Colonoscopies and bowel cleansers

December 13, 2008

This is an article that just came out about products used as a bowel cleanser

before having a colonoscopy.

US FDA warns of kidney damage in bowel cleansers.

December 11, 2008 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some sodium-based bowel cleansing

products used before colonoscopies can cause kidney damage and must carry a

stern warning on the packaging, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on

Thursday. It said it would require the warnings on Salix Pharmaceuticals Ltd's

Visicol and OsmoPrep prescription products to caution about the risk of acute

phosphate nephropathy, a type of kidney injury.

" The agency is equally concerned about the risks associated with the use of

(OSP) oral sodium phosphate products that are available over-the-counter, for

example, (C.B. Fleet and Co.'s) Fleet Phospho-soda, when used at higher doses

for bowel cleansing, " the FDA said in a statement. So-called " black box "

warnings on medicine packaging are meant to bring serious dangers of a product

to the attention of doctors and patients. Drinking plenty of fluids can help

prevent the injuries, the FDA said. People over the age of 55 and people who

already have kidney function problems are at special risk, she added. More

information on the subject can be found at this site:

Blessings,

Lottie

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