Four New Lawsuits Filed against OsmoPrep for Causing Kidney Damage
On December 23, four people in North Carolina filed lawsuits against Salix Pharmaceuticals for its product OsmoPrep, a prescription oral sodium phosphate commonly used for bowel cleansing in preparation for colonoscopy examinations. As a result of taking the drug, the plaintiffs suffer from acute phosphate nephropathy, a form of severe kidney damage that causes the patient to develop calcium-phosphate crystalline deposits in the renal tubules. They allege that the manufacturer did not adequately warn people about the serious and possibly life-threatening risks of kidney damage from OsmoPrep’s side effects.
In 2008, the FDA added a black box warning to OsmoPrep and Visicol, another oral sodium phosphate. The FDA also indicated that kidney injury could occur within several hours of use or anytime up to 21 days after taking OsmoPrep. This drug has been commonly marketed as an easy alternative to other methods of colon cleansing such as drinking a large quantity of a bowel cleansing liquid. In contrast, OsmoPrep is taken in pill form and uses two sodium phosphates to draw water into the bowls.
The same oral sodium phosphate in OsmoPrep was also used to create an over-the-counter liquid drug known as Fleet Phospho-Soda manufactured by C.B. Fleet. Kidney damage was prevalent in those who took double doses of the laxative for colonoscopy preparation, in line with the product’s instructions. As a result, over 100 lawsuits have been filed against Fleet Phosph-Soday, causing the product to be recalled.
Conditions caused by oral sodium phosphates may cause death or serious injury. If you have suffered severe side effects as a result of taking oral sodium phosphates, contact an experienced St. Louis injury attorney at Page Cagle for a free consultation. We have helped many clients with product liability cases and have a successful track record in personal injury litigation. Call (866) 620-5757 today for a free consultation.
Source reports: http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/osmoprep-lawsuits-over-kidney-damage-7456/
