Voriconazole brands and prices in Pakistan

About Voriconazole

Voriconazole is an antifungal medicine from the triazole group. It kills fungi or stops them growing. It is used for serious, sometimes life-threatening fungal infections, so it is usually started and checked by a hospital specialist team. It comes as tablets, a liquid to swallow, and a drip (infusion) into a vein given by medical staff. It is on the WHO list of essential medicines.

Who should not take it, or should take care

• Do not take it if you are allergic to voriconazole or any other ingredient.
• Do not take it with certain medicines (see interactions), including St John's wort, rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, pimozide, quinidine, ivabradine and ergotamine.
• Tell your doctor if you have had an allergy to other azole antifungals, such as fluconazole, itraconazole or ketoconazole.
• Tell your doctor if you have liver disease. You may need a lower dose and regular blood tests.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease. Your kidney function will be checked with blood tests.
• Tell your doctor if you have a heart problem, such as heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy), a slow or uneven heartbeat, or a heart rhythm problem called long QT syndrome, or low potassium, magnesium or calcium.
• Tell your doctor if you have had chemotherapy or have a blood cancer.
• The tablets contain lactose. Tell your doctor if you have a sugar or lactose intolerance.
• Pregnancy: it may harm an unborn baby. Do not take it in pregnancy unless your doctor advises it. Women who could get pregnant should use effective contraception and contact their doctor straight away if they become pregnant.
• Breastfeeding: ask your doctor before taking it.
• Tell your surgeon or dentist that you are taking it.

Medicines and drinks that can interact

• Must not be taken with: St John's wort, rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, pimozide, quinidine, ivabradine, cisapride, ergot medicines (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine), sirolimus, naloxegol, tolvaptan, lurasidone, finerenone, venetoclax, and some antihistamines (terfenadine, astemizole); also higher doses of efavirenz or ritonavir
• Blood thinners such as warfarin
• Transplant medicines such as ciclosporin, tacrolimus and everolimus
• Phenytoin (for epilepsy) and rifabutin (for TB)
• HIV medicines, including ritonavir, efavirenz, nevirapine and other protease inhibitors
• Statins for cholesterol, such as atorvastatin and simvastatin
• Some diabetes medicines (sulfonylureas such as glipizide)
• Sedatives such as midazolam
• Strong painkillers (opioids) such as methadone, fentanyl and oxycodone, and anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen and diclofenac
• Omeprazole (for stomach acid)
• Steroid sprays such as fluticasone and mometasone
• Many cancer medicines, including vincristine, vinblastine and several tyrosine kinase inhibitors
• Hormonal contraceptive pills: side effects such as nausea and period changes may be more likely
• Other medicines, such as methotrexate, can make your skin even more sensitive to sunlight
• Check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine, including ones bought without a prescription and herbal products.

Always tell your doctor and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement and herbal product you take.

Using it safely

• Take it only when a doctor prescribes it for you. Keep taking it until your doctor tells you to stop, even if you feel better, so the infection is fully cleared.
• It is taken on an empty stomach, not with food. Follow the label and ask your pharmacist how to fit it around meals.
• Swallow the tablets whole with water. Shake the liquid before use and measure it with the device provided.
• You will need regular blood tests to check the level of medicine in your blood and how your liver and kidneys are working. Some people also need heart tracings (ECGs). Keep all your appointments.
• Protect your skin from the sun: cover up, use a high-factor sunscreen (including on your lips), stay out of strong sunlight and do not use sunbeds. Skin cancer has been reported in people taking it for a long time, so you may need regular skin checks.
• Do not drive or use machines if your vision is blurred or you are sensitive to light, and avoid driving at night.
• If you miss a dose, do not take two doses together. Leaflets differ on what to do next, so ask your pharmacist.
• If you take too much, get medical help straight away and take the medicine box with you.
• Never share it. Keep it out of the reach of children, and return unused medicine to a pharmacy.

Common questions

Why do I need so many blood tests?
Blood tests measure how much voriconazole is in your blood, and your team may change the dose based on the result. Your liver and kidneys are also checked, because the medicine can affect them.

My eyesight has gone blurry. Is this serious?
Changes in vision are very common with voriconazole. They usually get better and do not cause lasting harm to the eyes. Do not drive while your vision is affected, and tell your doctor.

Why do I have to be so careful in the sun?
Voriconazole can make your skin much more sensitive to sunlight, causing bad sunburn. Over a long time it can also raise the risk of skin cancer. Use high-factor sunscreen, cover up, avoid sunbeds, and tell your team about any new skin changes.

Can I take other medicines with it?
Many medicines interact with voriconazole, and some must never be taken with it. Always check with your doctor, pharmacist or specialist nurse before starting any new medicine, including ones you buy and herbal remedies.

Prepared from the sources listed by the MedInfoBase team. General information, not medical advice: it gives no doses. Your doctor or pharmacist decides the medicine and dose for you.