Comprehensive medication guide to Pyridium including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay for generic phenazopyridine; Tier 1–2 on most commercial plans. OTC versions are generally not covered by insurance. Medicare Part D typically covers the prescription strength.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$30–$35 retail for a 2-day prescription supply; as low as $2.26–$2.53 with GoodRx or SingleCare coupons. OTC versions (AZO, Uristat) are $10–$15 without a prescription.
Medfinder Findability Score
88/100
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Pyridium is the brand name for phenazopyridine hydrochloride, a urinary tract analgesic (pain reliever). It relieves the pain, burning, urgency, and frequency caused by irritation of the lower urinary tract — most commonly from a urinary tract infection (UTI). In 2023, phenazopyridine was the 275th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 800,000 prescriptions written annually.
Phenazopyridine is FDA-approved for the symptomatic relief of dysuria, burning, urgency, frequency, and discomfort arising from lower urinary tract irritation caused by infection, trauma, surgery, endoscopic procedures, or catheter use. It is not an antibiotic and does not treat or cure infections.
Phenazopyridine is available both by prescription (100 mg and 200 mg tablets) and over the counter at lower doses (95–99.5 mg) under brand names including AZO Urinary Pain Relief, Uristat, Uricalm, Prodium, Baridium, and many others. The original branded Pyridium is no longer actively marketed in the United States, and patients are dispensed generic phenazopyridine.
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Phenazopyridine is an azo dye that is rapidly absorbed after oral administration and excreted largely unchanged into the urine — approximately 65% of each oral dose is secreted directly as the active compound. Once in the urine, it exerts a topical (local) analgesic effect on the mucosa lining of the urinary tract, including the bladder and urethra.
The precise molecular mechanism is not fully established, even though the drug has been used for decades. What is known is that it acts similarly to a local anesthetic — numbing the inflamed mucosa directly, rather than working through the bloodstream or central nervous system. Most patients feel meaningful relief within 20 minutes to an hour of the first dose.
Because phenazopyridine is an azo dye, it produces a vivid orange or reddish discoloration of the urine. This is expected, harmless, and indicates the medication is working. It can permanently stain soft contact lenses, clothing, and fabric — patients should be warned to remove contacts before starting treatment.
95 mg — tablet (OTC)
OTC dose; take 2 tablets three times daily
97.5 mg — tablet (OTC)
OTC maximum strength (AZO Maximum Strength); take 2 tablets three times daily
100 mg — tablet (Rx)
Prescription strength; take 2 tablets three times daily after meals
200 mg — tablet (Rx)
Standard prescription dose; take 1 tablet three times daily after meals for up to 2 days with antibiotics
Pyridium (phenazopyridine) is not on the FDA's official drug shortage list as of 2026. The medication is produced by multiple generic manufacturers and is widely available both by prescription and over the counter. However, patients regularly report difficulty finding the prescription-strength 200 mg tablets at their local pharmacy on any given day.
Local inventory gaps occur because phenazopyridine is typically used for just 2 days, so pharmacies stock minimal quantities and may not reorder frequently. Seasonal UTI demand spikes, the discontinuation of the branded Pyridium, and the separation of Rx and OTC inventory all contribute to localized stocking challenges. The OTC version (AZO) is much more widely stocked and available without a prescription at most pharmacies and grocery stores.
If you're having trouble locating prescription-strength phenazopyridine, medfinder calls pharmacies near you to find which ones have it in stock and texts you the results — saving you the time and frustration of calling around while symptomatic.
Phenazopyridine is not a controlled substance and has no DEA scheduling requirements. Any licensed prescriber can order it without special registration. It can also be purchased without a prescription in lower OTC doses at most pharmacies.
Primary care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine)
OB/GYNs and women's health providers
Urologists
Urgent care providers
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs)
Phenazopyridine is commonly prescribed via telehealth. Services specializing in UTI treatment — including Wisp, Nurx, Hims/Hers, Amazon Clinic, and most insurance-based telehealth portals — can evaluate symptoms and prescribe both an antibiotic and phenazopyridine same-day, often within an hour, without an in-person visit.
No. Phenazopyridine (Pyridium) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. Any licensed prescriber — including primary care physicians, OB/GYNs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, urgent care providers, and telehealth providers — can prescribe phenazopyridine without any special DEA registration or additional paperwork.
Because it is not scheduled, phenazopyridine can also be dispensed over the counter at lower doses (95–99.5 mg) without a prescription at most pharmacies and retail stores. There are no refill restrictions or quantity limits from a DEA perspective. Standard prescribing practice limits the course to 2 days when used with antibiotics for UTI, but this is a clinical guideline, not a regulatory requirement.
The most common side effect is orange or reddish urine discoloration, which is expected and harmless. Other common effects include:
Orange/red urine — expected; can permanently stain clothing and soft contact lenses
Nausea or upset stomach — reduced by taking with food
Headache — usually mild
Dizziness — mild and uncommon
Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) — indicates drug accumulation from kidney impairment; discontinue immediately
Methemoglobinemia — rare; signs include bluish skin, shortness of breath, confusion; seek emergency care
Hemolytic anemia — risk in patients with G6PD deficiency
Allergic reaction — skin rash, hives, difficulty breathing; stop the medication immediately
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Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
OTC NSAID that reduces UTI pain and inflammation. Available without prescription. Avoid in kidney disease. Less targeted than phenazopyridine but widely effective.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
OTC pain reliever safe for patients with kidney concerns who cannot take NSAIDs. Less effective for the specific burning of UTIs compared to phenazopyridine.
Cystex (methenamine + sodium salicylate)
OTC combination product with mild antibacterial (methenamine) and analgesic (sodium salicylate) properties. Does not treat active infections but may help mild symptoms.
D-mannose
Natural sugar supplement with evidence for UTI prevention, not treatment. Not a pain reliever. Better suited for recurrent UTI prevention than acute pain management.
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Prilocaine (EMLA)
majorSignificantly increases risk of methemoglobinemia when combined with phenazopyridine. Modify therapy and monitor closely.
Topical benzocaine (Orajel, etc.)
moderateMay increase risk of methemoglobinemia when combined with phenazopyridine. Use with caution.
Dapsone
moderateTheoretical increased methemoglobinemia risk when combined with phenazopyridine. Monitor patients on dapsone who require phenazopyridine.
Urinalysis (dipstick tests)
minorPhenazopyridine interferes with urine color-reaction tests (glucose, ketone, protein, bilirubin). Not a drug interaction but must be disclosed to laboratory.
Pyridium (phenazopyridine) is one of the most effective and fast-acting medications available for UTI symptom relief, providing meaningful pain reduction within 20 minutes to an hour. It's inexpensive, widely available OTC, and non-controlled — making it accessible to most patients with minimal barriers. The key is always remembering: phenazopyridine treats symptoms only. It must always be paired with an antibiotic to actually cure the underlying infection.
With a GoodRx coupon, the cash price for a 2-day supply of prescription phenazopyridine drops to as low as $2.26 — making cost a minimal barrier. The OTC version (AZO, Uristat) is available without a prescription at most pharmacies for $10–$15, useful when you can't immediately reach a prescriber. For patients who struggle to locate the prescription-strength version, the OTC product at a slightly lower dose is a practical bridge while seeking the Rx fill.
If you're having trouble finding Pyridium at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can help. Enter your medication, dosage, and location — medfinder calls pharmacies near you and texts you which ones can fill your prescription, saving you the time and frustration of calling around while you're symptomatic.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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