voriconazole
Brand names: Vfend
Voriconazole (Vfend) is an antifungal medicine. It is used to treat serious fungal infections in adults and children 2 years and older.
Drug Shortage Alert
voriconazole is currently listed as to be discontinued by the FDA. Affected manufacturer: Pfizer Inc..
View all drug shortages →Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$1.56/unit
Generic Available
Yes (20 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats several types of fungal infections.
Common side effects
Visual disturbances, Fever, Nausea
Key warnings
Voriconazole can cause serious liver problems.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Voriconazole can be given as an IV infusion or taken by mouth as a tablet or liquid. The dose depends on the infection and your weight. For IV infusions, the medicine will be mixed and given slowly over 1 to 3 hours. Always follow your doctor's instructions carefully.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store the unreconstituted vials at room temperature, between 59°F and 86°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 16,830 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 29,380 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2004–2025.
Total Reports
29,380
Death-Related Reports
8,672
Hospitalization Reports
11,781
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 4,099 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 2,342 |
| 3 | DRUG INTERACTION | 2,315 |
| 4 | DEATH | 1,460 |
| 5 | PYREXIA | 1,411 |
| 6 | PNEUMONIA | 1,321 |
| 7 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 1,093 |
| 8 | BRONCHOPULMONARY ASPERGILLOSIS | 1,028 |
| 9 | FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA | 888 |
| 10 | ASPERGILLUS INFECTION | 873 |
| 11 | RESPIRATORY FAILURE | 836 |
| 12 | DIARRHOEA | 759 |
| 13 | NAUSEA | 752 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 725 |
| 15 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 717 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
John's Wort (CYP450 inducer; P-gp inducer) Significantly Reduced Contraindicated Oral Contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (CYP2C19 Inhibition) Increased Monitoring for adverse reactions and toxicity related to voriconazole is recommended when coadministered with oral contraceptives. Oral Contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and norethindrone (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Increased Monitoring for adverse reactions related to oral contraceptives is recommended during coadministration.
Mechanism: Voriconazole slows down the process your body uses to get rid of the birth control pill. This can lead to higher levels of the birth control in your blood and increase your risk of side effects.
What to do: Your doctor should monitor you closely for any new or worsening side effects while you are taking both medications. You may need to report any unusual symptoms immediately.
Table 10: Effect of Other Drugs on Voriconazole Pharmacokinetics [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] Drug/Drug Class (Mechanism of Interaction by the Drug) Voriconazole Plasma Exposure (C max and AUC τ after 200 mg every 12 hours) Recommendations for Voriconazole Dosage Adjustment/Comments Rifampin Results based on in vivo clinical studies generally following repeat oral dosing with 200 mg every 12 hours voriconazole to healthy subjects and Rifabutin (CYP450 Induction) Significantly Reduced Contraindicated Efavirenz (400 mg every 24 hours) Results based on in vivo clinical study following re...
Mechanism: Rifampin causes your body to break down voriconazole much faster than normal. This makes the voriconazole level in your blood too low to effectively treat your infection.
What to do: You should not take these two drugs at the same time. Your doctor will need to find an alternative medication that does not interfere with your treatment.
Ergot Alkaloids (CYP450 Inhibition) Not Studied In Vivo or In Vitro , but Drug Plasma Exposure Likely to be Increased Contraindicated Naloxegol (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Not Studied In Vivo or In Vitro , but Drug Plasma Exposure Likely to be Increased which may Increase the Risk of Adverse Reactions Contraindicated Tolvaptan (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Although Not Studied Clinically, Voriconazole is Likely to Significantly Increase the Plasma Concentrations of Tolvaptan Contraindicated Lurasidone (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Not Studied In Vivo or In Vitro , but Voriconazole is Likely to Significantly Increase t...
Mechanism: Voriconazole blocks the enzyme that normally clears lurasidone from your system. This can cause lurasidone to build up to unsafe levels in your body, increasing the risk of toxic effects.
What to do: This combination is considered unsafe and should be avoided. Talk to your healthcare provider about using a different medication.
Pimozide, Quinidine, Ivabradine (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Not Studied In Vivo or In Vitro , but Drug Plasma Exposure Likely to be Increased Contraindicated because of potential for QT prolongation and rare occurrence of torsade de pointes.
Mechanism: Voriconazole prevents your body from breaking down pimozide, which can lead to very high levels of the drug in your blood. This can cause dangerous and potentially fatal heart rhythm problems.
What to do: Do not take these medications together because of the risk to your heart. Your doctor must prescribe a different treatment plan.
Pimozide, Quinidine, Ivabradine (CYP3A4 Inhibition) Not Studied In Vivo or In Vitro , but Drug Plasma Exposure Likely to be Increased Contraindicated because of potential for QT prolongation and rare occurrence of torsade de pointes.
Mechanism: Voriconazole stops the body from breaking down ivabradine, which can lead to dangerously high levels of the drug in the blood. This increase can cause serious and potentially life-threatening heart rhythm problems.
What to do: Do not take these two medications together. Your doctor should find an alternative treatment to avoid serious heart risks.
Common Questions
Can I take voriconazole if I am allergic to other antifungal medicines?
Can I take voriconazole with other medicines?
How often will I need blood tests while taking voriconazole?
What should I do if I experience visual disturbances while taking voriconazole?
Can voriconazole affect my heart?
What should I do to protect myself from sunlight while taking voriconazole?
Is it safe to take voriconazole during pregnancy?
Can I breastfeed while taking voriconazole?
What are the symptoms of liver problems I should watch out for?
What should I do if I think I am having an allergic reaction to voriconazole?
What are the common side effects of voriconazole?
Does voriconazole interact with other medications?
What drug class is voriconazole?
Is voriconazole safe during pregnancy?
Has voriconazole been recalled?
Is voriconazole currently in shortage?
Active Recalls
CGMP Deviations
Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc., USA
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Medication Guides
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FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
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Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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What the FDA Data Shows for voriconazole
The FDA label for voriconazole (sold under brand names such as Vfend) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Azole Antifungal class. This medicine treats several types of fungal infections. Official labeling lists 7 commonly reported side effects, including Visual disturbances, Fever, Nausea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 16,830 voluntary reports. The database also lists 50 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $1.56.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history (currently 1 recall record on file), and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). Shortage status: FDA Drug Shortages Database.
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: March 28, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages