As if urinary tract infections weren’t bad enough, a new report claims that a popular over-the-counter drug used to treat UTI symptoms has been linked to cancer concerns.
UTIs are among the most common infections worldwide, affecting some 15 million women a year. Phenazopyridine, sold under brand names such as Azo and Uristat, is used to treat the pain, burning and discomfort associated with UTIs.
But this medication has not been formally approved by the Food and Drug Administration — and research has raised concerns about its potential cancer risk, Bloomberg reported.
Phenazopyridine, first synthesized in 1914, works by numbing the lining of the urinary tract to relieve UTI symptoms.
