Phenazopyridine (pronounced fen-az-oh-peer-i-deen)
Brand names (US): Pyridium, AZO

Phenazopyridine is:

●Used to relieve urinary pain, burning, urgency and frequency caused by infection, trauma, catheter use, or surgery.

What to know before taking this medication. Do not use this medication if you:
●Are or suspect you may be allergic to any of the ingredients in your phenazopyridine product.

●Have kidney problems.

Before taking this medication, talk to your health care provider if you have: ●Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. Phenazopyridine can raise the risk of developing hemolytic anemia.

●A history of kidney problem.

●Severe liver disease.

Things to know before starting phenazopyridine:

●Phenazopyridine may interfere with urinalysis based on spectrometry or color reactions.

●Phenazopyridine is not to be used in place of an antibiotic. It will not cure a bladder infection.

●Phenazopyridine may stain clothing, fabric, or contact lenses.

Use in pregnancy:

●May be taken during pregnancy, talk to your health care provider before starting this medication to discuss the benefits and risks to you and the baby.

●Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or if you are breastfeeding.

Use in older adults (65 years or older):

●May be at increased risk for side effects, use with caution.

Interactions with this medication:

There are products that may interact with your medication that can change its effectiveness and increase the risk for serious side effects. Before starting this medication, talk to your health care provider for more details about how this medicine might interact with other products and if you're taking any of these products:

●Ciprofloxacin

This is not a complete list of possible interactions. It is important to keep a list of all products you currently use and talk to your health care provider before adding anything new to avoid potential interactions.

What to know while taking this medication Serious side effects:
Stop taking this medication and talk to your health care provider or seek medical attention right away if you develop:

●Signs of a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction such as:

●Swelling of the mouth, throat, tongue, eyes, hands and/or feet.

●Difficulty breathing or swallowing.

●Itchy skin or raised, red skin rash.
●Signs of methemoglobinemia, a rare blood disorder, such as:
●Pale, gray, or blue colored skin (cyanosis). 

●Headache, lightheadedness, or fatigue. 

●Rapid heart rate.
●Shortness of breath.

●Signs of liver problems such as:
●Yellowing of the skin or white of your eyes. 

●Dark urine.
●Loss of appetite.
●Pain in the upper right part of the stomach.

● Signs of kidney problems such as: 

●Lower back pain.
●Difficulty urinating.
●Swelling in feet, ankles, or hands.

●Inability to pass urine.
●Severe loss of strength and energy. 

●Vision changes.

Common side effects:

The most common side effects in adults include: 

●Reddish-orange discoloration of the urine. 

●Headache.
●Diarrhea.

●Nausea and/or vomiting.
●Rash.
●Itching.
●Discoloration or staining of contact lenses.

These are not all the possible side effects of this medication. Call your health care provider if you have side effects that worsen or do not go away. You may also report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch

How to take this medication
How much do I take?
●Use this medication exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider will tell you how often to use this medication.

How do I take this medication?

●Taken by mouth with food to avoid an upset stomach and a full glass of water. Use as directed by your prescriber.

What if I miss a dose?

●If you missed a dose, take it as soon as you remember and take your next dose at your regularly scheduled time. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. Do not take double of your prescribed dose.

What if I take too much (overdose)?

●If you think you may have taken more than the prescribed dose of this medicine, call the poison control helpline at 1-800-222-1222 or seek medical care right away.