Voriconazole

Voriconazole (oral/injection) is a prescription medication used to treat infections caused by yeast or other types of fungus.

• Voriconazole (oral/injection) is available under various brand names: VFEND

Common side effects of Voriconazole (oral/injection) include:

• vision changes.
• rash.
• headache, hallucinations.
• fast heart rate.
• nausea, vomiting; or
• abnormal liver function tests.

Serious side effects of Voriconazole include:

• hives, 
• difficult breathing, 
• swelling in the face or throat
• severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).
• feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, sweaty, or have chest tightness or trouble breathing.
• fast or pounding heartbeats, fluttering in the chest, shortness of breath, and sudden dizziness (like you might pass out).
• a sunburn.
• vision problems, changes in your color vision.
• slow heart rate, weak pulse, fainting, slow breathing.
• kidney problems--little or no urination, swelling in the feet or ankles, feeling tired or short of breath; or
• liver problems--nausea, vomiting, flu-like symptoms, itching, tiredness, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Rare side effects of Voriconazole include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors;
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

 Adult and pediatric dosage

Oral suspension

• 200 mg/5mL

Injection, powder for reconstitution

• 200 mg

Tablets

• 50 mg
• 200 mg

Aspergillosis:

Adult dosage

• Invasive (including disseminated and extrapulmonary):
• IV: 6 mg/kg twice daily for 2 doses, then 4 mg/kg twice daily
• Oral: 200 to 300 mg twice daily or weight-based dosing (3 to 4 mg/kg twice daily)
• Duration: Minimum of 6 to 12 weeks, depending on degree/duration of immunosuppression, disease site, and response to therapy

Pediatric dosage

• Children below 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children above 12 years: 6 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours for the first 24 hours, then 4 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every hour
• The median duration of treatment: Intravenous 10 days (range 2-90 days); orally 76 days (range 2-232 days)

Candidemia

Adult dosage

• 6 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours for the first 24 hours, then 3- 4 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every 12 hours
• Pediatric dosage
• Children below 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children above 12 years: 6 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours for the first 24 hours, then 3- 4 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every 12 hours

Fusariosis

Adult dosage

• IV: 6 mg/kg twice daily for 2 doses, then 4 mg/kg twice daily
• Oral, following improvement with initial IV therapy: 200 mg twice daily
• Duration: Often prolonged and depends on site of infection, severity, immune status, and response to therapy

Scedosporiosis:

Adult dosage

• IV: 6 mg/kg twice daily for 2 doses, then 4 mg/kg twice daily 
• Oral: 400 mg twice daily for 2 doses, then 200 to 300 mg twice daily 

Esophageal Candidiasis

Adult dosage

• Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei: 200 mg orally every 12 hours

Pediatric dosage

• Children below 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children above 12 years: 200 mg orally every 12 hours

Serious Fungal Infections

Adult dosage

• 6 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours for the first 24 hours, then 4 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every 12 hours 
• Pediatric dosage
• Children below 12 years: Safety and efficacy not established
• Children above 12 years: 6 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours for the first 24 hours, then 4 mg/kg Intravenous every 12 hours or 200 mg orally  every 12 hours

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first

• Voriconazole has severe interactions with at least 39 other drugs.
• Voriconazole has serious interactions with at least 173 other drugs.
• Voriconazole has moderate interactions with at least 321 other drugs.
• Voriconazole has minor interactions with at least 100 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to voriconazole

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Voriconazole?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Voriconazole?”

Cautions

• Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any you start or stop using. Many drugs can interact, and some drugs should not be used together.
• Voriconazole is not approved for use by anyone younger than 2 years old.
• Voriconazole may cause vision changes such as blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Wear sunglasses during the day to protect your eyes from bright light. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.
• Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. Voriconazole can make you more sensitive to sunlight or cause a serious skin reaction, including lesions that may lead to skin cancer. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Do not use voriconazole if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while you are using this Voriconazole.
• Voriconazole can interact with certain birth control pills, which may increase side effects. Ask your doctor about the best form of birth control to use during treatment with voriconazole.

Lactation

• It may not be safe to breastfeed while using voriconazole. Ask your doctor about any risks.