• Basic Info
• Top Questions
• Clinical Info
• Interactions

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.

Back to Top

What is the price of this medication and similar alternatives?

This pricing information is subject to change at the sole discretion of DS Pharmacy. For the most current and up-to-date pricing information, please visit drugstore.com.

Back to Top

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 may include:

• headache;

• dizziness;

• stomach pain, upset stomach; or

• skin itching.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

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.

Back to Top

What happens if I miss a dose?
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.

Back to Top

What other drugs will affect phenazopyridine?
There may be other drugs that can interact with 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.

Back to Top

Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Phenazopyridine has been assigned to pregnancy category B by the FDA. Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of fetal harm. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Phenazopyridine is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of phenazopyridine into human milk.

Back to Top

Who should NOT use this medication?

• Impaired renal function, glomerulonephritis, uremia, or pyelonephritis during pregnancy.
• Severe hepatitis.
• Known hypersensitivity to phenazopyridine or any ingredient in the formulation.

Back to Top

What happens if I overdose?
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.

Back to Top

What should I discuss with my health care 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 need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take phenazopyridine. 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.

Back to Top

Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Back to Top

I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

Back to Top

Where can I get more information?
More Information

Back to Top