VFEND

Generic Name: voriconazole (vor i KON a zole)
Brand Names: VFEND

What is VFEND?

VFEND is an azole antifungal medication. It works by blocking fungal cell wall growth, resulting in the death of the fungus.

VFEND is used to treat infections caused by yeast or other types of fungus. It may also be used to treat patients with serious fungal infections who cannot tolerate other types of treatment.

VFEND may also be used for other purposes not listed here.

What is the most important information I should know about VFEND?

Do not use VFEND without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. It could cause harm to the unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

There are many other medicines that can cause serious or life-threatening drug interactions with VFEND. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use.

Before taking VFEND, tell your doctor if you have heart rhythm problems, an electrolyte imbalance, liver or kidney disease, or a history of allergy to other antifungal antibiotics such as fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or itraconazole (Sporanox).

Use VFEND for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.

VFEND can cause problems with your vision. If you use this medicine for more than 28 days, you may need to have your eyes checked.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking VFEND?

Do not take VFEND if you are allergic to voriconazole, or if you are taking any of the following drugs:

• quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinora, Quinidex, Quinaglute, Quin-Release, Quin-G);

• sirolimus (Rapamune);

• carbamazepine (Tegretol);

• phenobarbital;

• ritonavir (Norvir);

• efavirenz (Sustiva);

• rifabutin (Mycobutin) or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

• an ergot medicine such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine, others) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E., Migranal); or

• (the following drugs are no longer available in the U.S.) terfenadine (Seldane), astemizole (Hismanal), cisapride (Propulsid), or pimozide (Orap).

The drugs listed above can cause dangerous serious or life-threatening drug interactions with VFEND. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you are using.

Before taking VFEND, tell your doctor if you have:

• heart rhythm problems;

• a metabolic disorder such as high or low levels of calcium, potassium, or magnesium;

• liver disease;
• kidney disease; or

• a history of allergy to other antifungal antibiotics such as fluconazole (Diflucan), ketoconazole (Nizoral), or itraconazole (Sporanox).

If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely use VFEND.

VFEND tablets contain lactose. Before taking a VFEND tablet, tell your doctor if you have a hereditary form of galactose intolerance, Lapp lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption.

FDA pregnancy category D. This medication can cause harm to an unborn baby. Do not use VFEND without your doctor's consent if you are pregnant. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment. Use an effective form of birth control while you are using VFEND. It is not known if VFEND passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use VFEND without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take VFEND?

Take VFEND exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Take VFEND at least one hour before or after eating a meal. Shake the oral suspension (liquid) well just before you measure a dose. To be sure you get the correct dose, measure the liquid with a marked measuring spoon or medicine cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not mix the oral suspension with any other medicine or liquid. Take VFEND for the entire length of time prescribed by your doctor. Your symptoms may get better before the infection is completely treated.

To be sure VFEND is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your kidney or liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

VFEND can cause problems with your vision. If you use this medicine for more than 28 days, you may need to have your eyes checked.

Store VFEND tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Store the oral liquid at room temperature for up to 14 days. Throw away any unused liquid after 14 days.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Overdose symptoms may include vision problems, excessive mouth watering, enlarged pupils, weakness, loss of balance, shortness of breath, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking VFEND?

VFEND may cause changes in vision including blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Wear sunglasses during the day to protect your eyes from bright light. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to have clear vision. Avoid exposure to sunlight or artificial UV rays (sunlamps or tanning beds). VFEND can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn may result. Use a sunscreen (minimum SPF 15) and wear protective clothing if you must be out in the sun.

VFEND side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• sudden behavior changes, problems with thinking or speech;

• stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

• urinating less than usual or not at all;

• fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash; or

• uneven heart rate, chest pain, general ill feeling.

Less serious side effects may include:

• vision problems such as blurred vision, eyes being more sensitive to light;

• fever;

• mild nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea;

• headache; or

• swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

What other drugs will affect VFEND?

Many drugs can interact with VFEND. Below is just a partial list. Tell your doctor if you are using:

• phenytoin (Dilantin);

• cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral);

• tacrolimus (Prograf);

• warfarin (Coumadin);

• stomach acid reducers such as esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), or pantoprazole (Protonix);

• tranquilizers or sedatives such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), and others;

• cholesterol-lowering medicines such as atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), or simvastatin (Zocor);

• vinblastine (Velban), vincristine (Oncovin), or vinorelbine (Navelbine);

• a calcium channel blocker such as verapamil (Isoptin, Verelan, Calan, Covera), amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), isradipine (DynaCirc), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nimodipine (Nimotop), or nisoldipine (Sular); or

• an oral diabetes medicine such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Micronase), tolbutamide (Orinase), tolazamide (Tolinase), or chlorpropamide (Diabinese).

This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with VFEND. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about VFEND.

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use VFEND only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2008 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 5.05. Revision Date: 02/12/2008 11:46:19 AM.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page

Add to my drug list