Oral sodium phosphate products for colon cleansing and kidney problems
A few months ago I had to have a colonoscopy performed. I was young so it came as a surprise to me that I needed one. I received an informational preparation package from my surgeon and part of the instructions is to perform a bowel or colon cleansing prior to the procedure. The product that was recommended for me to use was Fleet Phospho-Soda. I followed the doctor’s instructions to the letter and purchased it, used it according to the directions provided and had my colonoscopy. A few days ago I saw a commercial on television that stated there possibly could be a link between the use of oral sodium phosphate products (like this one) for colon cleansing prior to a colonoscopy and kidney problems.
I decided to research this topic on the internet and I have found out that the Fleet product was recalled on December 11, 2008 after a Safety Alert was issued by the FDA that consumers should not use this product for colon cleansing prior to a colonoscopy due to the high risk of kidney failure associated with the use of this product. The FDA is also now requiring all prescription colon cleansing products to carry a black box warning. A black box warning is a type of warning that appears on the inserts for prescription drugs and carries the name “black box” because of the black border that surrounds the information. Fleet Phospho-Soda is not a prescription drug so a black box warning was not placed on the drug information contained with the product.
As far back as May, 2005 the FDA had warned the use of oral sodium phosphate bowel cleansing products could cause kidney problems, especially in patients who already had impaired kidney function, kidney disease, or who were dehydrated. (Having experienced a bowel cleansing personally let me tell you it is nearly impossible to not get dehydrated after it – you drink, and drink, and drink even more but what goes in must come out.) Patients who were taking drugs like ACE inhibitors or ARBs were also at a higher risk of experiencing kidney problems.
The FDA has confirmed that at least 21 users of oral sodium phosphate bowel cleansing solutions have developed Acute Phosphate Nephropathy which can lead to renal failure, dialysis treatment, the need for a kidney transplant, or in severe cases, death.
The FDA has announced that bowel cleansing preparations (as the ones used prior to a colonoscopy) should only be available as a prescription remedy. The FDA has stated that the use of Fleet Phospho-Soda in low doses as a laxative is safe. The possible danger of kidney problems arises when oral sodium phosphate products are used in higher doses for colon or bowel cleansing.
April 12th, 2009 at 9:12 am
I have had a problem keeping a erection since using this product
May 22nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
my name is crystal i am 28 i used the fleet drinkin feb.2008 before my surgery.after my surgeryi started to feel that something was not right with urinating blood that would diagnose me with a uti and send me home with antibotics.i continue to have bleeding while urinating when they would run urinary test they would find protien,red blood cells, now in the last few months in has beem renal epithelal cells.i am always naused,sometime vomiting swelling of the eyes muscual crampsshortness of breath,pale skin,sometime i can feel my heart slow down and i start to pass out.i have lost 40 pound in 14 months i weigh now 100 pound this terrorist has left me very sick i have had to drop out collage because of beeing so sick my life has changed in many ways i dont know if this from the fleet but i was healthy before taking the medince.i used to go to the tmca 3 times a week to work out now i can barely get out of bed i am going to nephrologist i hope to be diagnosed soon also no family reports of kidney disease.any one have the same or simuliar story or some how has been a victim of fleet can please e-mail me back thanks