Pyridium

Action

Unknown. Thought to act locally on urinary tract mucosa to produce analgesic or anesthetic effects, relieving urinary burning, urgency, and frequency.

Availability

Tablets: 95 mg, 97.2 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg

Indications and dosages

➣ Pain caused by lower urinary tract irritation

Adults: 200 mg P.O. t.i.d.

Children: 12 mg/kg P.O. daily in three divided doses

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to drug

• Renal insufficiency

Precautions

Use cautiously in:

• hepatitis

• pregnant or breastfeeding patients

• children younger than age 12.

Administration

• Give with or after meals.

• Discontinue after 2 days, as prescribed, when administering with antibiotics.

Adverse reactions

CNS: headache

EENT: contact lens staining

GI: GI disturbances

GU: bright orange urine, renal toxicity

Hepatic: hepatotoxicity

Hematologic: hemolytic anemia,

methemoglobinemia

Skin: rash, pruritus

Other: anaphylactoid-like reaction

Interactions

Drug-diagnostic tests. Bilirubin, glucose, ketones, protein, steroids: interference with urine tests based on spectrophotometry or color reactions

Patient monitoring

• Monitor patient for symptomatic improvement of urinary tract infection (UTI).

• Assess follow-up urine culture after antibiotic therapy ends.

☞ Monitor for yellowing of skin or sclera. This change may indicate drug accumulation caused by impaired renal excretion, warranting drug withdrawal.

Patient teaching

• Explain drug therapy and measures to help prevent UTI recurrence.

• Tell patient drug may discolor urine and tears and may stain clothing and contact lenses.

☞ Advise patient to contact pre-scriber promptly if symptoms don't improve or if skin or eyes become yellow.

• As appropriate, review all other significant and life-threatening adverse reactions and interactions, especially those related to the tests mentioned above.