Floridians File Lawsuit Against Drug Makers
Two Floridians both had colonoscopies and both have kidney disease. Both have also filed Florida pharmaceutical lawsuits against the drug makers of the drugs used to cleanse the bowels. Both Floridians took drugs that contain sodium phosphate. Doctors often refer to it as the “killer of kidneys” and their lawyer argues the drugs caused their kidney damage.
The drugs are known as over-the-counter drugs Fleet Phospho-soda and OsmoPrep pills.
One of the individuals is 63 and relies on dialysis after suffering kidney failure, reports Health News Florida. The other individual is 80, is a retired airline pilot, and is not on dialysis, but he cannot enjoy a normal active lifestyle.
OsmoPrep now carries a black box warning about the possible link between the preparation and kidney damage. Fleet Phospho-soda has been taken off the market.
While a single dose of the product for bowel cleansing is considered safe, Fleet allegedly recommended a double dose without FDA approval. Publix, where Schlichting bought his product was also named in the lawsuit.
The Food and Drug Administration issued a warning in December 2008, after both patients had taken their drugs.
Your chance of kidney damage from a sodium phosphate liquid or pill preparation is one in 1,000 and higher if you are over the age of 55, have an impaired kidney function, a bowel obstruction, congestive heart failure, colitis, or are taking some medications, according to the FDA.
So far the FDA has reported 20 cases of kidney failure. The attorney for Hubbard and Schlichting has filed 40 cases in Florida over the past two years naming C.B. Fleet Company that makes Fleet Phospho-soda and Salix Pharmaceuticals, the maker of OsmoPrep.
Salix claims today that its product is reliable and tolerable even though it carries the FDA warning.
Source article: http://www.healthnewsflorida.org/index.cfm/go/public.articleView/article/15538
