Is Your UTI Pain Reliever Safe and Effective?
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The Big Take
Phenazopyridine is not approved by the FDA despite being widely available in the US over the counter.
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Many women have, for decades, taken a drug called phenazopyridine to control pain from urinary tract infections that has not been vetted or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Consumers and even doctors recommending the drug are not all aware that it lacks FDA approval and may pose a cancer risk. Here's what to know.
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