Voriconazole, Oral/Injection

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antifungal; anti-infective

Generic and brand names: voriconazole, oral; voriconazole, injection; Vfend

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is used to treat fungal infections. This treatment is usually started with IV infusions (slow drip through a needle into a large vein) to treat fungus infections. Later, you may be given tablets or liquid to take by mouth.

It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• liver or kidney disease
• heart failure, irregular heartbeat, or other heart disease
• lactose intolerance (problem digesting milk) if you take the tablets

Some drugs may cause serious, even fatal, problems if taken with this medicine. Tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take.

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually given to pregnant women because it can harm the baby. If you are pregnant, tell your healthcare provider. Do not become pregnant during treatment with this medicine. If you become pregnant, contact your healthcare provider right away. Do not breast-feed while you are receiving this medicine.

How do I use it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval, even if you feel better.

Take tablets or liquid forms of this medicine 1 hour before or 1 hour after meals. If you are using the liquid, shake the bottle well before pouring a dose. Use a special dose measuring spoon or cup to measure out the correct dose.

Injections (shots) of this medicine are given by your healthcare provider.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: vision problems, hallucinations, eyes sensitive to light.

What should I watch out for?

You need to have blood tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop severe tiredness, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, yellowish skin or eyes, dark urine, or light-colored bowel movements. These may be symptoms of liver problems.

Alcohol may increase the risk of liver problems. Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

This medicine may make you dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

This medicine may affect your vision. Do not drive at night. If you develop vision problems, contact your healthcare provider right away.

This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to the sun, which may lead to painful sunburns. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. Wear protective clothing, a hat, and sunscreen lotion when you need to be outdoors. Do not use a sunlamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your healthcare provider right away.

After you stop this medicine, you may continue to be sensitive to the sun for a while. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical treatment or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Flushing; fever; sweating; rapid heartbeat; faintness; vision problems; yellowing of your eyes and skin; dark urine or light-colored stools; swelling in hands, feet, or ankles; unusual bruising or bleeding; trouble urinating; hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there.

Other: Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dry mouth, blurred vision, stomach pain, sensitivity to the sun or sunlamps.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• alcohol
• anticancer medicines such as vinblastine (Velban), vincristine (Oncovin, Vincasar PFS), busulfan (Myleran), docetaxel (Taxotere), trimetrexate (Neutrexin), and vinorelbine (Navelbine)
• anti-HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase, Fortovase), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine (Rescriptor), zidovudine (Retrovir), efavirenz (Sustiva), amprenavir (Agenerase), and ritonavir (Norvir)
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as quinidine, amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), and dofetilide (Tikosyn)
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax), triazolam (Halcion), and midazolam (Versed)
• calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), nimodipine (Nimotop), verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan), and nisoldipine (Sular)
• cisapride (Propulsid)
• ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar), methylergonovine (Methergine), and dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45)
• immunosuppressants such as cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Gengraf, Neoral), sirolimus (Rapamune), and tacrolimus (Prograf, Protopic)
• medicines to lower cholesterol (statins) such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), simvastatin (Zocor), and pravastatin (Pravachol)
• methadone (Dolophine, Methadose )
• oral diabetes medicines such as chlorpropamide, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase), and tolbutamide
• pimozide (Orap)
• rifabutin (Mycobutin)
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
• warfarin (Coumadin)

The effects of this medicine may be increased if you take it with grapefruit juice. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.

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