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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
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 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:
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.
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.