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tretinoin vs voriconazole

Side-by-side comparison of tretinoin and voriconazole. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

moderate Known Drug Interaction

Tretinoin (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Although Not Studied, Voriconazole may Increase Tretinoin Concentrations and Increase the Risk of Adverse Reactions Frequent monitoring for signs and symptoms of pseudotumor cerebri or hypercalcemia.

Recommendation: Your doctor should check you often for high calcium levels or signs of increased pressure in the brain.

Drug Class
tretinoin Retinoid (Topical)
voriconazole Azole Antifungal
Type
tretinoin Prescription
voriconazole Prescription
Summary
tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules help put acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) into remission. You can use this medicine if other treatments have not worked or cannot be used.

voriconazole

Voriconazole (Vfend) is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat serious fungal infections in adults and children 2 years and older.

What It Treats
tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules treat acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) in adults and children at least 1 year old. APL is a type of cancer where there is a problem with certain blood cells. This medicine is for people whose APL has not responded to other treatments or for whom other treatments are not an option.

voriconazole

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.

How It Works
tretinoin

Tretinoin is a retinoid, which is similar to vitamin A. It helps the leukemia cells mature properly. This can reduce the number of abnormal cells in your body.

voriconazole

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.

Common Side Effects
tretinoin
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Dry skin or mouth
  • Bone pain
  • Feeling unwell
voriconazole
  • Visual disturbances
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Rash
  • Vomiting
FAERS Reports
tretinoin
  • Pain 536
  • Throwing up 462
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 423
  • Skin rash 387
  • Headache 377
voriconazole
  • The medicine is interacting with another medicine 2,315
  • Death 1,460
  • Fever 1,411
  • Lung infection 1,322
  • The condition is getting worse 1,093
Serious Warnings
tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules can cause serious harm to an unborn baby, including birth defects and miscarriage. If you are a woman who can get pregnant, you must have a negative pregnancy test before starting this medicine and use two forms of birth control during treatment and for 1 month after your last dose. This medicine can also cause Differentiation Syndrome, a serious condition that can be life-threatening. Tell your doctor right away if you have fever, trouble breathing, weight gain, or swelling.

voriconazole

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.

Pregnancy
tretinoin

Tretinoin capsules can cause birth defects or miscarriage. If you are pregnant or may become pregnant, do not take this medicine. Do not breastfeed while taking tretinoin capsules and for 1 week after the last dose.

voriconazole

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This tretinoin vs voriconazole Comparison

tretinoin is classified in the Retinoid (Topical) drug class, while voriconazole sits within the Azole Antifungal class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, tretinoin has 2,185 submissions while voriconazole has 7,601. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to voriconazole stops the body from breaking down tretinoin, which can lead to high levels of the drug in your blood.. 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 tretinoin 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.