Vascepa Ingredients
The active ingredient in Vascepa is icosapent ethyl, a highly purified ethyl ester of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), containing ≥96% EPA ethyl ester without docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). 1
Active Ingredient
- Icosapent ethyl is the sole active pharmaceutical ingredient, which is an ethyl ester of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) 1
- The empirical formula is C₂₂H₃₄O₂ with a molecular weight of 330.51 1
- The chemical name is ethyl all-cis-5,8,11,14,17-icosapentaenoate 1
- Each capsule contains 1 gram of icosapent ethyl 1
- The formulation contains ≥96% of the EPA ethyl ester and does not contain DHA, distinguishing it from other omega-3 products 2, 3
Inactive Ingredients (Excipients)
The capsule shell and formulation contain the following inactive ingredients 1:
- Alpha tocopherol (vitamin E, used as an antioxidant)
- Gelatin (capsule shell material)
- Glycerin (capsule plasticizer)
- Mannitol (sweetener/bulking agent)
- Sorbitol (sweetener/humectant)
- Purified water
Capsule Imprinting Ingredients
The white imprinting ink (Opacode NSP-78-18022 White) contains 1:
- Ammonium hydroxide
- Macrogol (polyethylene glycol)
- Polyvinyl acetate phthalate
- Propylene glycol
- Titanium dioxide
Key Distinguishing Features
- EPA-only formulation: Unlike combination omega-3 products (such as Lovaza or Epanova) that contain both EPA and DHA, Vascepa contains only EPA 2, 4
- High purity: The ≥96% purity level distinguishes it from over-the-counter fish oil supplements and other prescription omega-3 products 2, 3
- No DHA content: This is clinically significant because DHA has been associated with increased LDL-C levels, while icosapent ethyl does not raise LDL-C 2, 3, 4