Asacol HD and Flax

• Generic Name: mesalamine
• Dosage Forms: tablet, delayed release
• Other Brand Names: Apriso, Asacol HD, Delzicol, Lialda, Pentasa, Canasa, Canasa Pac, Rowasa, SfRowasa

Asacol HD affects a substance in the body that causes inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea.

Asacol HD is used to treat mild to moderate ulcerative colitis. This medicine is also used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Some brands of mesalamine are for use only in adults, and some brands are for use in children who are at least 5 years old.

Asacol HD may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

• Generic Name: flax
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names:

  Flax Seed Oil, Flax Oil

Flax is the seed of a plant called Linum usitatissimum, and is also known as Flax Seed, Alasi, Aliviraaii, Brown Flaxseed, Brown-Seeded Flax, Echter Lein, Flachssamen, Flax Hull, Flax Lignans, Gemeiner Flachs, Graine de Lin, Kattan, Keten, Leinsamen, Lignans, Lin, Oléagineux, Lin Textile, Linaza, Lini Semen, Linho, Lino, Linseed, Lint Bells, Linum, Malsag, Phytoestrogen, Ta Ma, Tisii, Winterlien, and other names.

Flax has been used in alternative medicine as a possibly effective aid in treating type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and some autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Flax has also been used to treat osteoporosis. However, research has shown that flax may not be effective in treating this condition.

Other uses not proven with research have included enlarged prostate, heart disease, constipation, high blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal symptoms, weight loss, diverticulitis, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cancer (prostate, breast, lung, endometrial), and others.

It is not certain whether flax is effective in treating any medical condition. Medicinal use of this product has not been approved by the FDA. Flax should not be used in place of medication prescribed for you by your doctor.

Flax is often sold as an herbal supplement. There are no regulated manufacturing standards in place for many herbal compounds and some marketed supplements have been found to be contaminated with toxic metals or other drugs. Herbal/health supplements should be purchased from a reliable source to minimize the risk of contamination.

Flax may also be used for purposes not listed in this product guide.