Skip to main content

Posaconazole (Oral)

Generic name: posaconazole [ poe-sa-KON-a-zole ]
Brand names: Noxafil, Noxafil PowderMix
Drug class: Azole antifungals

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Dec 22, 2023.

Uses for posaconazole

Posaconazole delayed-release tablets, oral suspension, and delayed-release oral suspension are used to prevent certain fungus (yeast) infections (eg, invasive Aspergillus or Candida infections) in patients who have a weakened immune system (eg, hematopoietic stem cell transplant or HSCT recipients, or patients with blood cancers).

Posaconazole delayed-release tablets is also used to treat invasive aspergillosis.

Posaconazole oral suspension is also used to treat a fungus infection of the mouth or throat called oral thrush (candidiasis). Posaconazole oral suspension may be used as an initial treatment or after treatment with other antifungal medicines (eg, itraconazole or fluconazole) have failed.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using posaconazole

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of posaconazole delayed-release tablets, oral suspension, and delayed-release oral suspension in children 2 years of age and older to prevent fungus infections. However, safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 2 years of age. Use of delayed-release oral suspension in children weighing more than 40 kilograms (kg) is not recommended.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of posaconazole delayed-release tablets in children 13 years of age and older to treat invasive aspergillosis. Safety and efficacy have been established.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of posaconazole oral suspension in children 13 years of age and older to treat oral thrush (candidiasis). Safety and efficacy have been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of posaconazole in the elderly.

Breast Feeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with Medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

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

Proper use of posaconazole

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine should come with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

Swallow the delayed-release tablet whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it. You may take this medicine with or without food.

If you are using the oral liquid:

If you are using the delayed-release oral liquid:

Measure the oral liquid or delayed-release oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup. You may hand wash and reuse the provided mixing cup and syringes.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take each dose at the same time every day. If you need help in planning the best time to take your medicine, check with your doctor.

Posaconazole oral liquid works differently than the delayed-release tablet or delayed-release oral liquid, even at the same dose. Do not switch from one form to another unless your doctor tells you to.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Do not take the delayed-release tablet if it has been more than 12 hours since you missed your last dose.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using posaconazole

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to take it. Blood tests will be needed to check for unwanted effects.

You should not use atorvastatin (Lipitor®), lovastatin (Mevacor®), pimozide (Orap®), quinidine (Quinaglute®), simvastatin (Zocor®), sirolimus (Rapamune®), venetoclax (Venclexta®), or ergotamine medicines (eg, bromocriptine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine, methysergide, Cafergot®, Ergomar®, Wigraine®). Using any of them together with this medicine may increase the chance of unwanted effects.

This medicine can cause changes in heart rhythms, including QT prolongation and torsades de pointes. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain or discomfort, fainting, irregular or slow heart rate, or trouble breathing.

Check with your doctor right away if you have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow skin or eyes. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.

Check with your doctor right away if you have severe diarrhea or vomiting while using this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of posaconazole

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Less common

Incidence not known

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Less common

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

Available Dosage Forms:

Therapeutic Class: Antifungal

Chemical Class: Triazole

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.