Fleet Phospho Soda Lawsuits Allege Kidney Failure

Lawyers at Bernstein Liebhard LLP are reviewing potential Fleet Phospho Soda lawsuits for individuals who experienced serious kidney injuries after using a Fleet Phospho Soda bowel cleansing product, reported TransWorldNews.

The Fleet Phospho Soda lawsuits allege that while the risk of kidney damage from Fleet Phospho Soda and other oral sodium phosphate products was first reported in 2003, C.B. Fleet continued to market their over-the-counter oral sodium phosphate for colonoscopy prep without adequate warnings until 2008.

On Dec. 11, 2008, C.B. Fleet voluntarily withdrew its over-the-counter oral bowel cleansing solutions from the market after the FDA indicated that OTC oral sodium phosphates should not be used in high doses for bowel preparation and only should be available by prescription. FDA announced that a black box warning would be added to prescription oral sodium phosphates, such as OsmoPrep and Visicol, to notify consumers about the risk of serious side effects, including kidney failure.

When used at higher doses for colonoscopy prep, Fleet Phospho Soda can cause a condition known as acute phosphate nephropathy. The FDA said the risk of acute phosphate nephropathy from Fleet Phospho Soda is greater among those who are over 55 years old, those who suffer from dehydration, kidney disease, acute colitis or delayed bowel emptying, and those who are taking medications that affect the kidneys, like fluid pills, blood pressure, heart failure or kidney failure drugs.