Voriconazole (Vfend)

Voriconazole (Vfend) is an anti-fungal drug produced by Pfizer. It is an effective treatment for aspergillosis for people who have failed to respond to other anti-fungal drugs. It is also being tested for other fungal infections, including candidiasis.

Side-effects can include mild to moderate visual disturbances (enhanced sensitivity to light) and abnormalities in liver function tests.

Voriconazole should not be taken by patients who are also taking ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (Kaletra), full-dose ritonavir (Norvir) or efavirenz (Sustiva), as this can lead to very low levels of voriconazole in the blood. It should also be avoided in patients taking low-dose ritonavir to boost the levels of other protease inhibitors, unless the benefit of voriconazole outweighs the risk. Patients taking other protease inhibitors or nevirapine (Viramune) should be monitored for the emergence of side-effects due to elevated drug levels.

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This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.