Voriconazole is the active substance of an antifungal medicine known commercially as Vfend.
This injectable oral medication is indicated for the treatment of aspergillosis, since its action interferes with the ergosterol, an essential substance for the maintenance of the integrity of the cellular membrane of the fungus, that ends up weakened and eliminated from the organism.
Indications for Voriconazole
Aspergillosis; severe fungal infection.
Price of Voriconazole
The 200 mg voriconazole box containing one ampoule costs approximately 1, 200 reais, the 200 mg oral box containing 14 tablets costs approximately 5, 000 reais.
Side Effects of Voriconazole
Increased creatinine; visual disturbances (altered or increased visual perception, blurred vision, altered vision colors, sensitivity to light).
Contraindications of Voriconazole
Pregnancy Risk D; women in the lactation phase; hypersensitivity to the product or other azole; galactose intolerance; lactase deficiency.
How to use Voriconazole
Injectable Use
Intravenous infusion.
Adults
- Dose of attack: 6 mg per kg body weight every 12 hours for 2 doses, followed by maintenance dose of 4 mg per kg body weight every 12 hours. As soon as possible (as long as the patient tolerates), pass orally. If the patient does not tolerate, reduce to 3 mg per kg of body weight every 12 h.
- Elderly: same dose of adults.
- Patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment : reduce maintenance dose by half.
- Patients with severe hepatic cirrhosis : use only if the benefits outweigh the risks.
- Children up to 12 years of age: safety and efficacy not established.
Oral use
Adults
- The maintenance dose is 200 mg every 12 hours. If the response is not adequate, the dose may be increased to 300 mg every 12 hours (if the patient does not tolerate, 50 mg every 12 hours).
- The maintenance dose of 100 mg every 12 hours if the response is not adequate, the dose may be increased to 150 mg every 12 hours (if the patient does not tolerate, reduce to 100 mg each 12 hours).
- Patients with hepatic impairment: dose reduction may be necessary.
- Elderly: same doses of adults.
- Children up to 12 years of age: safety and efficacy not established.
