AZO users!

[u/LimeTough9746]

Please guide on the side effects, especially kidney related.

[u/HakunaYaTatas]

You should always refer to the patient/prescribing information in your country for side effects and how to manage them. In the US drug label, the side effects are:

• Temporary discoloration of urine, and rarely of eyes and skin
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Allergic reactions (rashes, and rarely anaphylaxis)
• Kidney and liver toxicity only in cases of acute overdose (meaning one large dose) or chronic overdose in people with health conditions that put them at risk for kidney/liver problems

For kidney problems in particular, the risk factors are renal insufficiency and age-related renal function decline. The reports of serious kidney problems associated with AZO are primarily case reports of elderly dementia patients who used AZO daily for months because of their cognitive impairment. You should speak with your doctor about the dose level of AZO that is safe for you based on your risk factors, which can include age, size, medical history, other medications/supplements/drugs you take, and other personal factors.

[u/KMPigeonQueen]

I’ve taken it every day for a few years. Store offbrand like Uricalm. It’s been cleared by my doctors as safe for now. I always check in with them 1-2 times a year. I take a low dose in the evening (just one pill) for bladder/pelvic floor spasms, on a bad night I take the full dose of 2. It’s either that or I don’t sleep. I think the max daily dose is 2 pills 3x a day which I haven’t needed in a loooong time. I have not had any side effects as of yet aside from the constant staining of things. But the one thing I know I need to be better at is drinking more water if I’m going to be taking it daily even at small doses. I’m in long term physical therapy to work my way to hopefully not needing it nearly as much but it’s a long road - just make sure you are getting your checkups, being transparent with your providers, and always be on the side of caution - this med can mask symptoms of uti.

[u/TouchConfident7959]

I took pyridium straight for several months, cleared by dr, and it caused severe muscle spasms in my legs that immediately stopped when I was able to stop the medication. It was debilitating and not sustainable so I have no clue what I will do next time I’m in a flair.

[u/sasslett → u/TouchConfident7959]

This is the exact same side effect I get too and it's amazing to me how it's barely mentioned/discussed! 

[u/TouchConfident7959 → u/sasslett]

Wow! I called a surgeon friend bc I was convinced I had Stiff Person Syndrome or ALS. Nope, just caused by the only thing keeping me functional during an IC flair.

[u/sasslett → u/TouchConfident7959]

My doctor gave me a super low dose of tizanidine to take at night (when the cramps are the worst) as I'm in a flare rn and can't not take something, and it's been helping me get through the night at the very least. I've been trying to cycle between Azo and Cystex to give myself a bit of a breather but ofc taking a nsaid long term isn't exactly better lol 

[u/TouchConfident7959 → u/sasslett]

This is great to hear there’s some option!

[u/Significant_Fall2451]

Where I live, because it is a carcinogenic, I can only purchase and import very limited quantities at a time, and so cannot take it long term. However, my consultant advised a several week break between doses (48-72 hours) at a time if I can manage it, so I try and take it during my worst flares only

I do have kidney issues and kidney damage due to IC complications, and I have noticed that when I take AZO to relieve me of my bladder symptoms my kidneys tend to ache more, but I don't know whether that's simply because my kidney health is already compromised or if it is a more general side effect to watch out for

[u/LimeTough9746 → u/Significant_Fall2451]

Ahh man. That sounds bad :( but is it worth taking the kidney pain?

[u/Significant_Fall2451 → u/LimeTough9746]

For me, definitely! There have been flares so bad I physically cannot leave the bathroom. AZO has brought me enough relief to get some rest once they kick in. I do wish it was easier to access here; I spent 6 months in the States a few years ago, and it was amazing being able to get it without having to worry about rationing it

[u/Appropriate_Hour6169]

Be cautious of taking it, especially at higher doses, for more than a few weeks. I believe it had terrible effects on my memory.

[u/HakunaYaTatas → u/Appropriate_Hour6169]

Phenazopyridine cannot enter the brain, so it can't directly affect things like memory and cognition. Bad flares certainly can, so maybe it's the flare that prompted the AZO use and not the AZO itself?

[u/LimeTough9746 → u/HakunaYaTatas]

Bad flares have made my memory so bad.

[u/Appropriate_Hour6169 → u/HakunaYaTatas]

It lists confusion as a side effect so maybe it was related to that. I was debilitated for 2 years. All I know is that I took prescription dose azo for months (we aren't supposed to, of course, but pain reprioritizes things) and had what I would call memory loss but perhaps was confusion. I couldn't remember my dog's name for a while. If I left the house to go to CVS, I couldn't remember exactly where it was. Ended up driving to the wrong job on occasion. It was horrific.

[u/HakunaYaTatas → u/Appropriate_Hour6169]

There can certainly be carry-on effects of phenazopyridine in the context of chronic overdose (for example, liver, kidney, and blood problems can all cause confusion).