voriconazole Health Article

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

Before taking voriconazole, 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).

Voriconazole 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 is voriconazole?

Voriconazole is an antifungal medication.

Voriconazole is used to treat infections caused by yeast or other types of fungus.

Voriconazole may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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

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

• sirolimus (Rapamune);

• carbamazepine (Tegretol);

• cisapride (Propulsid);

• pimozide (Orap);

• 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

• (these drugs are no longer available in the U.S.) terfenadine (Seldane) or astemizole (Hismanal).

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

Before taking voriconazole, 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 voriconazole.

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