Voriconazole: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use

Functions & Usage

What is Voriconazole used for?

Voriconazole is a drug used to treat a variety of yeast infections. This drug belongs to the group of azole antifungal drugs.

What are the rules for using Voriconazole drugs?

Read the patient information leaflet if applicable from the pharmacist before you start taking voriconazole and each time you get a refill. If you have questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

This medication is given by injection into a vein according to a doctor's direction, usually every 12 hours. The drug must be injected slowly over 1-2 hours. The dosage is based on your medical condition, response to therapy, and other medications you may be taking. Be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription, over-the-counter and herbal products).

If you are using the medication yourself at home, learn all preparation and use instructions from a healthcare professional. Before using, check the product for particles or discoloration. Learn how to store and dispose of medical equipment safely.

This drug works best when the amount of medicine in the body is constant. For this reason, use this medication at evenly spaced intervals.

Continue to use the drug until the prescription is finished. Stopping taking the drug too early may result in a recurrence of the infection. Tell your doctor if your condition doesn't get better or if it gets worse.

How to store Voriconazole?

Store the medicine at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom and freeze medication. Different brands of drugs may have different storage methods. Check the product box for instructions on how to store it, or ask the pharmacist. Stay away from children and pets.

It is forbidden to flush the medicine in the toilet or throw it into the drain if not told to. Properly discard this product if it is past the deadline or is no longer needed. Consult a pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more in-depth details on how to safely dispose of the product.

Precautions & Warnings

What should be considered before using the drug Voriconazole?

In a decision to use a drug, the risks of the drug must be weighed against its benefits. It is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this drug, the following should be considered:

Allergy

Tell your doctor if you have had any unusual or allergic reactions to this medicine or any other medicines. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For over-the-counter products, read labels or packaging materials carefully.

Children

Adequate studies have not been carried out on the relationship of age to the effects of voriconazole in children younger than 12 years. Safety and efficacy have not been confirmed.

Elderly

The adequate studies conducted so far have not shown a specific disorder in the elderly that will limit the benefits of voriconazole in the elderly.

Is the drug Voriconazole safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This medicine is included in the pregnancy risk category D (A = No risk, B = No risk in some studies, C = Possible risk, D = There is positive evidence of risk, X = Contraindicated, N = Unknown)

Side effects

What are the possible side effects of Voriconazole?

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches may occur. If this effect doesn't get better or gets worse, tell your doctor as soon as possible. Keep in mind that doctors have prescribed this drug because doctors have judged that the benefits of the drug outweigh the risk of side effects. Many users of this drug do not have serious side effects. Tell your doctor as soon as possible if you experience serious side effects, namely: vision changes (for example, blurred vision), eye sensitivity to light (photophobia), pain / swelling at the injection site, shortness of breath, burning sensation, more sweating, bone / muscle / joint pain, weakness, muscle stiffness / spasms, mental / mood changes (eg irritability, restlessness), swelling in the ankles / feet, fatigue, easy bleeding / bruising, signs of infection (eg fever, sore throat not getting better).

Get immediate medical attention if this rare but serious side effect occurs: fast / slow / irregular heartbeat, severe dizziness, fainting, change in urine volume, confusion, slurred, difficulty breathing, seizures, chest / jaw / left arm pain. Voriconazole may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if this very serious but very rare side effect occurs: jaundice, dark urine, persistent nausea / vomiting, stomach pain. Very serious drug allergic reactions are rare. However, get medical help immediately if you notice any signs of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching / swelling (especially of the face / tongue / throat), severe dizziness, difficulty breathing. Voriconazole can cause a mild rash that is usually harmless. However, it can be difficult to distinguish it from a rare rash that may be a sign of a serious allergic reaction. So, seek immediate medical attention if you have a rash.

Not everyone experiences the following side effects. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Drug Interactions

What drugs can interfere with the drug Voriconazole?

Although certain drugs should not be used at the same time, in other cases two different drugs may be used together even if interactions may occur. In this case, the doctor may want to change the dose, or other warnings may be important. Tell your healthcare professional if you are on prescription or nonprescription drugs.

Using this medication with the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this drug or change some of the other drugs you are taking.

Amifampridine
Astemizole
Carbamazepine
Cisapride
Conivaptan
Dihydroergotamine
Dronedarone
Efavirenz
Eliglustat
Ergoloid Mesylates
Ergonovine
Ergotamine
Fluconazole
Ivabradine
Lomitapide
Lovastatin
Lurasidone
Maraviroc
Mephobarbital
Mesoridazine
Methylergonovine
Methysergide
Naloxegol
Nelfinavir
Nimodipine
Phenobarbital
Pimozide
Piperaquine
Posaconazole
Primidone
Quinidine
Rifabutin
Rifampin
Ritonavir
Simvastatin
Sirolimus
Sparfloxacin
St. John's Wort
Terfenadine
Thioridazine
Tolvaptan

Using this medication with the medicines below is usually not recommended, but may be needed in some cases. If these two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or the length of time you take one or both drugs.

Acenocoumarol
Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine
Alprazolam
Amiodarone
Amitriptyline
Amoxapine
Anagrelide
Apixaban
Apomorphine
Aripiprazole
Arsenic Trioxide
Artemether
Asenapine
Avanafil
Axitinib
Azithromycin
Bedaquiline
Boceprevir
Bosutinib
Brentuximab Vedotin
Bretylium
Buserelin
Cabazitaxel
Cabozantinib
Ceritinib
Chloramphenicol
Chloroquine
Chlorpromazine
Ciprofloxacin
Citalopram
Clarithromycin
Clomipramine
Clopidogrel
Clozapine
Cobicistat
Crizotinib
Cyclobenzaprine
Cyclosporine
Dabrafenib
Daclatasvir
Darunavir
Dasatinib
Delamanid
Delavirdine
Desipramine
Deslorelin
Dicumarol
Disopyramide
Docetaxel
Dofetilide
Dolasetron
Domperidone
Doxorubicin
Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome
Droperidol
Eletriptan
Elvitegravir
Entacapone
Enzalutamide
Erlotinib
Erythromycin
Escitalopram
Eslicarbazepine Acetate
Eszopiclone
Everolimus
Fentanyl
Fingolimod
Flecainide
Fluoxetine
Fluticasone
Formoterol
Fosphenytoin
Gatifloxacin
Gemifloxacin
Glimepiride
Gonadorelin
Goserelin
Granisetron
Halofantrine
Haloperidol
Histrelin
Hydrocodone
Ibrutinib
Ibutilide
Idelalisib
Ifosfamide
Iloperidone
Imipramine
Ivacaftor
Ixabepilone
Lapatinib
Leuprolide
Levofloxacin
Levomilnacipran
Lopinavir
Lumefantrine
Macitentan
Mefloquine
Metronidazole
Mifepristone
Mitotane
Moxifloxacin
Nafarelin
Nevirapine
Nilotinib
Nitisinone
Norfloxacin
Nortriptyline
Octreotide
Ofloxacin
Ondansetron
Paliperidone
Pasireotide
Pazopanib
Perflutren Lipid Microsphere
Phenprocoumon
Phenytoin
Pomalidomide
Ponatinib
Procainamide
Prochlorperazine
Promethazine
Propafenone
Protriptyline
Quetiapine
Quinine
Ranolazine
Regorafenib
Retapamulin
Rivaroxaban
Romidepsin
Ruxolitinib
Salmeterol
Sevoflurane
Sildenafil
Siltuximab
Simeprevir
Sodium Phosphate
Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
Solifenacin
Sorafenib
Sotalol
Sunitinib
Suvorexant
Tacrolimus
Tamsulosin
Telaprevir
Telavancin
Telithromycin
Temsirolimus
Tetrabenazine
Ticagrelor
Tizanidine
Toremifene
Trabectedin
Trazodone
Triazolam
Trifluoperazine
Trimipramine
Triptorelin
Vandetanib
Vardenafil
Vemurafenib
Vilanterol
Vilazodone
Vinblastine
Vincristine
Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
Vinflunine
Vinorelbine
Vorapaxar
Warfarin
Ziprasidone

Using this medication with the medicines below may increase your risk of side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If the two drugs are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or the length of time you take one or both drugs.

Alfentanil
Amprenavir
Atorvastatin
Cerivastatin
Desogestrel
Dienogest
Drospirenone
Estradiol Cypionate
Estradiol Valerate
Ethinyl Estradiol
Ethynodiol Diacetate
Etonogestrel
Etravirine
Fosamprenavir
Glipizide
Glyburide
Ibuprofen
Levonorgestrel
Medroxyprogesterone Acetate
Meloxicam
Mestranol
Methadone
Midazolam
Norelgestromin
Norethindrone
Norgestimate
Norgestrel
Omeprazole
Oxycodone
Saquinavir
Tolbutamide
Tretinoin

Can certain foods and drinks interfere with the work of the drug Voriconazole?

Certain drugs cannot be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with a healthcare professional about using drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

What health conditions can interfere with the performance of the drug Voriconazole?

The presence of other medical disorders may affect the use of this drug. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have other medical problems, especially:

Cancer treatment (eg chemotherapy), recent or history or
Heart disease, history or
Mineral imbalances (eg deficiency of potassium, magnesium or calcium in the blood) or
Stem cell transplant — Use with caution. This condition might increase your risk of developing serious side effects.
Galactose intolerance (rare inherited disorder) or
Glucose-galactose malabsorption (rare inherited disorder) or
Lapp lactase deficiency (rare inherited disorder) or
Any condition that makes it difficult for you to digest sugar or dairy products — Use with caution. These are tablets containing lactose (milk sugar) and oral fluids containing sucrose (table sugar), which can make this condition worse.
Heart rhythm disturbances (eg arrhythmia, QT prolongation) or
Kidney disease or
Liver disease (including cirrhosis) or
Pancreatic disorders — Use with caution. It might aggravate this condition.

Dose

The information provided is not a substitute for a doctor's prescription. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dose of Voriconazole for adults?

Initially, an injectable dose of voriconazole was given by a doctor in the first 24 hours of treatment. Then, your doctor may replace it with a 200 mg dose of medication every 12 hours.

What is the dosage of Voriconazole for children?

Children less than 12 years of age: Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

In what dosages and preparations is Voriconazole available?

Powder for solution

Tablet

What to do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (118/119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

Overdose symptoms may include:

Sensitivity to light
Dilation of the pupil (dark circle at the center of the eye)
Closed eyes
Salivate
Loses balance while moving
Depression
Shortness of breath
Convulsions
The stomach is swollen
Very tired

What should I do if I forget to take medicine or forget to take medicine?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical consultation, diagnosis or treatment.