PHENAZOPYRIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE
(fen-az-oh-peer'i-deen)
Azo-Standard, Baridium, Geridium, Phenazo

, Phenazodine, Pyridiate, Pyridium, Pyronium

, Urodine, Urogesic
Classifications: urinary tract analgesic
Pregnancy Category: B

Availability

95 mg, 97.2 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, 200 mg tablets

Actions

Azo dye. Precise mechanism of action not known.

Therapeutic Effects

Local anesthetic action on urinary tract mucosa which imparts little or no antibacterial activity.

Uses

Symptomatic relief of pain, burning, frequency, and urgency arising from irritation of urinary tract mucosa, as from infection, trauma, surgery, or instrumentation.

Contraindications

Renal insufficiency, glomerulonephritis, pyelonephritis during pregnancy (category B); severe hepatitis.

Cautious Use

GI disturbances; glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, lactation.

Route & Dosage

Cystitis
Adult: PO 200 mg t.i.d.
Child: PO 12 mg/kg/d in 3 divided doses

Administration

Oral

Give with or after meals.

Adverse Effects (1%)

Body as a Whole: Headache, vertigo. GI: Mild GI disturbances. Urogenital: Kidney stones, transient acute kidney failure. Metabolic: Methemoglobinemia, hemolytic anemia. Skin: Skin pigmentation. Special Senses: May stain soft contact lenses.

Diagnostic Test Interference

Phenazopyridine may interfere with any urinary test that is based on color reactions or spectrometry: bromsulphalein and phenolsulfonphthalein excretion tests; urinary glucose test using Clinistix or TesTape (copper-reduction methods such as Clinitest and Benedict's test reportedly not affected); bilirubin using "foam test" or Ictotest; ketones using nitroprusside (e.g., Acetest, Ketostix, or Gerhardt ferric chloride); urinary protein using Albustix, Albutest, or nitric acid ring test; urinary steroids; urobilinogen; assays for porphyrins.

Interactions

Drug: No clinically significant interactions established.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: Readily absorbed from GI tract. Distribution: Crosses placenta in trace amounts. Metabolism: Metabolized in liver and other tissues. Elimination: Primarily excreted in urine.

Nursing Implications

Assessment & Drug Effects

Lab tests: Obtain periodic blood work and kidney function tests in patients on prolonged therapy or with impaired kidney function.

Patient & Family Education

Be aware that drug will impart an orange to red color to urine and may stain fabric.
Discontinue drug report to physician immediately the appearance of yellowish tinge to skin or sclerae may indicate drug accumulation due to renal impairment.
Discontinue drug when pain and discomfort are relieved (usually 3–15 d). Keep physician informed.
Do not breast feed while taking this drug without consulting physician.

Common adverse effects in italic, life-threatening effects underlined; generic names in bold; classifications in SMALL CAPS; Canadian drug name; Prototype drug