Flax and Oncaspar

• 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.

• Generic Name: pegaspargase
• Dosage Forms: injection, solution
• Other Brand Names: Oncaspar

Oncaspar is a cancer medicine that interferes with the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Oncaspar is used in combination with other cancer medications to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Oncaspar is also used to treat allergic reactions to another cancer medication called asparaginase (Elspar).

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