in The Total EFA interact with 312 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

2 of the 6 ingredients in The Total EFA interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. organic Borage seed oil Oleic Acid

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

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

organic 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
organic Borage seed oil full monograph & interactions

Oleic Acid1 drug type · 86 drugs

Antidiabetes Drugs

Theoretically, oleic acid might increase the effects of antidiabetes drugs. Preliminary clinical research in patients with type 2 diabetes taking oral hypoglycemic drugs shows that eating a diet rich in oleic acid from olive oil decreases fasting blood glucose levels when compared to eating a diet rich in linoleic acid from sunflower oil. It is unknown if taking oleic acid supplements would have this effect or if this change is clinically significant. Until more is known, use caution. Dose adjustment may be necessary. Some antidiabetes drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Oleic Acid full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for The Total EFA, from the product label.

Health From The Sun

See all Health From The Sun products
Name
Nutraceutical Corp.
Web Address
www.nutraceutical.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

The Total EFA by Health From The Sun: Common Questions

Does The Total EFA by Health From The Sun interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, The Total EFA has a known interaction with 312 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
The Total EFA contains 6 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 is borage seed oil, and why is it in this product?
Borage seed oil is extracted from the borage plant's seeds and is included for its essential fatty acid content. It's used to support overall fatty acid intake, though the evidence for some conditions like eczema is weak.
Will this help my cholesterol or heart health?
Oleic acid, one of the active ingredients, is possibly effective for high cholesterol and coronary heart disease based on available research. That said, oleic acid is just one component of this blend, and the overall effectiveness of the full product isn't established in our data.
Can I take this while I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No—borage seed oil is advised against in pregnancy because of 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 about whether any ingredient in this blend is right for you during those times.
What are the most common side effects?
Borage seed oil, one of the main ingredients, most often causes belching, bloating, diarrhea, and soft stools. Most people tolerate the supplement well when they take it by mouth.
Is this product PA-free (free of liver-toxic alkaloids)?
The product facts don't specify whether this blend is certified free of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Since some borage plant parts can contain these toxic compounds, ask your pharmacist or contact the manufacturer to confirm the product's PA status.
Why can't you check some of the ingredients for interactions?
We don't hold published clinical data for gamma-linolenic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, or organic flaxseed oil in our system yet. That doesn't mean they're safe or unsafe—it means we simply haven't reviewed monographs for them.

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

Not sure if The Total EFA is safe with your meds?

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Ask a pharmacist

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.

The Total EFA label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind The Total EFA’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 → Herb & supplement monograph

Oleic Acid

Interacts with 86 drugs

Oleic acid is a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat found mainly in olive oil, canola oil, avocados, and nuts. As part of a Mediterranean-style diet, it is widely viewed as a healthier replace...

Read the full Oleic Acid monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

The Total EFA'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 12 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.

Oleic Acid 1 reference
  1. Madigan C, Ryan M, Owens D, et al. Dietary unsaturated fatty acids in type 2 diabetes: higher levels of postprandial lipoprotein on a linoleic acid-rich sunflower oil diet compared with an oleic acid-rich olive oil diet. Diabetes Care 2000;23:1472-7. PubMed

See these in context on the Oleic Acid monograph →

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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