Bipolar Disorder Treatment Medications Print Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Bipolar Disorder Speaking from Experience By Marcia Purse Marcia Purse is a mental health writer and bipolar disorder advocate who brings strong research skills and personal experiences to her writing. Learn about our editorial process Marcia Purse Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on August 05, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on July 14, 2019 Bipolar Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes Treatment Living With In Children Your Rights JamieB / RooM / Getty Images Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oils and flaxseed oil supplements have been recommended as for people with bipolar disorder. Studies have shown that increased intake of Omega-3 in fish oil is linked to greater volume in areas of the brain, which is associated with mood elevation and regulation and a reduction in depression. Doctors may recommend supplements to people with bipolar disorder, including flaxseed oil and Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oils. These are posts written by members about their personal experiences with using the nutritional supplement Omega-3 in the treatment of their manic-depressive illness. Please be aware that material contains the personal experiences and opinions of consumers and in no way should be construed as medical advice. Material may have been edited for spelling, grammar or clarity. Poor Experience With Omega-3 I have been taking omega-3 fish oils at 6 grams/day for approximately two months. I have not yet noticed any effects positive or negative. I'm considering increasing to 10 grams/day as my psychiatrist informs me that seems to be the more beneficial range if I can tolerate the gastric side effects. —Nan Positive Experience With Omega-3 I have been using fish oil and melatonin for several months and the fish oil really works. —KathyMy loved-one was taking fish oils and it seemed to work for him. I haven't bought any for about a month and I have seen my loved-one go down hill. I think I'll buy some more. It really seemed to help. —Pattie-40I have started taking Omega-3 fish oils to help me with my bipolar disorder. I am currently taking a total of 9000 mg per day broken up into three doses. —PhilI wanted to try something different since I was having no luck with the different meds I was taking. I've been taking 6000 mg of fish oil (three pills am and pm). As far as I can tell, the fish oil (after about two months) seems to control my hypomania pretty well. It seems to have the same effect as the Tegretol I was taking—it flattens out my highs. I still have a lot of problem with depression though.Another added benefit of the fish oil is cost ... I think you can't beat the price. I also seem to have no adverse side effects with the fish oil. —Sherry Taste of Omega-3 Capsules I am also taking fish oil, but I think I'll try flaxseed oil. My doctor said either one is good, but I seem to taste a fishy taste sometimes. —MarcieIt might be a good idea to have some sugar-free peppermints on hand; otherwise, your boyfriend may say your breath is like a rainbow trout on a crisp spring morning. — Scooby Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with racing thoughts? Always feeling tired? Our guide offers strategies to help you or your loved one live better with bipolar disorder. Sign up for our newsletter and get it free. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Conklin SM, Gianaros PJ, Brown SM, et al. Long-chain omega-3 fatty acid intake is associated positively with corticolimbic gray matter volume in healthy adults. Neurosci Lett. 2007;421(3):209-12.