Two medicines, side by side
Methenamine vs phenazopyridine
Methenamine and phenazopyridine are both labeled for urinary tract infections. Pharmacies paid $0.313 per methenamine hipp 1 g tablet and $0.154 per phenazopyridine 100 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the methenamine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 7, 2026); the phenazopyridine FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 14, 2026).
Highlights of the methenamine record
Methenamine (Urex) · label of August 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsMethenamine hippurate tablets are indicated for prophylactic or suppressive treatment of frequently recurring urinary tract infections when long-term therapy is considered necessary. This drug should only be used after eradication of the infection by other appropriate antimicrobial agents. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 5, 1967
- Generic labelers
- 10 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.313 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 0
Highlights of the phenazopyridine record
Phenazopyridine · label of July 14, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsPhenazopyridine HCl is indicated for the symptomatic relief of pain, burning, urgency, frequency, and other discomforts arising from irritation of the lower urinary tract mucosa caused by infection, trauma, surgery, endoscopic procedures, or the passage of sounds or catheters. The use of Phenazopyridine HCl for relief of symptoms should not delay definitive diagnosis and treatment of causative conditions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- n/a
- Generic labelers
- none listed
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.154 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Methenamine label of August 7, 2026, Phenazopyridine label of July 14, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do methenamine and phenazopyridine differ on the record?
Generics: methenamine since 2003; phenazopyridine none approved (Drugs@FDA).
| Methenamine | Phenazopyridine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Urinary tract infections | Pain, Urinary tract infections |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | n/a |
| How it works (label) | n/a | is not known. The pharmacokinetic properties of Phenazopyridine HCl have not been determined. Phenazopyridine HCl is rapidly excreted by the kidneys, with as much as 66% of an oral dose being excreted unchanged in the urine. |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | July 5, 1967 | n/a |
| First generic approved | June 20, 2003 | none |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 10 labelers | none listed |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.313 per tablet (Methenamine hipp 1 g tablet) | $0.154 per tablet (Phenazopyridine 100 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -15% | -10% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 0 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,210 | 4,284 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to methenamine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions