What is Phenazopyridine for?

Phenazopyridine is a drug that serves as an analgesic used to treat ailments located in the urinary system.

This medicine is an azo-coloring substance, which is used to control discomfort caused by infections in the urinary system. It is also prescribed prior to operations or medical examinations such as endoscopies.

What does phenazopyridine cure?

This medicine has multiple benefits, as it serves as an analgesic capable of controlling localized pain, burning, irritation, frequent urination, symptoms that are associated with the presence of urinary infections.

Phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic, it is used as a complement in the medical treatments of the situations that we will mention.

What symptoms are treated with Phenazopyridine?

• Irritations.
• Discomfort during urination.
• Frequency in the urge to urinate, also known medically as frequency.
• Pain while passing urine, also known in medicine as dysuria.
• Pyelitis treatment.
• Treatment of kidney infections.
• When there is inflammation in the urethra
• For the treatment of bladder infections.

Phenazopyridine in pre and postoperative treatments

Phenazopyridine is not only used to treat these symptoms and infections, it is also commonly prescribed as a pre-operative medicine as well as a post-operative medicine.

How does Phenazopyridine work?

This substance generates changes in the pH in the urine, which has an antiseptic effect. By having paracetamol as a metabolite, it acts on the mucous membranes that cover the urinary tract.

Its properties allow it to reduce the annoying symptoms associated with these infections.

What is the mechanism of action of phenazopyridine?

Phenazopyridine acidifies and modifies the urine, making it not a suitable medium for the proliferation and development of bacteria.

What are the Dosages and indications of Phenazopyridine?

Phenazopyridine in adults:

This medicine is administered orally. The doses correspond to 200 milligrams and are taken after the three main meals that we do during the day. This in order to counteract or avoid digestive or gastric discomfort that it can generate.

Phenazopyridine in children:

It is also administered orally and after the three main meals, but its dose is 100 milligrams.

This for children older than 10 years. In any case, the indications must be prescribed by authorized medical personnel. Medical treatment with Fenadozipyrine is not recommended for more than 15 days, if symptoms persist you should contact your doctor.

We also remember this medication is only used for the symptoms associated with the infections described, however, the infection that causes them must be treated with an antibiotic that the doctor considers more appropriate.

The tablets should not be chewed or crushed as they can stain the teeth. They are ingested with water.

What to do if I forget to take a prescribed dose of phenazopyridine?

If for any reason you forget to take one of your daily doses of phenazopyridine, in no case should you remedy it by taking a higher or double dose than was indicated. If you are just a little behind you can take your tablet and then continue at the scheduled time with your next shot.

What to do if a higher dose of phenazopyridine is swallowed?

In the event of an overdose of phenazopyridine, you should call qualified medical personnel. In some cases it may require measures such as: Stomach washings, cardiorespiratory care, the general conditions of the patient will be verified through appropriate controls.

Overdose can cause increased levels of methemoglobin.

In what presentations can we find Phenazipyrine?

The tablets are available in commercial presentations of 50,100 or 200 milligrams, its active ingredient is Phenazopyridine hydrochloride.

The colors of these tablets can range from light red, dark red, and shades of purple.

What are the trademarks of Phenazopyridine?

The commercial names, prices and presentations will be different in each country. Some of these trademarks are:

• Baridium
• Urogesic
• Sedural
• Urodine

Can Phenazopyridine cause side effects?

Like other chemicals, Fenadozipyrine has side effects.

Not all of these occur in the same frequency or with the same intensity, this will depend a lot on each patient, so medical monitoring is irreplaceable, when presenting any of them you must inform your specialist.

Let’s look at some of these side effects below:

• Headache, also called a headache.

• Severe allergic reactions

• Gastrointestinal system disorders.

• It can cause dizziness in some patients.

• Vision disturbance.

• Inflammation of the meninges.

• May cause vomiting or nausea.

• Burning, itching, or skin rash.

• Spots or changes in skin color. These colorations can vary and turn bluish to purple. In other cases they can be yellowish and can also affect the eyes.

• When ingesting this medicine, there may be an alteration in the usual pigmentation of the fluids in our body. The color in the urine can vary from orange to reddish.

• Calculus or kidney stones.

• Fever.

• States of confusion.

• Inflammation, which can manifest itself in the feet, legs, face, hands or fingers.

• It can cause a decrease in platelet levels, this is known as thrombocytopenia.
• It can produce photosensitivity, this disappears when you stop ingesting the medicine.

Can phenazopyridine have medical contraindications?

Yes, like other medications, Fenadozipyrine is contraindicated in some cases, so it is very important that before starting treatment with it, you inform your doctor if you are receiving other medical treatment or if you present the following conditions :

• If you are allergic , the symptoms that can be generated can include: Asthma, difficulty breathing. Whistling may occur during breathing, and the rate of breathing may also accelerate.

• Inflammation or swelling may occur on the face, lips, tongue or others.

• Skin reactions may occur, itching may occur.

• In more severe cases, severe allergic or anaphylactic shock can occur.

• If you suffer from liver problems.

• If you have disorders in the digestive system.

• If you use this drug, medical laboratory tests based on colorimetry may be altered, for example determination of albumin, glucose or others that are carried out in the urine.

• In older adults it can alter kidney functions.

• It is recommended that you inform your doctor if you are taking natural substances or other medications.

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Phenazopyridine is a substance that has an analgesic effect and is used to treat infections of the urinary system.

This medicine calms the symptoms associated with these diseases. Its acidifying effect on the urine reduces the amount of bacteria present in these processes, however, its use does not replace the antibiotic treatment required to control the origin of these infections.

It is important to know that this substance is eliminated through the urine, so it generates changes in its color and is not an alarm situation.

It is important that the doses consumed are exactly those prescribed by the treating physician, the expiration date present on the packaging must also be verified. As with the rest of the medicines that are prescribed to us, it must be kept in suitable places at room temperature, without humidity. Special care must be taken when disposing of medicines, avoiding in any case that they can be consumed by children, other adults or pets.