Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

Lawsuits began last month for four people who say the prescription bowel cleanser OsmoPrep caused them kidney damage that resulted in dialysis. OsmoPrep, made by Salix Pharmaceuticals, is a type of laxative called oral sodium phosphate, or OSP, used to cleanse the intestines prior to procedures such as colonoscopy. Salix Pharmaceuticals began marketing OsmoPrep in 2006. The drug generated more than $30 million in sales in 2008.

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Nobody enjoys colonoscopies, but they save lives. Regular colon screenings can detect polyps even before they become cancerous. It is recommended that people begin colon screenings beginning at age 50, or earlier if they have a family history or are exhibiting symptoms such as blood in the stool. But how can you convince someone he needs to have a colonoscopy? Just have Pauly Polyp do the asking.

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Companies who push sales of colon cleansing products are quick to make claims that the products will rid the body of toxic sludge that weighs us down and makes us feel fatigued, bloated and sick overall. But do colon cleansing products really do us good? Joan Endyke with GateHouse New Service says buyer beware.

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