Phenazopyridine for Interstitial Cystitis User Reviews

• Steph
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 18, 2021

Pyridium (phenazopyridine) "After struggling for 1.5 years with pain & urgency, Pyridium is the only medication that helps me 100%. My flare ups have gotten worse & worse and sometimes I have to take up to 600mg, but it always relieves my pain. I will always recommend it & make sure you take Pyridium with food!!! I am forever grateful that this medication exists & that I am able to use access it."

• Cathy
• October 3, 2018

Azo-Standard (phenazopyridine) "I have used this medicine for flare ups, it helps a lot for the symptoms of ic. I was wondering if anyone else gets a very dry mouth and extremely bad muscle spasms in your feet and legs. The spasms pretty bad at night and I only get them when I take this medicine."

• BJano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 20, 2018

Azo-Standard (phenazopyridine) "I have suffered with IC for over 11 years. This over the counter medicine has given me temporary relief like no other. Easy to find, reasonably priced. When the urgent care clinics and the emergency rooms can only treat the pain temporarily with major side effects. Azo does much better with no wait, major adverse effects, and turmoil. It is definitely a Godsend! It won't cure, but while you are waiting for treatment, it definitely provides calming results that are so welcomed. Wonderful product!"

• p3Obleo
• May 29, 2020

Azo Urinary Pain Relief (phenazopyridine) "60 yr. old female with Severe Autoimmune Interstitital Cystitis. After 2 years, many Dr.'s, urologists failed to properly diagnose. I got down to 86 lbs., that's adult size 0 jeans! Couldn't eat. Finally diagnosed sent to Urologist who did a cystoscopy, confirming severe autoimmune IC. Started bladder instillations of heperan, lidocaine & Elmiron, once a week for about 18 months, until my bladder just couldn't stand to be cathed one more time. This was before CDC's Opioid Prescribing Guidelines, & the mass hysteria which cut meds to legit chronic pain patients. AZO MAX reduces spasms & burning somewhat. Tried Elmiron, did nothing may cause eye problems & $$$$! Uribel, now unaffordable. Botox injections helped frequency issues, would recommend. Daily pain unbearable! Quality of life w/o pain meds is minus 5-8. Had to go on disability."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• November 24, 2014

Azo-Standard (phenazopyridine) "I have used this for years off and on during flare ups of IC. Besides making my urine a 1970's throwback color of orange, over the past year or two AZO Standard has upset my stomach. Not enough of a problem to do without it, but enough to avoid food. It does work to rid me of the urgency and burning sensation. ."

• yessy
• February 29, 2012

Azo-Standard (phenazopyridine) "This product is a God send. It helps so much with my interstitial cystitis symptoms. But I have noticed that if I use it very frequently that my unine starts to smell really bad. Which concerns me s bit."

• Chris...
• July 12, 2013

Azo-Standard (phenazopyridine) "I use Azo-Standard whenever I have issues with antibiotics or other medications that leave me with a feeling of frequency and/or generalized discomfort. Azo-Standard has always helped greatly, especially at night or anytime I have to sit for long periods which can usually lead to pain and discomfort."

• Anonymous
• December 13, 2011

"When the pain of interstitial cystitis hits, it's awful. One or two doses of this fantastic medicine always either eliminates the pain or makes it barely noticeable. I don't need it daily. But when I do need it, I want it on hand. It's the best thing I can find and that I trust for the pain of interstitial cystitis. Also, I consider it safe and it has no side effects."

• geol
• November 11, 2020

Uricalm (phenazopyridine) "I decided to give these pills a try after I still had some lingering symptoms after finishing UTI antibiotics from my doctor. Though my urge to urinate wasn't as bad and I wasn't in pain anymore, I was still having some discomfort. Uricalm worked like a charm but make sure you eat a FULL MEAL before taking the two pills. I made the mistake of only eating an apple beforehand and nearly threw up and then had diarrhea. Thankfully, the latter wasn't painful (I also have a really sensitive digestive system, so you may not experience those symptoms at all), but I would still eat something substantial. Even with these symptoms, my urge to urinate frequently was already gone. Later I tried taking the pills after having a sandwich and I was completely fine. It turned my urine bright reddish-orange, but aside from that, I felt completely back to normal again. I definitely recommend if you're just coming off of a UTI like me or are experiencing UTI symptoms but can't get to a doctor just yet."

• berta...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 17, 2016

Azo Urinary Pain Relief (phenazopyridine) "When my IC flares up (like it did last night when I drank a huge glass of orange juice--big mistake) and I can't sleep because of that horrible ache, one dose of this stuff works for me. I get the maximum strength OTC generic from CVS (Walgreen's has one, too) but even if you have to pay full price for the brand name, it is worth it. I'm so glad I found this drug. I do have a box of thin maxi-pads left over from when I had periods, and since I'm at that age where I leak a bit, I wear these to keep my underwear and bed sheets from turning psychedelic orange."

• NoUTI
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 18, 2017

"I have no clue what is wrong with me. After three months I am still suffering from constant urge to pee / frequency. I had the sensitive urine cultures and oddly enough bacteria was found. Funny how you can't find any bacteria with a regular test. I don't have pain yet just frequency and no leaks! So I'm going for another opinion because all bacteria is gone. Doc says just residual inflammation. Come on now! I doubt it. So I take pyridium whenever I flare bad. It helps cut the frequency to 1 time every 1.5-2 hours or even longer. It's amazing. Yes I pee less and love it! Without it, I go 5 times in one hour. Makes me so sad"

• Ar Be
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 6, 2018

Azo Urinary Pain Relief (phenazopyridine) "I have dealing with IC for 7 years. My urologist said to take AZO. Problem, I have discovered that when I take AZO, it makes my pain and frequency twice to 3 times worse. On a scale on 1 to 10, I rate this product a 1."

• feeling...
• October 16, 2015

Uristat (phenazopyridine) "Doctor told me to take this uristat . super drug, I feel normal again. I can sleep longer, no real pain and the only side effect is urine is yellowish orange. But who cares about that if your rid of pain and spasms. Thank you doctor!"

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2012

Pyridium (phenazopyridine) "I have to take Pyridium. Have been taking it for many years. My urologist says I don't have Interstitial Cystitis but my bladder started burning in 1992 and hasn't stopped, so it may be urogenic bladder. Pyridium does seem to make me drowsy and I itch a lot. But not sure if the Pyridium causes it as I'm on many other medications. It does help the burning of my bladder."

• Purrlie...
• October 20, 2009

Uristat (phenazopyridine) "My sister is in town trying to find Uristat; she has been to 2 drug stores. No luck. I have used this product for 40 years. Description says does not cure Urinary tract infection. This is a misnomer. This is a wonderful product with no side effects and I am very sensitive to medication. I rate this very, very highly."

• Lee
• January 8, 2016

"I am a 57 yr old female, suffer from interstitial cystitis for the past 5 years. First and foremost DIET is key, no orange juice, grapefruit, spices, cranberries and cranberry juice is the worst for I.C sufferers. Cranberry is great for urinary tract infections but NOT for I.C, also Azo is NOT for I.C, it has cranberry in it. Only Uristat works for I.C, unless of course you are allergic to it or have stomach upset. Take 4 saltine crackers before taking, I have a very sensitive stomach and this works for me"

• Detro...
• November 29, 2015

Pyridium (phenazopyridine) "This did nothing for the cramping and pain. In fact, I had horrible GI gas and stomach issues while taking it. I thought I had a stomach virus but when I stopped the Pyridium, the stomach distress went away."

• snookyb
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 8, 2015

"I have IC, and sometimes it is unbareable. I have prescription strength 200 mg tabs. I take one of those along with an antihistimine, and drink a big glass of water. Fight the urge to urinate for about an hour. Put heat on the bladder or take a hot bath. Finally when I urinate i feel relief. Still fight the urge and urinate at most once an hour. The flareup should calm. This medicine is literally a lifesaver for IC. I only take the medicine during a flareup, not a regular medication."

• mrsra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2013

"Since entering menopause, I find I come down with urinary tract infections more frequently. At the first sign of discomfort, I start with cranberry juice and Azo. The cranberry juice helps make my urine more acidic (inhibiting bacteria) and the Azo calms my bladder and relieves the urgency and pain. The only downside (if you want to call it that) is that it turns your urine dark yellow and can stain, but it's definitely worth it)."

• MissL...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2020

"I have IC that flares with my endometriosis during periods. They are common co-morbid conditions and it causes burning when I urinate. However, I never have a UTI. I've usually just suffered through it until my period ended, but I remembered AZO made this wonderful product similar to the prescription that my gynecologist gave me and it helped immensely. No more burning when I pee! You do have to wear a pad and underwear that you don't care about if it gets stained because the pee turns BRIGHT orange, but it's a small price to pay. So happy to feel better."

• Toby...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 17, 2022

Azo-Standard (phenazopyridine) "I have had Interstitial Cystitis (IC) for decades now. Soon after diagnosis, I was I terrible shape and severe pain all the time. I went to a GYN who specialized in IC and had DMSO treatments. They helped tremendously. I also started to do treatments at home. It is difficult to do by yourself but helps to ease the pain! After that period, it was trial and error on meds and foods and I ended up taking Vesicare (generic form). Try to manage citrus, spicy, and particularly tomatoes but I love them. I adore fresh summer tomatoes and Italian food. I pay the price when I eat them too close together or too much but AZO saves the day when I start burning! Nothing like those little red pills and you can get them OTC. Now, the main problem I have is bladder control; more specifically, no bladder control. The urge comes suddenly and many times I don’t make it Looking for answers."

• grayw...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2015

"I had my first near "kill-me-now" flare this afternoon. Posted about it on facebook and someone recommended AZO. I drove to the pharmacy in excruciating pain; I couldn't walk in so I made them get it for me at the pickup window. Downed 2 pills in the parking lot and by the time I got home 5 minutes later, glorious relief. Why did my urologist not tell me about this when I called him today? "

• Ouch
• August 30, 2020

Azo Urinary Pain Relief (phenazopyridine) "I’ve used this product Azo Urinary Pain Relief for UTI pain years ago and thought it helped so I tried it again when a UTI occurred again 2 years later. I cannot say if this product caused this reaction, but I got pale and very close to passing out about an hour after taking 2 tablets. The infection was being treated and I can think of no other cause for this very scary experience. I ended up at the hospital. Oddly my low blood pressure was super high and I don’t think nervousness alone could cause an increase from normal 110/70 to 160/139. So use caution with this. I know I’ll never try it again!"

• TheSt...
• November 23, 2016

"The active ingredient for temp relief burning, urgency of cystitis/UTI is PHENAZOPYRIDINE 97.5 mg. Formerly, Pyridium. Typically taken with powerful antibiotic. You/ObGyn can do a strip test to see if situation requires antibiotics; WARNING-since flouroquinolones have proven toxic to thousands, insist on alternative. TIPS: Wipe front to back. Partners bathe before sex. Urinate after sex. Male hands and nails clean/ smooth before foreplay. No sex after BM unless both bathed! Drink water all day. D-Mannose is the best natural cure(Health food). I'm sorry for your discomfort. The man must understand, he has to keep very clean, too! Use condom if he has BPH(retrograde ejaculation)."

• kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 22, 2020

Preferred Maximum Strength Urinary Pain Relief (phenazopyridine) "I am only 21 years old. I was diagnosed with IC. I wouldn't say I like taking AZO standard maximum pain relief, but it has been the only thing that helps. I have to take the prescribed amount every few months. Each time I have a flare-up, the side effects of AZO has gotten worse. When I first started to take it, I had no side effects from it. It has been a few years now, and every time I have to take it, the side effects keep getting worse. I feel fatigued, nausea, dizziness; all I want to do is lay in bed and not move. I don't think I am supposed to be taking it as often as I am and has taken a toll on my body. It is literally the only thing that helps."