Visicol Tablets
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Visicol is an oral sodium phosphate (OSP) medication taken to cleanse the colon before patients undergo certain medical procedures, including a colonoscopy and surgery. Available in tablet form, Visicol is made by Salix Pharmaceuticals and is currently only available via doctor prescription.
Along with Visicol, other popular OSP products include:
- Fleet Phospho Soda® (made by C.B. Fleet)
- OsmoPrep (made by Salix Pharmaceuticals)
Although Visicol and other OSP drugs are effective laxatives, they are known to cause some life-threatening side effects, including severe kidney damage and renal (kidney) failure.
To decrease the risk of Visicol complications, it's important that patients taking Visicol:
- Discuss their complete medical history with their doctor before starting a course of this medication
- Understand the side effects of and risk factors for serious Visicol side effects
- Seek emergency medical attention, should they develop severe injuries after taking Visicol
- Meet with an experienced defective drug attorney, once their health is stable, to find out if they are entitled to a settlement for their injuries and losses
Visicol & Acute Phosphate Nephropathy
Along with causing arrhythmia and seizures, Visicol tablets have also been reported to cause a severe form of kidney damage known as acute phosphate nephropathy.
Acute phosphate nephropathy occurs when phosphate crystals form in the kidneys and seriously impair their ability to function properly. Symptoms of acute phosphate nephropathy include:
- bloating
- cramping
- hypertension
- irregular heartbeat
- lethargy
- lower back pain
- muscle spasms
- problems urinating
- seizures
Should Visicol patients develop any combination of the above symptoms, it's vital that they seek immediate medical care. Without prompt treatment, acute phosphate nephropathy will result in kidney failure and, ultimately, death.
FDA Warnings Regarding Visicol
Following mounting reports of severe Visicol side effects, in December 2008, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public warning regarding the potential for serious injury and death following use of OSP medications, such as Visicol.
In addition to requiring Salix Pharmaceuticals to include “black box” warning labels on Visicol packaging, the FDA also mandated that this drug manufacturer conduct further clinical trials to more fully assess the extent of Visicol's side effects.
Legal Help for Visicol Injuries
Regardless of the FDA warning, however, many patients have been – and will continue to be – injured after taking Visicol bowel cleansing tablets. Injured parties will likely have a legal claim against Salix Pharmaceuticals in which they can seek reparation for their economic, physical and mental damages.
Because of the heavy costs associated with defective drug injuries, attorneys who take on Visicol cases will typically delay any sort of payment until the injured patient obtains a fair settlement or award. To schedule a consultation with an experienced Visicol attorney, contact us.
