Phenazopyridine for urinary symptoms

Phenazopyridine for urinary symptoms
Examples
How It Works
Why It Is Used
How Well It Works
Side Effects
What To Think About
Credits

Content provided by Healthwise

Examples

Brand Name	Chemical Name
Viridium	phenazopyridine

How It Works

Phenazopyridine is a pain reliever (analgesic) for the urinary tract. It comes in tablet form that you take by mouth (orally).

Why It Is Used

Phenazopyridine relieves urinary symptoms such as pain, burning, or the frequent need to urinate caused by urinary tract infections (UTIs), catheters, or injury or surgery to the area.

How Well It Works

Phenazopyridine provides short-term relief of urinary tract symptoms. However, it does not eliminate the cause of symptoms, such as bacterial infection.

Side Effects

Side effects of phenazopyridine include:

Headache.
Rash and itching, sometimes with blisters.
Mild nausea and diarrhea.
Orange or red urine. The discoloration is temporary and harmless, but it can stain clothing and towels. Other body fluids may be discolored as well; some people have reported staining of their contact lenses.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

What To Think About

Do not take phenazopyridine for more than 2 days unless your doctor has instructed you to do so.

Complete the new medication information form (PDF) (What is a PDF document?) to help you understand this medication.

Credits

Author	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
Last Updated	June 15, 2007

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Last updated:	June 15, 2007
Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, Philip Belitsky, MD, FRCSC - Urology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman

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