Voriconazole (Injection)

Introduction

Voriconazole (vor-i-KON-a-zole)

Treats fungal infections.

Brand Name(s)

Novaplus Vfend, Vfend I.V.

There may be other brand names for this medicine.

When This Medicine Should Not Be Used

You should not receive this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to voriconazole or to similar medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), or ketoconazole (Nizoral®). Do not receive this medicine if you are pregnant. Do not receive this medicine together with any of the following medicines: astemizole (Hismanal®), barbiturates (such as mephobarbital, phenobarbital, or Luminal®), carbamazepine (Tegretol®), cisapride (Propulsid®), ergot medicines (such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, Cafergot®, Ergomar®, or Wigraine®), pimozide (Orap®), quinidine (Quinaglute®), rifabutin (Mycobutin®), rifampin (Rifadin®, Rimactane®), ritonavir (Norvir®), sirolimus (Rapamune®), St. John's Wort, or terfenadine (Seldane®).

How to Use This Medicine

Injectable

• Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose and tell you how often it should be given. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins. This medicine is given slowly, so the needle will remain in place for up to 2 hours.
• A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine.
• Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

• Make sure your doctor knows if you are using medicines to treat HIV or AIDS (such as amprenavir, delavirdine, efavirenz, nelfinavir, nevirapine, saquinavir, Agenerase®, Combivir®, Rescriptor®, Sustiva®, or Viracept®), diabetes medicines that you take by mouth (such as glipizide, glyburide, tolbutamide, Diabeta®, Glucotrol®, or Micronase®), blood pressure medicine (such as amlodipine, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, Adalat®, Lotrel®, or Norvasc®), medicines to lower cholesterol (such as atorvastatin, fluvastatin, lovastatin, Altoprev®, Lescol®, Lipitor®, or Mevacor®), a blood thinner (such as warfarin or Coumadin®), or medicines for nerves or sleeping (such as alprazolam, midazolam, triazolam, Halcion®, or Xanax®) or medicine for pain or arthritis medicine called NSAIDs (such as aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, ibuprofen, lornoxicam, meloxicam, naproxen, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Mobic®, Motrin®, or Voltaren®).
• Tell your doctor if you are also using alfentanil (Alfenta®), cimetidine (Tagamet®), cyclosporine (Gengraf®, Neoral®, or Sandimmune®), fentanyl (Sublimaze®), methadone (Dolophine®), omeprazole (Prilosec®), oxycodone (OxyContin®), phenytoin (Dilantin®), tacrolimus (Prograf®), vinblastine (Velban®), vincristine (Oncovin®), or birth control pills.

Warnings While Using This Medicine

• Using this medicine while you are pregnant can harm your unborn baby. Use an effective form of birth control to keep from getting pregnant. If you think you have become pregnant while using the medicine, tell your doctor right away.
• Make sure your doctor knows if you are breastfeeding, or if you have kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, heart rhythm problems, pancreas problems, or a mineral imbalance such as low levels of potassium, magnesium, or calcium in your blood. Tell your doctor if you had a recent cancer treatment or stem cell transplant.
• This medicine may cause vision problems. Avoid driving (especially at night), using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you cannot see well. Call your doctor if you or your child have any vision changes or if bright lights bother your eyes.
• 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 eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
• This medicine may cause chest pain, fever, fainting; fast or uneven heartbeat, itching, flushing of the face, rash; shortness of breath; sweating; or troubled breathing within a few hours after you receive it. Check with your doctor or nurse right away if you or your child have any of these symptoms.
• Serious skin reactions can occur during treatment with this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms while you are using this medicine: blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin; chills; cough; diarrhea; fever; itching; joint or muscle pain; red skin lesions; sore throat; sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips; or unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Your doctor will need to check your blood at regular visits while you are using this medicine. Be sure to keep all appointments.
• This medicine may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight. Use a sunscreen when you are outdoors. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse, call your doctor.

Possible Side Effects While Using This Medicine

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Blistering, peeling, or red skin rash.
• Change in how much or how often you urinate, or painful urination.
• Changes in vision, light sensitivity, or problems seeing colors.
• Chest pain.
• Dry mouth, increased thirst, or muscle cramps.
• Fast, slow, pounding, or uneven heartbeat.
• Fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and body aches.
• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
• Numbness or weakness in your arm or leg, or on one side of your body.
• Numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet.
• Pain in your lower leg (calf).
• Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed.
• Problems with balance or walking.
• Red or black stools.
• Red or dark brown urine.
• Redness, swelling, warmth, pain, or tenderness on your skin.
• Seeing or hearing things that are not really there.
• Seizures or tremors.
• Shortness of breath, cold sweats, and bluish-colored skin.
• Sudden or severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, enlarged abdomen or stomach, or upset stomach.
• Swelling in your face, hands, ankles, or feet.
• Swollen lymph nodes, or lumps on your neck, armpit, or groin.
• Twitching or muscle movements you cannot control.
• Unusual bleeding or bruising.
• Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes.

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

• Agitation, confusion, depression, unusual dreams, or memory problems.
• Hair loss.
• Headache.
• Hearing problems or ear pain.
• Loss of appetite.
• Mild skin rash or itching.
• Muscle or joint pains.
• Nosebleeds.
• Painful menstruation (in women).
• Problems having sex.
• Sores or white patches on your lips, mouth, or throat.
• Swollen tongue, or bleeding and swollen gums.
• Tiredness or weakness.

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor

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