Yes, you can take AZO Urinary Pain Relief with a UTI antibiotic, but only for up to 2 days. The prescription label for phenazopyridine, the active ingredient, says it is compatible with antibiotic treatment and can ease pain until the antibiotic controls the infection, but use with an antibiotic should not go past 2 days. AZO only numbs symptoms: it does not kill the bacteria, so you still need to take every dose of your antibiotic. Expect reddish-orange pee, which is harmless.
Is it safe to take AZO and antibiotics together?
AZO Urinary Pain Relief contains phenazopyridine, a urinary tract pain reliever. The prescription label for phenazopyridine says it is compatible with antibacterial therapy and can help relieve pain and discomfort in the time before the antibiotic controls the infection.
Neither the AZO Drug Facts label nor MedlinePlus lists a problem with taking it alongside a UTI antibiotic. MedlinePlus does say to tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine and supplement you take before you start it, so mention it if you are on other prescriptions.
- What AZO does: eases pain, burning, urgency and the need to go often
- What it does not do: cure the infection. MedlinePlus says plainly that it is not an antibiotic
- What cures a UTI: an antibiotic a clinician prescribes. The CDC says to take all doses as prescribed
Why only 2 days?
The phenazopyridine prescription label says that when it is used with an antibiotic for a UTI, it should not be taken for more than 2 days. The reason it gives: there is a lack of evidence that taking both together helps more than the antibiotic alone after 2 days. The label also says to stop phenazopyridine once symptoms are controlled.
The AZO Maximum Strength label says the same from the over-the-counter side: do not use it for more than 2 days (12 tablets) without talking to a doctor, and stop and ask a doctor if your symptoms last more than 2 days.
The label also warns that phenazopyridine should not delay a diagnosis and treatment of the cause. If AZO makes you feel better, that does not mean the infection is gone. Do not use it to put off getting an antibiotic.
- AZO Maximum Strength dose (adults and kids 12 and up): 2 tablets 3 times a day with or after meals, with a full glass of water, for up to 2 days
- Under 12: do not use without a doctor's OK
- Swallow tablets whole. MedlinePlus says chewing or crushing them can stain your teeth
Why is my pee orange, and what about my contacts?
Phenazopyridine is a dye. The AZO label says your urine will turn reddish-orange, and that this is not harmful. MedlinePlus says urine may also look brown.
The color can stain clothes, underwear and other items. It can also stain soft contact lenses. The AZO label warns about touching lenses after handling the tablets, and MedlinePlus advises not wearing contacts at all while you take it. Wear glasses for these 2 days if you can.
Can AZO mess up a urine test?
Yes. The AZO label says it can interfere with lab tests, including urine tests and tests for glucose (sugar) and ketones. MedlinePlus says it can interfere with urine sugar and ketone tests, so tell the lab staff that you take it.
This matters in 2 common cases. If you have diabetes and check urine glucose or ketones, your results may be off. And if you are about to give a urine sample for a UTI test, tell the clinic you have taken AZO so they can read the result with that in mind.
Is AZO Cranberry the same thing?
Not necessarily. The AZO brand name is on more than one product, and a product with AZO on the box is not always the pain reliever. The AZO Urinary Pain Relief label lists phenazopyridine as its active ingredient. We did not find a primary source describing what AZO Cranberry contains, so check its label rather than assume it works the same way.
Cranberry also does not treat a UTI. The NHS says there is no evidence cranberry products ease symptoms or treat a UTI once it has started. There is some evidence they may help prevent repeat bladder infections, and the NHS says people who take warfarin should avoid them.
Before you buy, check the box. If you want pain relief, look for phenazopyridine in the active ingredient line of the Drug Facts label.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Call your doctor right away if your skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow, your skin looks blue or bluish-purple, you get short of breath, you get a rash, you pee much less than usual, or your face, fingers, feet or legs swell. MedlinePlus lists these as serious side effects.
Get care the same day if you have fever, chills, pain in your side or lower back, nausea or vomiting. The CDC lists these as signs of a kidney infection, which it says is more serious than a bladder infection.
Get care the same day if you see blood in your pee, if your symptoms get worse quickly, or if they are not getting better after starting the antibiotic. The CDC says to talk with a clinician if symptoms do not improve after starting antibiotics or get worse, and the NHS says to get urgent advice if symptoms do not improve within 48 hours of starting treatment.
If you are pregnant, a man, 65 or older, have diabetes, use a catheter or have a weakened immune system, the NHS says to get urgent advice for UTI symptoms rather than wait. The same goes for a child 15 or younger.
Call 911 if you or someone else is confused, very drowsy, has trouble speaking, has trouble breathing, collapses or cannot be woken. For a possible overdose, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›Who should not take AZO?
The AZO label and MedlinePlus list a few groups who should check with a doctor or pharmacist first.
- G6PD deficiency: the AZO label says do not use it unless your doctor approves
- Kidney disease: ask a doctor before use
- Allergies to foods, preservatives or dyes, or a past reaction to phenazopyridine
- Pregnant or breastfeeding: ask a health professional before use
- Children under 12: only with a doctor's OK
Common questions
Can I take AZO with antibiotics for a UTI?
Yes. The phenazopyridine label says it is compatible with antibiotic treatment and can ease pain until the antibiotic controls the infection. Use it for no more than 2 days alongside the antibiotic, and keep taking every antibiotic dose.
Does AZO cure a UTI?
No. MedlinePlus says phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic and does not cure infections. It only relieves pain, burning, urgency and frequency. The infection needs an antibiotic from a clinician.
Can I take AZO for more than 2 days?
Not without talking to a doctor. The AZO label says not to use it for more than 2 days (12 tablets) without consulting a doctor, and the prescription label says that with an antibiotic, there is no evidence of extra benefit after 2 days. If you still need it after 2 days, that is a reason to check in.
How long does the orange pee last?
The labels we read do not give a set time for the color to fade after the last dose. The color itself is harmless, but it can stain clothes and soft contact lenses, so skip contacts while you take it.
Can I take AZO before my UTI test?
The AZO label says it can interfere with lab tests, including urine tests. If you have already taken it, tell the clinic or lab before you give a sample. MedlinePlus also says to tell lab staff you take it, because it can affect urine sugar and ketone tests.
Will AZO Cranberry help my UTI right now?
Do not count on it. It is a different product from AZO Urinary Pain Relief, so check its label for the active ingredient. The NHS says there is no evidence cranberry products ease symptoms or treat a UTI that has already started.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.