On December 11, 2008, C.B. Fleet Co., a closely held maker of laxative products, announced that it was voluntarily withdrawing its oral, over-the-counter bowel cleansing solutions after the FDA warned that oral sodium phosphates may cause serious side effects involving the kidneys.
The Fleet Phospho Soda recall covers all codes of the following Fleet products:
The recalled over-the-counter Fleet products are typically used to clear the bowels before a colonoscopy. According to news sources, C.B. Fleet made the decision to withdraw the products from the market because the FDA indicated that over-the-counter oral sodium phosphates should not be used in high doses for bowel preparation and should only be available by prescription. At the same time, the FDA also 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.
The FDA has confirmed that at least 21 people have developed a type of Fleet Phospho Soda kidney failure known as acute phosphate nephropathy after using an oral sodium phosphate. Also referred to as acute nephrocacinosis, acute phosphate nephropathy is a type of kidney failure that occurs when calcium-phosphate crystals deposit in the renal tubules. In some cases, acute phosphate nephropathy can permanently impair kidney function and lead to kidney failure and/or death.
Individuals who have developed serious Fleet Phospho Soda side effects, such as acute phosphate nephropathy or renal failure, may be entitled to file a Fleet Phospho Soda lawsuit seeking compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. If you or a loved one would like to speak to an experienced Fleet Phospho Soda lawyer, contact Bernstein Liebhard LLP at (877) 779-1414 or info@consumerinjurylawyers.com.
For more information about the recent Fleet Phospho Soda recall, consumers may visit information portal www.ConsumerInjuryLawyers.com, one of the most comprehensive legal websites on the internet with hundreds of pages of free content on dangerous drugs, medical devices, and other consumer products.
