Health Library

Voriconazole (By mouth)

Voriconazole (vor-i-KON-a-zole)

Treats fungal infections.

Brand Name(s):

Vfend

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used:

How to Use This Medicine:

Liquid, Tablet

• Take your medicine as directed. Your dose may need to be changed several times to find what works best for you.
• It is best to take this medicine at least 1 hour before or 1 hour after a meal.
• Shake the oral liquid well before each use. Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.
• Do not mix the oral liquid with any other medicine, flavored liquid, or syrup.
• Take all of the medicine in your prescription to clear up your infection, even if you feel better after the first few doses.
• Read and follow the patient instructions that come with this medicine. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.
• Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
• Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Do not refrigerate or freeze the oral liquid. Store it at room temperature and use it within 14 days.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid:

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Do not use this medicine together with astemizole, carbamazepine, efavirenz, ivabradine, lemborexant, lurasidone, naloxegol, pimozide, quinidine, rifabutin, rifampin, ritonavir, sirolimus, St John's wort, terfenadine, tolvaptan, venetoclax, barbiturates (including phenobarbital), or ergot medicines (including dihydroergotamine, ergotamine).
• Some medicines can affect how voriconazole works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:
  • Alfentanil, axitinib, bosutinib, cabozantinib, ceritinib, cobimetinib, cyclosporine, dabrafenib, dasatinib, eszopiclone, everolimus, fentanyl, fluconazole, glasdegib, ibrutinib, methadone, methotrexate, nilotinib, omeprazole, oxycodone, phenytoin, ribociclib, sunitinib, tacrolimus, tretinoin, vinblastine, vincristine
  • Birth control pills (including ethinyl estradiol, norethindrone)
  • Blood pressure medicine
  • Blood thinner (including warfarin)
  • Medicine for anxiety or sleeping (including alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam)
  • Medicine to lower cholesterol
  • Medicine to treat HIV or AIDS (including amprenavir, delavirdine, nelfinavir, nevirapine, saquinavir)
  • NSAID pain medicine (including aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen)
  • Oral diabetes medicine (including glipizide, glyburide, tolbutamide)
  • Steroid medicine

Warnings While Using This Medicine:

• It is not safe to take this medicine during pregnancy. It could harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, or electrolyte imbalance. Tell your doctor if you recently had cancer treatment or a stem cell transplant. Tell your doctor if you have a condition that makes it hard for you to digest sugars or dairy products.
• This medicine may cause the following problems:
  • Liver problems
  • Changes in heart rhythm, including QT prolongation
  • Kidney problems, including kidney failure
  • Pancreatitis (swelling of the pancreas)
  • Serious skin reactions or problems, including skin cancer, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)
  • Adrenal gland problems
  • Bone pain (if used for a long period of time)
• This medicine may cause changes in vision. Do not drive (especially at night) or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Wear sunscreen. Do not use sunlamps or tanning beds.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
• Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments.
• Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine:

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, red skin rash
• Bone pain
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, painful urination, cloudy urine
• Changes in skin color, dark freckles
• Changes in vision, light sensitivity, problems seeing colors
• Cold feeling, weakness, tiredness, weight loss
• Dark urine or pale stools, loss of appetite, stomach pain, yellow skin or eyes
• Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
• Sudden or severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, lightheadedness
• Weight gain around your neck, upper back, breast, face, or waist

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

Last Updated: 9/6/2024