Phenazopyridine

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# Overview
Phenazopyridine is an analgesic that is FDA approved for the {{{indicationType}}} of dysuria.   Common adverse reactions include headache, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

# Adult Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Adult)
- Phenazopyridine HCl is indicated for the symptomatic relief of pain, burning, urgency frequency, and other discomforts arising from irritation of the mucosa of the lower urinary tract caused by infection, trauma, surgery, endoscopic procedures, or the passage of sounds or catheters.
- The use of phenazopyridine for relief of symptoms should not delay definitive diagnosis and treatment of causative conditions. The drug should be used for symptomatic relief of pain and not as a substitute for specific surgery or antimicrobial therapy.
- 200 mg 3 times daily after meals. When used concomitantly with an antibacterial agent for the treatment of a urinary tract infection, the administration of phenazopyridine should not exceed 2 days. If symptoms persist, the patient should be re-evaluated.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Adult)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Phenazopyridine in adult patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Phenazopyridine in adult patients.

# Pediatric Indications and Dosage

## FDA-Labeled Indications and Dosage (Pediatric)
There is limited information regarding FDA-Labeled Use of Phenazopyridine in pediatric patients.

## Off-Label Use and Dosage (Pediatric)

### Guideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label Guideline-Supported Use of Phenazopyridine in pediatric patients.

### NonGuideline-Supported Use
There is limited information regarding Off-Label NonGuideline-Supported Use of Phenazopyridine in pediatric patients.

# Contraindications
- In patients who are hypersensitive to the drug or its ingredients. Phenazopyridine is contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency, severe liver disease, severe hepatitis or pyelonephritis of pregnancy.
- It should be used cautiously in the presence of GI disturbances.

# Warnings
- Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals (IARC 1980, 1982, 1987, NCI 1978). When administered in the diet, phenazopyridine hydrochloride increased the incidences of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in female mice and adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the colon and rectum in rats of both sexes.
- There is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity of phenazopyridine hydrochloride in humans (IARC 1987). In one limited epidemiological study, no significant excess of any cancer was observed among 2,214 patients who received phenazopyridine hydrochloride and were followed for a minimum of 3 years.

### Precautions
- The patient should be advised that phenazopyridine produces an orange to red color in the urine and feces, and may cause staining. Phenazopyridine may cause discoloration of body fluids and staining of contact lenses has been reported. A yellowish color of the skin or sclera may indicate accumulation of phenazopyridine resulting from impaired renal function and necessitates discontinuance of the drug. It should be noted that a decline in renal function is common in elderly patients. Phenazopyridine may mask pathological conditions and interfere with laboratory test values using colorimetric, spectrophotometric or fluorometric analysis methods.
- Cautious use in patients with G-6-PD deficiency is advised since these patients are susceptible to oxidative hemolysis and may have greater potential to develop hemolytic anemia.

# Adverse Reactions

## Clinical Trials Experience
- The following adverse events have been reported:
Headache.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Rash, pruritus, discoloration, anaphylactoid-like reaction and hypersensitivity hepatitis
Methemoglobinemia, hemolytic anemia, potential hemolytic agent in G-6-PD deficiency, sulfhemoglobinemia.
Visual disturbances, renal and hepatic toxicity usually associated with overdose, renal calculi, jaundice, discoloration of body fluids and aseptic meningitis.

## Postmarketing Experience
There is limited information regarding Postmarketing Experience of Phenazopyridine in the drug label.

# Drug Interactions
- The interaction of phenazopyridine with other drugs has not been studied in a systematic manner. However, the medical literature to date suggests that no significant interactions have been reported.

# Use in Specific Populations

### Pregnancy
Pregnancy Category (FDA):
- Pregnancy Category B
- Reproductive studies with phenazopyridine (in combination with sulfacytine) in rats given up to 110 mg/kg/day and in rabbits given up to 39 mg/kg/day during organogenesis revealed no evidence of harm to offspring.
- One prospective study in humans demonstrated that phenazopyridine traverses the placenta into the fetal compartment. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Therefore, phenazopyridine should be used in pregnant women only if the benefit clearly outweighs the risk.
Pregnancy Category (AUS):
- Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) Pregnancy Category
There is no Australian Drug Evaluation Committee (ADEC) guidance on usage of Phenazopyridine in women who are pregnant.

### Labor and Delivery
There is no FDA guidance on use of Phenazopyridine during labor and delivery.

### Nursing Mothers
- It is not known whether phenazopyridine or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, a decision should be made to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of drug therapy to the mother.

### Pediatric Use
- Adequate and well-controlled studies have not been performed in the pediatric population. No pediatric-specific problems have been documented.

### Geriatic Use
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Phenazopyridine with respect to geriatric patients.

### Gender
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Phenazopyridine with respect to specific gender populations.

### Race
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Phenazopyridine with respect to specific racial populations.

### Renal Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Phenazopyridine in patients with renal impairment.

### Hepatic Impairment
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Phenazopyridine in patients with hepatic impairment.

### Females of Reproductive Potential and Males
There is no FDA guidance on the use of Phenazopyridine in women of reproductive potentials and males.

### Immunocompromised Patients
There is no FDA guidance one the use of Phenazopyridine in patients who are immunocompromised.

# Administration and Monitoring

### Administration
- Oral

### Monitoring
There is limited information regarding Monitoring of Phenazopyridine in the drug label.

# IV Compatibility
There is limited information regarding IV Compatibility of Phenazopyridine in the drug label.

# Overdosage

## Acute Overdose

### Signs and Symptoms
- Exceeding the recommended dose in patients with normal renal function or administering the recommended dose to patients with impaired renal function (common in elderly patients) may lead to increased serum levels and toxic reactions. Methemoglobinemia generally follows a massive, acute overdose. Methylene blue, 1 to 2 mg/kg/dose given i.v. as a 1% solution as needed, should cause prompt reduction of the methemoglobinemia and disappearance of the cyanosis which is an aid in diagnosis. Oxidative Heinz body hemolytic anemia also may occur, and "bite cells" (degmacytes) may be present in a chronic overdosage situation. Red blood cell G-6-PD deficiency may predispose to hemolysis; however, hemolysis may occur at normal doses in patients with G-6-PD Mediterranean.
- Renal toxicity and occasional failure and hepatic impairment may also occur.

### Management
- Treatment is symptomatic and supportive.

## Chronic Overdose
There is limited information regarding Chronic Overdose of Phenazopyridine in the drug label.

# Pharmacology

## Mechanism of Action
- Phenazopyridine hydrochloride is excreted in the urine where it exerts a topical analgesic effect on the mucosa of the urinary tract. This action helps to relieve pain, burning, urgency and frequency. The precise mechanism of action is unknown.

## Structure
- Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride is a reddish-brown, odorless, slightly bitter, crystalline powder. It has a specific local analgesic effect in the urinary tract, promptly relieving burning and pain.
- Following is the structural formula:
- Phenazopyridine HCl oral tablets contain the following inactive ingredients: Carnauba Wax, Croscarmellose Sodium, Hypromellose, Magnesium Stearate, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Polyethylene Glycol, Povidone, Pregelatinized Starch

## Pharmacodynamics
There is limited information regarding Pharmacodynamics of Phenazopyridine in the drug label.

## Pharmacokinetics
- The pharmacokinetic properties of phenazopyridine hydrochloride have not been determined. Phenazopyridine and its metabolites are rapidly excreted by the kidneys. In a small number of healthy subjects, 90% of a 600 mg/day oral dose of phenazopyridine hydrochloride was eliminated in the urine in 24 hours, 41% as unchanged drug and 49% as metabolites.

## Nonclinical Toxicology
- Long-term administration of phenazopyridine has been associated with tumors of the large intestine in rats and of the liver in mice. Available epidemiological data are insufficient to evaluate the carcinogenicity of phenazopyridine in humans. In vitro studies indicate that phenazopyridine in the presence of metabolic activation is mutagenic in bacteria and mutagenic and clastogenic in mammalian cells.

# Clinical Studies
There is limited information regarding Clinical Studies of Phenazopyridine in the drug label.

# How Supplied
- 100 mg Tablets: Supplied in bottles of 100. Reddish-brown, round tablets, debossed M450. NDC# 58657-450-01.
- 200 mg Tablets: Supplied in bottles of 100. Reddish-brown, round tablets, debossed M451. NDC# 58657-451-01.
- Store at 20C to 25C (68F to 77F); excursions permitted to 15C -30C (59-86F).

## Storage
There is limited information regarding Phenazopyridine Storage in the drug label.

# Images

## Drug Images

## Package and Label Display Panel

# Patient Counseling Information
- The patient should be advised to take phenazopyridine with or following food or after eating a snack to reduce stomach upset.
- The patients should be aware that phenazopyridine causes a reddish orange discoloration of the urine and feces, and may stain clothing. Phenazopyridine may cause discoloration of body fluids and staining of contact lenses has been reported. There have been reports of teeth discoloration when the product has been broken or held in the mouth prior to swallowing.
- Patients should be instructed to take phenazopyridine for only 2 days if an antibacterial agent is administered concurrently for the treatment of a urinary tract infection. If symptoms persist beyond those 2 days, the patient should be instructed to contact his or her physician.

# Precautions with Alcohol
- Alcohol-Phenazopyridine interaction has not been established. Talk to your doctor about the effects of taking alcohol with this medication.

# Brand Names
- PHENAZOPYRIDINE HCL

# Look-Alike Drug Names
There is limited information regarding Phenazopyridine Look-Alike Drug Names in the drug label.

# Drug Shortage Status

# Price