Key takeaways:
AZO (phenazopyridine) is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that can help relieve symptoms from a urinary tract infection. A higher dose of AZO is also available with a prescription.
A common adult AZO dosage is 190 mg to 200 mg by mouth 3 times per day as needed. AZO shouldn’t be taken for more than 2 days without your healthcare provider’s OK.
Adolescents ages 12 years and older can take the same AZO dosage as adults. You shouldn’t give the OTC version of AZO to children under 12 years old without consulting a healthcare provider first.
AZO is available as a brand-name medication. But you can also find it as a lower-cost generic. If your healthcare provider writes you a prescription for AZO, GoodRx can help save you money on the medication.
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Table of contents
Dosage for adults
Dosage for adults
Dosage for adults
Missed dose
Taking too much
How to save
Bottom line
References
AZO (phenazopyridine) is a medication that can help relieve urinary urgency, pain, and discomfort caused by a urinary tract infection (UTI). AZO is available over the counter (OTC) at lower doses. Higher doses require a prescription from your healthcare provider.
Since AZO is available OTC, it’s important to know how much is safe to take. You should also know how long you can take it. Let’s review the typical AZO dosages so you can stay safe while treating your UTI.
Note: AZO is also the brand name for a line of urinary health products. Not all of these contain phenazopyridine. For this article, we’ll only cover dosage information for AZO products that contain phenazopyridine.
What’s the typical AZO dosage for adults?
Adults typically take AZO by mouth 3 times a day as needed after meals. You shouldn’t take it for longer than 2 days for UTI symptoms without speaking to your healthcare provider. This is because AZO can hide symptoms of a worsening infection that requires further treatment.
The specific dose varies, depending on whether you’re taking the prescription or OTC version of AZO. Be sure to read your prescription or OTC label carefully before taking the medication.
Over-the-counter AZO dosage
Doses for the OTC version of AZO range from 95 mg to 99.5 mg of phenazopyridine per tablet. The OTC dosage is two tablets (190 mg to 199 mg) by mouth 3 times a day as needed for up to 2 days. AZO should be taken with a full glass of water and with or after meals. If you're still having symptoms after 2 days of taking AZO, contact a healthcare provider.
Prescription-strength phenazopyridine dosage
Prescription-strength phenazopyridine is available as 100 mg and 200 mg tablets. The prescription phenazopyridine dosage is 200 mg (two 100 mg tablets OR one 200 mg tablet) 3 times per day after meals.
Like the OTC version, if you’re still having symptoms after 2 days of taking the prescription version, you should speak with your healthcare provider.
Good to know: Prescription-strength phenazopyridine is also FDA approved for urgency, pain, and discomfort related to other urinary health conditions, such as trauma or catheter placement.
What’s the typical AZO dosage for children?
The OTC dosage for adolescents ages 12 years and older is the same as the recommended adult dosage. This age group can take 2 tablets by mouth 3 times a day with or after meals as needed. Be sure your child takes AZO with plenty of water. And contact their healthcare provider if they’re still having symptoms after taking it for 2 days.
Children under 12 years of age shouldn’t take over-the-counter AZO without consulting with their provider first. Additionally, prescription-strength phenazopyridine isn’t FDA approved for children younger than 18 years old.
If your child’s provider recommends either AZO version and your child is out of the suggested age ranges, follow the provider’s recommended dosage. This is an off-label use of phenazopyridine. There are no standard dosages for children in these age ranges.
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Are there any dosage adjustments for health conditions?
There are no suggested dosage adjustments for AZO for people with certain health conditions. But people with kidney problems may need to avoid AZO.
The kidneys remove AZO from the body. If you have kidney problems, your body might not be able to clear AZO as quickly as it should. This can raise the risk of side effects. Common AZO side effects include headache, nausea, and diarrhea.
If you have a history of kidney problems, speak with your healthcare provider before taking AZO. They can help determine if it’s OK for you to take it.
What happens if you miss a dose of AZO?
AZO is an as-needed medication. That means you should only take it if you feel like you need it. So missed doses shouldn’t be a problem. But, it’s important not to take more than recommended per dose or per day. And it’s important to check with your healthcare provider if you’re still having symptoms after 2 days of taking it.
What should you do if you take too much AZO?
Taking an extra dose of AZO by mistake is unlikely to cause severe problems. You may experience more side effects than usual. Extremely large doses, however, can be harmful. While rare, there are cases of people developing kidney failure after taking too much AZO.
If you suspect that you or someone you know has taken too much AZO, contact a healthcare provider, or call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. If anything seems severe or life-threatening, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
How to save on AZO
There are ways to save on AZO, which is available as a lower-cost generic medication. If your healthcare provider writes a prescription for AZO, GoodRx can help you save over 85% off the average retail price. Generic phenazopyridine’s price at certain pharmacies is as low as $4.71 with a free GoodRx discount.
The bottom line
AZO (phenazopyridine) is available over the counter (OTC) and with a prescription. A common adult AZO dosage is 190 mg to 200 mg by mouth 3 times a day with or after meals as needed. Adolescents ages 12 years or older can follow adult dosages for the OTC version of AZO.
You shouldn’t take AZO for more than 2 days without checking in with your healthcare provider. And you may need to avoid AZO if you have kidney problems. Always check the medication label or ask your provider or pharmacist if you’re unsure about dosage information.
References
Eastham, J. H., et al. (2023). Phenazopyridine. StatPearls.
ECI Pharmaceuticals, LLC. (2023). Phenazopyridine hydrochloride- phenazopyridine tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
View All References (3)
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i-Health, Inc. (2023). Azo urinary pain relief maximum strength- phenazopyridine hydrochloride tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
Onder, A. M., et al. (2006). Acute renal failure due to phenazopyridine (pyridium) overdose: Case report and review of the literature. Pediatric Nephrology.
Strategic Sourcing Services LLC. (2023). Foster and Thrive neighbor pharmacy urinary pain relief- phenazopyridine hydrochloride tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.
GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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