Uristat

Generic Name: phenazopyridine
Other Brand Names: Azo-Gesic, Baridium, Phenazo, Prodium, Pyridiate, Pyridium, Re-Azo, Urogesic, phenazopyridine

What is phenazopyridine?

Phenazopyridine is a pain reliever that affects the lower part of your urinary tract (bladder and urethra).

Phenazopyridine is used to treat pain, burning, increased urination, and increased urge to urinate. These symptoms are usually caused by infection, injury, surgery, catheter, or other conditions that irritate the lower urinary tract.

Phenazopyridine will treat the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but this medication does not treat the actual infection. Take any antibiotic that your doctor prescribes to treat your infection.

Phenazopyridine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking phenazopyridine?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to phenazopyridine, or if you have kidney disease.

Before using phenazopyridine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • liver disease;

  • diabetes; or

  • a condition called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use phenazopyridine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether phenazopyridine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take phenazopyridine?

Take phenazopyridine exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take this medicine with a full glass of water.

To avoid stomach upset, take phenazopyridine with food.

Phenazopyridine will most likely darken the color of your urine to an orange or red color. This is a normal effect and is not cause for alarm unless you have other symptoms such as pale or yellowed skin, fever, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Darkened urine may also cause stains to your underwear, which may or may not be removed by laundering.

Phenazopyridine can also permanently stain soft contact lenses, and you should not wear them while taking this medicine.

Do not use phenazopyridine for longer than 2 days unless your doctor has told you to.

This medication can cause you to have false results with glucose or ketone urine tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using phenazopyridine.

Store this medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of phenazopyridine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at your next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about phenazopyridine?
Your pharmacist has information about phenazopyridine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of phenazopyridine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using phenazopyridine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • pale skin, fever, confusion or weakness;

  • jaundice (yellowing of your skin or eyes);

  • urinating less than usual or not at all;

  • drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting;

  • swelling, weight gain, feeling short of breath; or

  • blue or purple coloring in your skin.

Less serious side effects of phenazopyridine include:

  • headache;

  • dizziness;

  • stomach pain, upset stomach; or

  • skin itching.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about phenazopyridine?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to phenazopyridine, or if you have kidney disease.

Phenazopyridine will treat the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but this medication does not treat the actual infection. Take any antibiotic that your doctor prescribes to treat your infection.

To avoid stomach upset, take phenazopyridine with food.

Phenazopyridine will most likely darken the color of your urine to an orange or red color. This is a normal effect and is not cause for alarm unless you have other symptoms such as pale or yellowed skin, fever, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Darkened urine may also cause stains to your underwear, which may or may not be removed by laundering.

Phenazopyridine can also permanently stain soft contact lenses, and you should not wear them while taking this medicine.

Do not use phenazopyridine for longer than 2 days unless your doctor has told you to.

Stop taking this medication and call your doctor at once if you have pale skin, fever, confusion, yellowing of your skin or eyes, increased thirst, swelling, or if you urinate less than usual or not at all.

What should I avoid while taking phenazopyridine?

Avoid wearing soft contact lenses while you are taking phenazopyridine. The medication can cause permanent staining of soft contact lenses.

What other drugs will affect phenazopyridine?

There may be other drugs that can affect phenazopyridine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of phenazopyridine?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include yellowed skin, fever, confusion, weakness, urinating less than usual, nausea, vomiting, swelling, numbness, or blue-colored skin.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008