Fleet Phospho Soda Problems Not Deterring Manufacturer From Pushing to Reintroduce Laxative
C.B. Fleet, the maker of Fleet Phospho Soda laxatives, maintains that their products are safe even though they issued a recall issued last year due to a risk of kidney damage and the company faces a growing number of lawsuits alleging that they failed to adequately warn about the risk of problems from Fleet Phospho-soda.
>>INFORMATION: Fleet Phospho Soda Problems
According to a report in The News and Advance of Lynchburg, Virginia, despite the Fleet Phospho-soda issues, C.B. Fleet officials maintain that their product is safe when used as directed, and the company is seeking FDA approval to sell them again in a limited manner that they believe will ensure that the products are used in a way that will not pose an increased risk of kidney injury.
A recall for Fleet Phospho Soda was issued in December 2008 after the FDA indicated that double doses being used for colonoscopy prep or other surgical procedures could lead to a form of kidney damage known as acute phosphate nephropathy, which can cause renal failure, dialysis treatment or death.
C.B. Fleet currently faces a number of Fleet Phospho-soda suits alleging that they promoted use of high doses of the laxatives as an alternative to prescription colonoscopy prep products without researching the safety of such use or adequately warning about the risk of kidney injury.
Fleet Phospho-Soda is an oral sodium phosphate-based medication which was only approved for over-the-counter use as a laxative, not to cleanse the bowels before a colonoscopy. Other oral sodium phosphate solutions are available as a prescription, such as Visicol and OsmoPrep, which are approved as bowel cleansers. However, those products contain “black box” warnings, which are the strongest warnings that can be placed on a prescription medication, about the risk of acute phosphate nephropathy and kidney injury.
Fleet officials say they are in discussion with the FDA about possibly making the recalled products available by prescription and with more detailed instructions and warning labels. However, we have raised questions before about why such a product would be approved, since there are already several safer alternatives available that do not contain oral sodium phosphate and do not appear to carry the same risk of kidney damage.
FLEET PHOSPHO SODA ATTORNEYS
The Fleet Phospho-soda attorneys at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. represent individuals throughout the United States who are pursuing claims against C.B. Fleet over problems allegedly caused by their promotion of double doses of the laxative. Potential Fleet Phospho-soda lawsuits are being reviewed for individuals diagnosed with:
- Acute Phosphate Nephropathy
- Kidney Failure
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- End Stage Renal Failure
- Other Kidney Injury
- Death
If you, a friend or family member have experienced problems, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
