Hyophen
Hyophen is a combination medication that treats a variety of urinary symptoms, such as painful urination, bladder discomfort, and urgency, caused by irritation or infections. It isn't an antibiotic and cannot be used to treat a urinary tract infection (UTI).
What is Hyophen?
What is Hyophen used for?
- Symptoms of irritative urination such as frequency, urgency, painful urination, and loss of bladder control
- Urinary symptoms related to urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Urinary symptoms caused by medical procedures
How Hyophen works
Hyophen is a combination medication made of 5 different drugs, which all work differently.
- Hyoscyamine sulfate relaxes the bladder muscle to limit bladder spasms and the urge to urinate.
- Methenamine is broken down to formaldehyde in acidic urine, which kills bacteria and stops its growth.
- Methylene blue works as an antiseptic, meaning it prevents growth of bacteria.
- Phenyl salicylate works as a pain reliever.
- Benzoic acid keeps your urine acidic to help methenamine break down into formaldehyde.
Drug facts
Side effects of Hyophen
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Rapid heartbeat
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Blue to blue-green urine or stools
- Redness of your skin (flushing)
- Difficult urination
- Cannot empty your bladder fully
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Hyophen serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Serious allergic reaction: itching, rash, severe dizziness, swelling, or trouble breathing
The following Hyophen side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
- Blurry vision
- Change in the amount of urine
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Trouble passing urine
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
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Pros and cons of Hyophen
Pros
- Combination of 5 medications that all work in different ways to relieve your urinary symptoms
- Treats a variety of urinary symptoms
Cons
- Needs to be taken 4 times per day
- Can be more expensive because a generic version is not available
- Generally not recommended in people older than 65
- Cannot be used by children age 6 years and younger
- Can interact with many drugs
Pharmacist tips for Hyophen
- If you experience a rapid pulse, dizziness, or blurred vision, stop taking Hyophen right away and contact your provider. Don't drive or do things that require you to focus until you know how this medication makes you feel.
- Hyophen can interact with many drugs, such as sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim), fluoxetine (Prozac), and amitriptyline (Elavil), so it's important that you check with your provider or pharmacist if you need to space out timing of your medications. If Hyophen is taken at the same time as certain medications, it might not work as well or more side effects can occur.
- You can have an allergic reaction to Hyophen if you've had a reaction to belladonna alkaloids, such as atropine and scopolamine (Transderm Scop), or salicylates, such as aspirin. Let your provider know if you've had allergies to these medications in the past.
- Take Hyophen with or without food. Drink plenty of water after taking each dose to make sure your kidneys have good blood flow.
- Store this medication at room temperature, in a container that will protect it from light.
Common questions about Hyophen
Hyophen might turn your urine or stool blue or blue-green because of the methylene blue component of the medication. This is not harmful and it should go away after you stop taking the medication.
Hyophen and Uribel are both combination drugs containing 5 different medications. Hyophen contains methenamine, phenyl salicylate, methylene blue, hyoscyamine, and benzoic acid. Uribel contains methenamine, phenyl salicylate, methylene blue, hyoscyamine, and sodium phosphate monobasic. Each medication has different amounts of each drug but both treat urinary symptoms.
No, Hyophen is not an antibiotic. It treats the pain and discomfort that is caused by UTIs. It also works as an antiseptic, meaning it prevents growth of bacteria. If you currently have a UTI, you will need to take an appropriate antibiotic to treat the infection.
It isn't known if Hyophen can harm you and your unborn baby, so it should only be used if it's really needed. The hyoscyamine and methenamine components of the medication cross the placenta but it isn't known what effect this has on your unborn baby. Let your provider know if you're pregnant before taking Hyophen.
Medications weren't required to be tested for safety until 1938 when the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was passed. In 1962, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the law so medications had to be tested for both safety and effectiveness. Many of the medications that were used before 1938 still haven't had the thorough evaluation required by the FDA today but they were “grandfathered” in under the law. This means they weren't required to go through the same approval process as new drugs and they're considered "unapproved" medications. Hyophen has been used since before 1938, which is why it's unapproved.
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Risks and warnings for Hyophen
Hyophen can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Mental side effects
- Risk factors: Age 65 years and older
Older adults might experience excitement, agitation, drowsiness, or confusion while taking Hyophen. Let your provider know if this becomes bothersome.
Allergic reactions
- Risk factors: Allergic reaction to belladonna alkaloids or salicylates
You can have an allergic reaction to Hyophen if you've had a reaction to belladonna alkaloids, such as atropine and scopolamine (Transderm Scop), or salicylates, such as aspirin. Let your provider know if you've had allergies to these medications in the past.
Stomach problems
- Risk factors: Stomach ulcer
Hyophen can slow down your digestion. This can cause problems if you have a stomach ulcer. Let your provider know if you're being treated for a stomach ulcer before you start taking Hyophen.
Long-term use
It isn't known if it's safe to take Hyophen for a prolonged period of time. It’s important for you and your provider to weigh the risk and benefits of taking this medication long-term.
Hyophen dosage
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 81.6mg/0.12mg | 60 tablets | $161.68 | $2.69 |
Typical dosage for Hyophen
Each Hyophen tablet contains 81.6 mg of methenamine, 9 mg of benzoic acid, 36.2 mg of phenyl salicylate, 10.8 mg of methylene blue, and 0.12 mg of hyoscyamine sulfate.
- Adults: The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth 4 times per day with plenty of fluids.
- Children (older than 6 years): The dose will depend on the child's individual needs.
Children 6 years old and younger shouldn't take Hyophen.
How much does Hyophen cost?
$161.68
What are alternatives to Hyophen?
Hyophen images
