Kidney failure possibly caused by bowel-cleansing drugs

By Elizabeth Rhein

Published on March 17, 2006

Published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology and recently cited on Public Citizen's worstpills.com website, the research shows that certain bowel-cleansing products containing sodium phosphate may be the cause of chronic kidney failure in Americans.

The most common types of bowel-cleansing medications include Fleet brand Phospho-soda, as well as the prescription tablet Visicol. According to researchers, the drugs are most likely to cause problems in people who are chronically dehydrated, those with high blood pressure, and those who use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.

In addition to the research completed by the Society of Nephrology, Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, cites information compiled by the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. Within a four year period, scholars found 31 incidents of patients who showed kidney damage caused by phosphate. Of those patients, 20 had been prescribed oral phosphate to assist in cleansing the bowels prior to a colonoscopy.

Patients who fit the profile of people vulnerable to kidney damage should consult with their physicians prior to taking medications containing sodium phosphate.

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