Do not take Pyridium if you are allergic to phenazopyridine, or if you have kidney disease. Pyridium will treat the symptoms of a urinary tract infection, but this medication does not treat the actual infection. Take any antibiotic that your doctor prescribes to treat your infection. To avoid stomach upset, take this medicine with food.
Pyridium will most likely darken the color of your urine to an orange or red color. This is a normal effect and is not cause for alarm unless you have other symptoms such as pale or yellowed skin, fever, stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Darkened urine may also cause stains to your underwear, which may or may not be removed by laundering.
Pyridium can also permanently stain soft contact lenses, and you should not wear them while taking this medicine.
Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have pale skin, fever, confusion, yellowing of your skin or eyes, increased thirst, swelling, or if you urinate less than usual or not at all.
Before taking this medicine
To make sure Pyridium is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
liver disease;
diabetes; or
a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency.
Pyridium is not expected to harm an unborn baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether phenazopyridine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medicine without a doctor's advice if you are breast-feeding a baby.
