Generic name: Voriconazole Injection [ vor-i-KOE-na-zole ]
Brand name: Vfend
Drug class: Azole antifungals

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Aug 31, 2023.

Uses of Voriconazole Injection:

• It is used to treat fungal infections.

What do I need to tell my doctor BEFORE I take Voriconazole Injection?

• If you have an allergy to voriconazole or any other part of voriconazole injection.
• If you are allergic to voriconazole injection; any part of voriconazole injection; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Low calcium levels, low magnesium levels, or low potassium levels.
• If you are taking any of these drugs: Astemizole, carbamazepine, cisapride, dihydroergotamine, efavirenz, ergonovine, ergotamine, everolimus, fluconazole, methylergonovine, phenobarbital or other drugs like it, pimozide, quinidine, rifabutin, rifampin, ritonavir, sirolimus, St John's wort, or terfenadine.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with voriconazole injection.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take voriconazole injection with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Voriconazole Injection?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take voriconazole injection. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how voriconazole injection affects you.
• Avoid driving at night.
• Have an eye exam if you are on voriconazole injection for a long time. Talk with your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not use longer than you have been told. A second infection may happen.
• You may get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and wear clothing and eyewear that protects you from the sun.
• Bright lights may bother you. Wear sunglasses.
• Certain types of skin cancer have happened in people who were bothered by sunlight while taking voriconazole injection for a long time. Call your doctor right away if you have a change in color or size of a mole or any other skin change or growth.
• An unsafe heartbeat that is not normal (long QT on ECG) has happened with voriconazole injection. Sudden deaths have rarely happened in people taking voriconazole injection. Talk with the doctor.
• Rarely, some people have had a reaction during the infusion of voriconazole injection. 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 voriconazole injection.
• Liver problems have rarely happened with voriconazole injection. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• Use with care in children. Talk with the doctor.
• This medicine may cause harm to an unborn baby. Women must use birth control while taking voriconazole injection. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

How is this medicine (Voriconazole Injection) best taken?

Use voriconazole injection as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

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

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Call your doctor to find out what to do.

Related/similar drugs

fluconazole, ketoconazole, Diflucan, itraconazole, voriconazole, Nizoral, amphotericin b, posaconazole, micafungin, Abelcet

What are some side effects that I need to call my 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 doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• 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 or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad 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, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Fever or chills.
• Bone pain.
• Fast or abnormal heartbeat.
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
• Sweating a lot.
• Swelling.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Change in eyesight.
• If bright lights bother your eyes.
• Sunburn.
• Skin reaction to light.
• A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes.

What are some other side effects of Voriconazole Injection?

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

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

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

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

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.

How do I store and/or throw out Voriconazole Injection?

• If you need to store voriconazole injection at home, talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist about how to store it.

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

• If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor.
• Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs.
• 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.
• Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about voriconazole injection, please talk with your 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.

Further information

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

Medical Disclaimer