Comprehensive medication guide to Phenazopyridine including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay on most commercial insurance plans (Tier 1–2); Medicare Part D typically covers prescription-strength phenazopyridine. OTC versions (AZO, Uristat) are generally not covered by insurance even though they contain the same active ingredient.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$30–$52 retail for a 2-day prescription supply (6 tablets, 200 mg); as low as $2.26 with GoodRx or $4.17 with SingleCare. OTC versions (AZO, Uristat) cost $10–$15 without a prescription. Walmart's $4 generic program available at participating locations.
Medfinder Findability Score
85/100
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Phenazopyridine is a urinary tract analgesic—a medication specifically designed to relieve the pain, burning, urgency, and frequency caused by irritation of the lower urinary tract. It is classified as an azo dye compound and is available both by prescription (brand name Pyridium, 200 mg) and over the counter (AZO Urinary Pain Relief, Uristat, Uricalm, 95–99.5 mg tablets).
In 2023, phenazopyridine was the 275th most prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 800,000 prescriptions written annually. It is most commonly co-prescribed with antibiotics during urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment to provide rapid symptom relief while the antibiotic addresses the underlying infection.
Critical: Phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic. It does not kill bacteria, treat infections, or prevent UTIs. It relieves symptoms only. Patients must also take a prescribed antibiotic to cure a UTI. Using phenazopyridine alone without an antibiotic can mask symptoms and delay treatment.
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After you swallow a phenazopyridine tablet, it is absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract and quickly filtered by the kidneys into the urine. Approximately 65–66% of each oral dose is excreted unchanged into the urine as the active compound. Once concentrated in the urine, phenazopyridine makes direct contact with the inflamed mucosa (lining) of the bladder and urethra, acting as a local topical anesthetic.
This direct topical action—bypassing the bloodstream and nervous system—is why phenazopyridine works so quickly. Most patients notice significant relief within 20 minutes to 1 hour of the first dose. Think of it like a numbing gel applied directly to inflamed tissue, except your body delivers it internally through your urine.
Because phenazopyridine is an azo dye, it produces a vivid orange-red discoloration of urine. This is expected, harmless, and a direct indicator that the active drug is present in your urine. The color will stop when you finish the medication. It can permanently stain soft contact lenses and can stain fabrics, so patients should avoid wearing soft contacts while taking it.
200 mg — tablet
Prescription-strength tablet; taken 3 times daily with meals for up to 2 days alongside an antibiotic
100 mg — tablet
Prescription tablet, lower strength
97.5 mg — tablet
OTC strength (AZO Urinary Pain Relief, Uristat); take 2 tablets 3 times daily — no prescription required
95 mg — tablet
OTC strength (Uricalm); take 2 tablets 3 times daily — no prescription required
Phenazopyridine is generally widely available and is not on the FDA's drug shortage list as of 2026. The OTC versions (AZO Urinary Pain Relief, Uristat, Uricalm) are available at virtually every pharmacy, grocery store, and big-box retailer without a prescription. The prescription-strength 200 mg form is stocked at most large chain pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart), though smaller independent pharmacies may have limited inventory and occasional stockouts.
If you're having trouble finding the prescription form at your pharmacy, your best options are: (1) purchase OTC AZO or Uristat immediately—same drug, nearly equivalent dose; (2) try a large chain pharmacy with more reliable stock; or (3) use a service that locates it for you.
medfinder calls pharmacies near you to check which ones have your medication in stock, then texts you the results—saving you from calling around while symptomatic. This is especially useful for patients who need the prescription strength for insurance purposes or for specific clinical reasons.
Phenazopyridine is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling restrictions. Any licensed healthcare provider with prescribing authority can prescribe it, including:
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — most common prescribers, especially for acute UTIs
OB/GYN physicians — frequently prescribed for women with recurrent UTIs
Urologists — for post-procedure, post-surgical, or catheter-related urinary tract irritation
Urgent care providers — commonly dispensed for same-day acute UTI management
Emergency medicine physicians — when UTIs present in emergency settings
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — in most states, full prescribing authority for non-controlled substances
Telehealth is an excellent option for phenazopyridine prescriptions. Many telehealth platforms (Wisp, Nurx, MDLive, Teladoc, Hims & Hers, and insurance carrier telehealth services) can evaluate UTI symptoms, order appropriate labs, and prescribe both an antibiotic and phenazopyridine—often the same day, without leaving home.
No. Phenazopyridine is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. This means it can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider—including primary care physicians, OB/GYNs, urologists, urgent care providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and telehealth providers—without any special DEA registration or prescribing restrictions.
Additionally, because phenazopyridine is available OTC at lower doses (95–99.5 mg tablets), patients can access the same active ingredient without a prescription at all. There are no refill restrictions, no prescription monitoring programs (PMPs), and no special documentation required to dispense phenazopyridine.
The one important prescribing consideration is patient safety: phenazopyridine is contraindicated in patients with renal insufficiency and G6PD deficiency, and should be used for no longer than 2 days when taken alongside an antibiotic for UTI treatment.
The most common and expected side effect is orange-red discoloration of urine. This is caused by the azo dye being concentrated in the urine and is completely harmless. Additional common side effects include:
Orange-red urine (expected, harmless—not blood)
GI upset or nausea (minimize by taking with food)
Headache
Dizziness
Staining of soft contact lenses (permanent—do not wear while taking)
Staining of fabric and clothing
Yellowing of skin or eyes (jaundice): Indicates drug accumulation due to impaired kidney clearance — stop immediately
Methemoglobinemia: Shortness of breath, confusion, bluish lips — seek emergency care immediately
Hemolytic anemia: Risk in G6PD deficiency patients — phenazopyridine is contraindicated
Allergic reaction: Rash, hives, facial swelling — discontinue and seek care
Renal toxicity: Decreased urine output — indicative of accumulation in renal impairment
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AZO Urinary Pain Relief / Uristat (OTC)
Same active ingredient (phenazopyridine HCl) at 95–99.5 mg. Available without a prescription at any pharmacy. Two tablets equal one prescription-strength dose.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
OTC NSAID with anti-inflammatory properties. Can reduce UTI pain and inflammation. Not as targeted as phenazopyridine. Avoid in kidney disease.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
OTC pain reliever, safer for patients with kidney disease than ibuprofen. No anti-inflammatory effect. Standard dosing: 325–650 mg every 4–6 hours.
Cystex
OTC combination of methenamine (urinary antiseptic) and sodium salicylate (pain reliever). Dual-action approach; does not cure infection.
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Benzocaine (topical)
moderateTheoretical increased risk of methemoglobinemia when combined; not confirmed in clinical literature but use with caution.
Urinalysis (lab test)
moderateNot a drug interaction but a critical practical consideration: phenazopyridine's azo dye properties interfere with urine dipstick tests and spectrophotometric assays, causing false results for glucose, ketones, and bilirubin. Always collect urine samples before starting phenazopyridine.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
minorNo clinically significant interaction. These antibiotics are routinely co-prescribed together for UTI treatment. Phenazopyridine plasma levels may be slightly elevated per pharmacokinetic studies but without clinical significance.
Phenazopyridine is one of the most targeted and fast-acting symptom relievers available for UTI pain, providing relief within 20 to 60 minutes by acting directly on the inflamed urinary tract lining. With no major drug-drug interactions, broad prescriber availability, and an established 2-day safety profile, it's a practical and effective part of UTI management.
Key reminders: it does not treat infection (always use with an antibiotic for UTIs), it is contraindicated in kidney disease and G6PD deficiency, and it should not be used for more than 2 days alongside antibiotics. The orange urine is expected and harmless. Do not wear soft contact lenses while taking it.
If you're having trouble finding phenazopyridine in stock at your local pharmacy, medfinder can call pharmacies near you to identify which ones have it available and text you the results—so you can focus on feeling better.
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Medfinder is actively checking pharmacy inventory for Phenazopyridine. We don't publish a number until we have enough verified pharmacy checks to be accurate — start a search and our team confirms current availability near you, usually within 24 hours.
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