Voriconazole

This information from Lexicomp® explains what you need to know about this medication, including what it’s used for, how to take it, its side effects, and when to call your healthcare provider.

Brand Names: US

Vfend; Vfend IV

Brand Names: Canada

APO-Voriconazole [DSC]; JAMP-Voriconazole; SANDOZ Voriconazole; TEVA-Voriconazole; Vfend

What is this drug used for?

  • It is used to treat fungal infections.

What do I need to tell the doctor BEFORE my child takes this drug?

  • If your child is allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell the doctor about the allergy and what signs your child had.
  • If your child has any of these health problems: Low calcium, magnesium, or potassium levels.
  • If you have been told that your child’s body has problems with certain sugars (lactose, glucose, galactose). Some products have lactose.
  • If your child takes any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) that must not be taken with this drug, like certain drugs that are used for HIV, infections, or seizures. There are many drugs that must not be taken with this drug.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all of your child’s drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe to give this drug with all of your child’s other drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug your child takes without checking with the doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while my child takes this drug?

  • Tell all of your child’s health care providers that your child is taking this drug. This includes your child’s doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
  • Have your child avoid tasks or actions that call for alertness until you see how this drug affects your child. These are things like riding a bike, playing sports, or using items such as scissors, lawnmowers, electric scooters, toy cars, or motorized vehicles.
  • If your child is old enough to drive, have your child avoid driving at night.
  • Bright lights may bother your child. Have your child wear sunglasses.
  • Get your child an eye exam if they are on this drug for a long time. Talk with your child’s doctor.
  • Have your child’s blood work checked often. Talk with your child’s doctor.
  • Do not give to your child longer than you have been told. A second infection may happen.
  • This drug can make skin more sensitive to the sun. The risk may be raised if your child also takes other drugs that make the skin sensitive to the sun. Your child may get a rash or sunburn more easily. Your child’s skin may age faster from the sun. The risk of skin cancer may also be raised. Avoid lots of sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen with high SPF. Dress your child in clothing and eyewear that protects from the sun.
  • An unsafe heartbeat that is not normal (long QT on ECG) has happened with this drug. Sudden deaths have rarely happened in people taking this drug. Talk with the doctor.
  • A severe and sometimes deadly reaction has happened. Most of the time, this reaction has signs like fever, rash, or swollen glands with problems in body organs like the liver, kidney, blood, heart, muscles and joints, or lungs. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
  • If the patient is a child, use this drug with care. The risk of side effects, including serious skin sensitivity, may be higher in children.

If your child is or may be sexually active:

  • This drug may cause harm to an unborn baby. Your child must use birth control while taking this drug. If your child gets pregnant, call your child’s doctor right away.

If your child is breast-feeding a baby:

  • Tell the doctor if your child is breast-feeding a baby. You will need to talk about any risks to the baby.

What are some side effects that I need to call my child’s doctor about right away?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your child’s doctor or get medical help right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

All products:

  • Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
  • Signs of a pancreas problem (pancreatitis) like very bad stomach pain, very bad back pain, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
  • Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
  • Signs of lupus like a rash on the cheeks or other body parts, sunburn easy, muscle or joint pain, chest pain or shortness of breath, or swelling in the arms or legs.
  • Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes; confusion; muscle pain, cramps, or spasms; weakness; shakiness; change in balance; an abnormal heartbeat; seizures; loss of appetite; or severe upset stomach or throwing up.
  • Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
  • Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, unusual thirst or hunger, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
  • Signs of a weak adrenal gland like a severe upset stomach or throwing up, severe dizziness or passing out, muscle weakness, feeling very tired, mood changes, decreased appetite, or weight loss.
  • Fever or chills.
  • Bone pain.
  • Fast or abnormal heartbeat.
  • Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
  • Swelling.
  • Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
  • Change in eyesight.
  • Sunburn.
  • Skin reaction to light.
  • Skin cancer has happened in people who took this drug for a long time and had skin sensitive to the sunlight. Taking certain other drugs may also raise the risk. Call the doctor right away if your child has a change in color or size of a mole or any other skin change or growth.
  • A severe skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause severe health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if your child has signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in the mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.
  • Liver problems have rarely happened with this drug. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your child’s doctor right away if your child has signs of liver problems like dark urine, tiredness, decreased appetite, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
  • An overactive adrenal gland (Cushing’s syndrome) has happened when this drug was used with a steroid drug like prednisolone. Call the doctor right away if your child has signs like abnormal weight gain; moon face; fatty hump between the shoulders; thinning of the skin; more hair growth; sweating a lot; darkened skin on the stomach, thighs, breasts, or arms; or easy bruising.

Injection:

  • Rarely, some people have had a reaction during the infusion of this drug. Tell the doctor right away about any flushing, fever, sweating, fast heartbeat, chest tightness, shortness of breath, faintness, upset stomach, itching, or rash during the infusion of this drug.

What are some other side effects of this drug?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your child’s doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother your child or do not go away:

  • Dizziness or headache.
  • Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, or throwing up.
  • Mouth irritation.
  • Signs of a common cold.
  • Cough.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your child’s doctor. Call your child’s doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to your national health agency.

How is this drug best given?

Give this drug as ordered by your child’s doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

All oral products:

  • Give on an empty stomach. Give 1 hour before or 1 hour after meals.
  • Keep giving this drug to your child as you have been told by your child’s doctor or other health care provider, even if your child feels well.

Liquid (suspension):

  • Shake well before use.
  • Measure liquid doses carefully. Use the measuring device that comes with this drug. If there is none, ask the pharmacist for a device to measure this drug.
  • Do not mix with other liquids.

Injection:

  • It is given as an infusion into a vein over a period of time.

What do I do if my child misses a dose?

All oral products:

  • Give a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
  • If it is close to the time for your child’s next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your child’s normal time.
  • Do not give 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Injection:

  • Call your child’s doctor to find out what to do.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

All oral products:

  • Store at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
  • Keep lid tightly closed.
  • Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.

Liquid (suspension):

  • Throw away any part not used 2 weeks after this drug was mixed.

Injection:

  • If you need to store this drug at home, talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

All products:

  • Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

General drug facts

  • If your child’s symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your child’s doctor.
  • Do not share your child’s drug with others and do not give anyone else’s drug to your child.
  • Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your child’s doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
  • If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

This generalized information is a limited summary of diagnosis, treatment, and/or medication information. It is not meant to be comprehensive and should be used as a tool to help the user understand and/or assess potential diagnostic and treatment options. It does NOT include all information about conditions, treatments, medications, side effects, or risks that may apply to a specific patient. It is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of a health care provider based on the health care provider’s examination and assessment of a patient’s specific and unique circumstances. Patients must speak with a health care provider for complete information about their health, medical questions, and treatment options, including any risks or benefits regarding use of medications. This information does not endorse any treatments or medications as safe, effective, or approved for treating a specific patient. UpToDate, Inc. and its affiliates disclaim any warranty or liability relating to this information or the use thereof. The use of this information is governed by the Terms of Use, available at https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/know/clinical-effectiveness-terms.

Last Reviewed Date

2022-09-29

Copyright

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Last Updated

Monday, December 12, 2022