itraconazole vs voriconazole
Side-by-side comparison of itraconazole and voriconazole Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Sporanox
Vfend
Itraconazole capsules are an antifungal medicine. They treat fungal infections in your body.
Voriconazole (Vfend) is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat serious fungal infections in adults and children 2 years and older.
Itraconazole treats fungal infections like blastomycosis, histoplasmosis, and aspergillosis. It can help both people with healthy immune systems and those with weakened immune systems. It also treats onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails.
This medicine treats several types of fungal infections. It is used for invasive aspergillosis, a lung infection. It also treats candidemia (a blood infection) and other Candida infections in the skin, abdomen, kidney, bladder, and wounds. Voriconazole can also treat esophageal candidiasis (a throat infection) and serious infections caused by Scedosporium and Fusarium fungi.
Itraconazole stops fungi from growing. It does this by interfering with the production of a substance fungi need to build their cell membranes. This eventually kills the fungus and clears the infection.
Voriconazole belongs to a class of drugs called azole antifungals. It works by stopping the growth of fungi. It does this by interfering with the production of the fungal cell membrane.
- • Nausea
- • Rash
- • Headache
- • Visual disturbances
- • Fever
- • Nausea
- • Rash
- • Vomiting
- Interaction with another medicine 1,118
- Medicine not working 1,100
- Using the medicine for something it's not approved for 606
- Fever 570
- Difficulty breathing 472
- The medicine is not working 4,098
- Using the medicine for a condition it is not approved for 2,342
- The medicine is interacting with another medicine 2,315
- Death 1,460
- Fever 1,411
Itraconazole can cause congestive heart failure. You should not take this medicine if you have heart problems. Itraconazole can also interact with many other medicines. Some of these interactions can be dangerous or even fatal. Check with your doctor about all the medicines you take.
Voriconazole can cause serious liver problems. Your doctor will check your liver function with blood tests before and during treatment. This medicine can also cause heart rhythm problems. Make sure your potassium, magnesium, and calcium levels are normal before starting. Voriconazole can also cause severe skin reactions and make you sensitive to sunlight. Avoid sunlight and wear protective clothing. This medicine can harm an unborn baby, so women who can get pregnant should use effective birth control.
You should not take itraconazole if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about safe alternatives.
Voriconazole can cause harm to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant, talk to your doctor. It is not known if voriconazole passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of breastfeeding while taking this medicine.
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How to Read This itraconazole vs voriconazole Comparison
itraconazole is classified in the Azole Antifungal drug class, while voriconazole sits within the Azole Antifungal class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, itraconazole has 3,866 submissions while voriconazole has 11,626. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between itraconazole and voriconazole — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.