Vtect® (voriconazole)

Dosage form:

Tablets 50, 200 mg

What is Vtect® (voriconazole) used for?

• It is used to treat fungal infections.

Important notes before taking Vtect® (voriconazole):

• If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have any of these health problems: Low calcium levels, low magnesium levels, or low potassium levels.
• If you have been told that your body has problems with certain sugars (lactose, glucose, galactose). Some products have lactose.
• If you take any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) that must not be taken with this drug, like certain drugs that are used for HIV, infections, or seizures. There are many drugs that must not be taken with this drug.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to ensure that it is safe to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

Important notes while taking Vtect® (voriconazole):

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert or have clear eyesight until you see how this drug affects you.
• Avoid driving at night.
• Have an eye exam if you are on this drug for a long time. Talk with your doctor.
• Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor.
• Do not use longer than you have been told. A second infection may happen.
• You may get sunburned more easily. Avoid sun, sunlamps, and tanning beds. Use sunscreen and wear clothing and eyewear that protects you from the sun.
• Bright lights may bother you. Wear sunglasses.
• Certain types of skin cancer have happened in people who were bothered by sunlight while taking this drug for a long time. Call your doctor right away if you have a change in color or size of a mole or any other skin change or growth.
• An unsafe heartbeat that is not normal (long QT on ECG) has happened with this drug. Sudden deaths have rarely happened in people taking this drug. Talk with the doctor.
• Liver problems have rarely happened with this drug. Sometimes, this has been deadly. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes.
• A severe and sometimes deadly reaction has happened. Most of the time, this reaction has signs like fever, rash, or swollen glands with problems in body organs like the liver, kidney, blood, heart, muscles and joints, or lungs. If you have questions, talk with the doctor.
• If the patient is a child, use this drug with care. The risk of side effects may be higher in some children.
• This drug may cause harm to an unborn baby. Women must use birth control while taking this drug. If you get pregnant, call your doctor right away.
• Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding. You will need to talk about any risks to your baby.

Vtect® (voriconazole) side effects:

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of a pancreas problem (pancreatitis) like very bad stomach pain, very bad back pain, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Signs of kidney problems like unable to pass urine, change in how much urine is passed, blood in the urine, or a big weight gain.
• Signs of lupus like a rash on the cheeks or other body parts, sunburn easy, muscle or joint pain, chest pain or shortness of breath, or swelling in the arms or legs.
• Signs of electrolyte problems like mood changes, confusion, muscle pain or weakness, a heartbeat that does not feel normal, seizures, not hungry, or very bad upset stomach or throwing up.
• Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Signs of high blood sugar like confusion, feeling sleepy, more thirst, more hungry, passing urine more often, flushing, fast breathing, or breath that smells like fruit.
• Fever or chills.
• Bone pain.
• Fast or abnormal heartbeat.
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
• Sweating a lot.
• Swelling.
• Any unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Change in eyesight.
• If bright lights bother your eyes.
• Sunburn.
• Skin reaction to light.
• Swollen gland.
• A very bad skin reaction (Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis) may happen. It can cause very bad health problems that may not go away, and sometimes death. Get medical help right away if you have signs like red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin (with or without fever); red or irritated eyes; or sores in your mouth, throat, nose, or eyes

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

How do I store and/or throw out this drug?

• Store at room temperature. Do not refrigerate or freeze.
• Keep lid tightly closed.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.