Fleet Phospho-soda (made by C.B. Fleet Co. Inc.) is a laxative that doctors commonly recommend for colonoscopy prep. If the recommendation comes your way, you may want to ask for an alternative. More than 50 lawsuits have been filed alleging that use of the product has caused serious kidney damage.

Fleet Phospho-soda and Kidney Failure

According to an FDA patient information sheet for oral sodium phosphate products, a rare but serious form of kidney failure has been associated with Fleet Phospho-soda solution, Fleet Accu-Prep solution, and Visicol tablets. Symptoms of kidney failure can include fluid retention, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, muscle twitching, and seizures.

The Fleet Company issued a statement saying Fleet Phospho-soda is safe when used properly, in the proper patients, with enough hydration. The product has been on the market for more than 100 years and the FDA considers it safe as a single-dose laxative.

However, about 15 years ago, Fleet began promoting a double-dose regimen specifically for bowel preparation prior to colonoscopies and colon surgery. According to Forbes.com, FDA never determined that double-dosing was safe and in fact, FDA issued an alert to doctors and patients in May of 2006 warning that it had documented 21 cases of kidney failure associated with Fleet Phospho-soda and its generic competitors.

How Can You Protect Against Kidney Failure?

One of the biggest risk factors is dehydration, so tell your doctor if you begin vomiting, feel dizzy, are urinating less often than normal, or are having trouble drinking liquids during your bowel cleansing. The first three are signs of dehydration; the last indicates you're unlikely to replace the fluids you've lost.

You can also be proactive before you start colonoscopy prep by telling your doctor if you're on a low-salt diet, use a diuretic, use medicine for heart problems or seizures, used a laxative for constipation in the past week, have a history of kidney problems, or if you're pregnant or nursing. If any of those apply to you, your doctor may recommend a different type of bowel preparation or adjust the dose.

According to Forbes.com, the first lawsuit involving Fleet Phospho-soda goes to trial October 22, 2007 in San Jose, California.

_Sources:

Karnowski, Steve. "Laxative Becomes Lawsuit Target." Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2007. Accessed 19 Aug. 2007 [http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/08/16/ap4028535.html].

"Patient Information Sheet: Oral Sodium Phosphate (OSP) Products for Bowel Cleansing." U.S. Food and Drug Administration, May 2006. Accessed 19 Aug. 2007 [http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/InfoSheets/patient/OSP_solutionPIS.htm].