OsmoPrep was licensed in 2006 by the FDA, and then in 2008 a box warning was issued in regards the potential risks of kidney failure. There are 2 types of kidney failure, chronic and acute. Let’s look at what each of these entail.
Chronic kidney disease is a gradual loss of kidney function
Gradual loss of kidney function is called chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal insufficiency. People with CKD may go on to develop permanent kidney failure. They also have a high risk of death from a stroke or heart attack.
People in the early stages of CKD usually do not feel sick at all. People whose kidney disease has gotten worse may need to urinate more often or less often, feel tired, lose their appetite or experience nausea and vomiting, have swelling in their hands or feet, feel itchy or numb, get drowsy or have trouble concentrating, have darkened skin, and or have muscle cramps.
What can be done about CKD? Unfortunately, CKD often cannot be cured. But people in the early stages of CKD may be able to make their kidneys last longer by taking certain steps. They will also want to minimize the risks for heart attack and stroke because CKD patients are susceptible to these problems.
Acute kidney failure is a sudden, serious loss of kidney function
Acute kidney failure is the sudden loss of your kidneys’ ability to perform their main function of eliminating excess fluid and salts (electrolytes) as well as waste material from your blood. When your kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes accumulate in your body.
Some kidney problems develop rapidly over a few hours or a few days, such as when an accident injures the kidneys. Losing a lot of blood can cause sudden kidney failure. Some drugs or poisons can make the kidneys stop working. These sudden drops in kidney function are also called acute kidney injury (AKI). Some doctors may also refer to this condition as acute renal failure (ARF).
Acute kidney failure is also common in people who are already hospitalized, particularly in critically ill people who need intensive care. AKI may lead to permanent loss of kidney function. Acute kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. But if the kidneys are not seriously damaged and you’re otherwise in good health, acute kidney disease may be reversed and you may recover normal kidney function.
First, the drug. A drug commonly linked to kidney failure is OsmoPrep. OsmoPrep is a tablet used to prepare the colon for a colonoscopy. A colonoscopy is an examination of the inside of the colon to check for colon cancer and other abnormalities. It is necessary to clean out the colon in order for the doctor to have a clear view of the walls of the colon. The tablets are taken with any clear liquid, it works by causing diarrhea so that all the stool can be emptied from the colon. They are in a class of medications called saline laxatives.
As stated, the drug OsmoPrep has been linked to these above conditions. If you are preparing for a colonoscopy, be sure to talk with your doctor concerning this potential risk.