Sodium phosphate is a generic term that may refer to any sodium salt of phosphoric acid. They’re commonly added to food and may serve a variety of purposes. Sodium phosphates have been well studied and are generally considered safe when used as a food additive.
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Uses
- Sodium phosphates have many applications in food and for water treatment. For example, sodium phosphates are often used as emulsifiers, thickening agents, and leavening agents for baked goods.
- They are also used to control pH of processed foods.
- They are also used in medicine for constipationand to prepare the bowel for medical procedures.
- Moreover, they are used in detergents for softening water, and as an efficient anti rust solution.
Benefits
- This medication may be used to relieve occasional constipation. However, when treating constipation, you should use milder products (such as stool softeners, bulk-forming laxatives) whenever possible. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatment options. Your doctor may also prescribe this product (usually along with other products) to clean stool from the intestines before surgery or certain bowel procedures (such as colonoscopy, radiography). Use it only as directed by your doctor.
Cautions
- Sodium phosphates are popular in commerce in part because they are inexpensive and nontoxic.
- Oral sodium phosphates when taken at high doses for bowel preparation for colonoscopy may in some individuals carry a risk of kidney injury under the form of phosphate nephropathy.
- There are several oral phosphate formulations which are prepared extemporaneously. Oral phosphate prep drugs have been withdrawn in the United States, although evidence of causality is equivocal. Since safe and effective replacements for phosphate purgatives are available, several medical authorities have recommended general disuse of oral phosphates.
Interactions
None are recorded. Please consult with a specialist.
Other names
SODIUM PHOSPHATE,MONOBASIC/SODIUM PHOSPHATE,DIBASIC
References
Source: Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_phosphates
WebMD, http://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-11502/sodium-phosphates-oral/details#interactions
LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/40858-sodium-phosphate-label/