Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking phenazopyridine as follows:
- Phenazopyridine can interact with a lot of other medications and OTC products. If you are being newly started on phenazopyridine, discuss with your physician regarding all your current medications and their safety with phenazopyridine. Also, notify your physician regarding any current phenazopyridine intake, if you are being started on any new medications and discuss their safety with phenazopyridine.
- Phenazopyridine is mainly metabolized in the liver and acetaminophen/tylenol is a major metabolite of phenazopyridine. So, individuals taking acetaminophen for any other reason should count the acetaminophen derived from metabolism of phenazopyridine also into daily maximum allowance of acetaminophen, as overdose of acetaminophen could be toxic to the liver and affect the function of the liver. Also, while taking phenazopyridine, watch closely for any acetaminophen in all the OTC products you purchase, such as, medications for common cold and allergies, by reading the contents carefully, as many of these products contain acetaminophen in them. Hepatic injury and altered liver function can also result in increased bilirubin levels in the body and signs and symptoms of jaundice. Individuals can present with itching, dark urine, yellowing of skin and eyes, nausea and vomiting, poor metabolism, and fatigue. Report any of these findings to your physician, so that, a change in plan of care could be considered.
- Take the medication dose at the same time, every day, to avoid forgetting the intake of medication.
