As if urinary tract infections were not bad enough, a new report states that a popular free sale drug used to treat UTI symptoms has been related to cancer concerns.
UTIs are among the most common infections worldwide, affecting about 15 million women a year. Fenazopiridine, sold under markings like Azo and Ur Listed, is used to treat pain, burning and discomfort associated with UTI.
But this drug has not been formally approved by the food and medicine administration, and the research has resulted in concerns about its potential cancer risk, Bloomberg reported.
Fenazopyidin, first synthesized in 1914, works asleep the coating of the urinary tract to relieve UTI symptoms.
Bloomberg reported that fenazopyidin was commercialized before the current FDA regulations for drug approval would be in place.
Due to its long history, it was essentially “Avi” and remains in the market without the complete approval of the FDA.
One of the worries about fenazopyidin is that it can mask the symptoms of a UTI, which can delay antibiotic treatment.
There are also possible risks associated with high doses or prolonged use.
A 2021 study by the National Health Institutes (NIH) found that dietary exhibition at fenazopyidin caused tumors in two species of rodents in two different places of tissue.
In female mice, penazopyidin caused benign and malignant liver tumors. In rats of both sexes, it caused benign or malignant colorectal tumors.
NiH said that although animal studies do not explicitly demonstrate a bond between human exposure to penazopyidin and cancer development, the drug “reasonably predicts to be a human carcinogen.”
The side effects of penazopyidin include breast tension, dizziness, lethargy, loss of appetite and stomach pain.
More frequent, more common reactions, the reactions reported include depression, muscle twitch, renal failure, convulsions and bleeding in the nose.
In rare cases, fenazopyidin can cause death due to the metemoglobinemia, a condition that interferes with the ability of the blood to carry oxygen.
Although Fenazopyidin is available OTC in the United States, it requires a recipe in Canada and the United Kingdom.
UTI begin when bacteria enter the urethra and infect urinary tract due to genetic disposition, sexual activity or poor hygiene.
Symptoms include the urgent need to urinate, a burning sensation when chopped, pressure or pain in the lower abdomen, or in the pelvic region, urine and cloudy urine or blood with a strong smell.
Antibiotics are the main care for UTI, as they eliminate the infection bacteria. However, many patients use fenazopyidin to manage the symptoms while waiting for antibiotics.
Unfortunately, studies indicate that UTI bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics, making these infections more dangerous than ever.
Part of this resistance can be attributed to the consumption of meat, as antibiotic -treated animals can develop resistance to those drugs that are transferred to humans.
And UTIs seem to be increasingly prevalent. Recent research found that the overall burden of UTI disease increased more than 68% between 1990 and 2019.
An increase in UTI rates can be attributed to various factors, including a growing population, particularly the elderly who are more susceptible to the UTIs and a strip of sexually active young people.
But the relief may be underway. In March, the FDA approved the antibiotic blujepa to treat UTI without complications in women 12 years and older.
The drug acts on a different part of bacteria compared to most other antibiotics, making it effective against current treatments resistant organisms.
#Free #sale #drug #condition #million #women #year #related #cancer
Image Source : nypost.com