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نشرة الممارس الصحي | نشرة معلومات المريض بالعربية | نشرة معلومات المريض بالانجليزية | صور الدواء | بيانات الدواء |
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VOCONZA Injection contains the active substance Voriconazole. VOCONZA Injection is an antifungal medicine. It works by killing or stopping the growth of the fungi that cause infections.
It is used for the treatment of patients (adults and children over the age of 2) with:
• Invasive aspergillosis (a type of fungal infection due to Aspergillus sp),
• candidaemia (another type of fungal infection due to Candida sp) in non-neutropenic patients (patients without abnormally low white blood cells count),
• serious invasive Candida sp. infections when the fungus is resistant to fluconazole (another antifungal medicine),
• serious fungal infections caused by Scedosporium sp. or Fusarium sp. (two different species of fungi).
VOCONZA Injection is intended for patients with worsening, possibly life-threatening, fungal infections. Prevention of fungal infections in high risk bone marrow transplant recipients
This product should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.
1. Do not take VOCONZA injection:
- If you are allergic to the active ingredient Voriconazole, or to sulfobutylether beta cyclodextrin sodium (listed in section 6).
It is very important that you inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have taken any other medicines, even those that are obtained without a prescription, or herbal medicines.
The medicines in the following list must not be taken during your course of VOCONZA Injection treatment:
• Terfenadine (used for allergy)
• Astemizole (used for allergy)
• Cisapride (used for stomach problems)
• Pimozide (used for treating mental illness)
• Quinidine (used for irregular heart beat)
• Rifampicin (used for treating tuberculosis)
• Efavirenz (used for treating HIV) in doses of 400 mg and above once daily
• Carbamazepine (used to treat seizures)
• Phenobarbital (used for severe insomnia and seizures)
• Ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine, dihydroergotamine; used for migraine)
• Sirolimus (used in transplant patients)
• Ritonavir (used for treating HIV) in doses of 400mg and more twice daily
• St. John’s Wort (herbal supplement)
Warnings and Precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking VOCONZA Injection if:
• you have had an allergic reaction to other azoles.
• you are suffering from, or have ever suffered from liver disease. If you have liver disease, your doctor may prescribe a lower dose of VOCONZA INJECTION. Your doctor should also monitor your liver function while you are being treated with VOCONZA INJECTION by doing blood tests.
• you are known to have cardiomyopathy, irregular heart beat, slow heart rate or an abnormality of electrocardiogram (ECG) called ‘long QTc syndrome’.
You should avoid any sunlight and sun exposure while being treated. It is important to cover sun exposed areas of skin and use sunscreen with high sun protection factor (SPF), as an increased sensitivity of skin to the sun’s UV rays can occur. These precautions are also applicable to children.
While being treated with VOCONZA Injection:
• tell your doctor immediately if you develop o sunburn
o severe skin rash or blisters
o bone pain
If you develop skin disorders as described above, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist, who after consultation may decide that it is important for you to be seen on a regular basis. There is a small chance that skin cancer could develop with long-term use of VOCONZA Injection.
Your doctor should monitor the function of your liver and kidney by doing blood tests
Children and adolescents
VOCONZA Injection should not be given to children younger than 2 years of age.
Other medicines and VOCONZA Injection
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including those that are obtained without a prescription.
• Some medicines, when taken at the same time as VOCONZA Injection, may affect the way VOCONZA Injection works or VOCONZA Injection may affect the way they work.
Tell your doctor if you are taking the following medicine, as treatment with VOCONZA Injection at the same time should be avoided if possible:
• Ritonavir (used for treating HIV) in doses of 100 mg twice daily
Tell your doctor if you are taking either of the following medicines, as treatment with VOCONZA Injection at the same time should be avoided if possible, and a dose adjustment of VOCONZA may be required:
• Rifabutin (used for treating tuberculosis). If you are already being treated with rifabutin your blood counts and side effects to rifabutin will need to be monitored.
• Phenytoin (used to treat epilepsy). If you are already being treated with phenytoin your blood concentration of phenytoin will need to be monitored during your treatment with VOCONZA Injection and your dose may be adjusted.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines, as a dose adjustment or monitoring may be required to check that the medicines and/ or VOCONZA Injection are still having the desired effect:
• Warfarin and other anticoagulants (e.g., phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol; used to slow down clotting of the blood)
• Ciclosporin (used in transplant patients)
• Tacrolimus (used in transplant patients)
• Sulfonylureas (e.g., tolbutamide, glipizide, and glyburide) (used for diabetes)
• Statins (e.g., atorvastatin, simvastatin) (used for lowering cholesterol)
• Benzodiazepines (e.g midazolam, triazolam) (used for severe insomnia and stress)
• Omeprazole (used for treating ulcers)
• Oral contraceptives (if you take VOCONZA Injection whilst using oral contraceptives, you may get side effects such as nausea and menstrual disorders)
• Vinca alkaloids (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine) (used in treating cancer)
• Indinavir and other HIV protease inhibitors (used for treating HIV)
• Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., efavirenz, delavirdine, nevirapine) (used for treating HIV) (some doses of efavirenz can NOT be taken at the same time as VFEND)
• Methadone (used to treat heroin addiction)
• Alfentanil and fentanyl and other short-acting opiates such as sufentanil (painkillers used for surgical procedures)
• Oxycodone and other long-acting opiates such as hydrocodone (used for moderate to severe pain)
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., ibuprofen, diclofenac) (used for treating pain and inflammation)
• Fluconazole (used for fungal infections)
• Everolimus (used for treating advanced kidney cancer and in transplant patients)
Pregnancy and Breast feeding
VOCONZA Injection must not be used during pregnancy, unless indicated by your doctor. Effective contraception must be used in women of childbearing potential. Contact your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while being treated with VOCONZA Injection.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
Driving and using machines
VOCONZA Injection may cause blurring of vision or uncomfortable sensitivity to light. While affected, do not drive or operate any tools or machines. Tell your doctor if you experience this..
VOCONZA Injection contains sodium
Each vial of VOCONZA Injection contains 200 mg per vial. This should be taken into consideration if you are on a strictly controlled sodium diet.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. Check with your doctor if you are not sure.
Your doctor will determine your dose depending on your weight and the type of infection you have.
Your doctor may change your dose depending on your condition.
The recommended dose for adults (including elderly patients) is as follows:
| Intravenous |
Dose for the first 24 hours |
6 mg/kg every 12 hours for the first 24 hours |
4 mg/kg twice a day |
Dose after the first 24 hours |
Depending on your response to treatment, your doctor may decrease the dose to 3 mg/kg twice daily.
The doctor may decide to decrease the dose if you have mild to moderate cirrhosis. Use in children and adolescents
The recommended dose for children and teenagers is as follows:
| Intravenous | |
Children aged 2 to less than 12 years and teenagers aged 12 to |
Teenagers aged 12 to 14 years weighing 50 | |
Dose for the first 24 hours (Loading Dose) |
9 mg/kg every 12 hours for the first 24 |
6 mg/kg every 12 hours for the first 24 |
Dose after the first 24 hours |
8 mg/kg twice a day |
4 mg/kg twice a day |
Depending on your response to treatment, your doctor may increase or decrease the daily dose.
VOCONZA Injection powder for solution for infusion will be reconstituted and diluted to the correct concentration by your hospital pharmacist or nurse. (Please refer to the end of this leaflet for further information).
This will be given to you by intravenous infusion (into a vein) at a maximum rate of 3 mg/kg per hour over 1 to 3 hours.
If you or your child are taking VOCONZA Injection for prevention of fungal infections, your doctor may stop giving VOCONZA Injection if you or your child develop treatment related side effects.
If a dose of VOCONZA Injection has been forgotten
As you will be given this medicine under close medical supervision, it is unlikely that a dose would be missed. However tell your doctor or pharmacist if you think that a dose has been forgotten.
If you stop taking VOCONZA Injection
VOCONZA Injection treatment will continue for as long as your doctor advises, however duration of treatment with VOCONZA Injection powder for solution for infusion should be no more than 6 months.
Patients with a weakened immune system or those with difficult infections may require long-term treatment to prevent the infection from returning. You may be switched from the intravenous infusion to tablets once your condition improves.
When VOCONZA Injection treatment is stopped by your doctor you should not experience any effects.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If any side effects occur, most are likely to be minor and temporary. However, some may be serious and need medical attention.
. Serious side effects – Stop taking VOCONZA Injection and see a doctor immediately
- Rash
- Jaundice; Changes in blood tests of liver function
- Pancreatitis
Other side effects
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Visual impairment (change in vision including blurred vision, visual colour alterations, abnormal intolerance to visual perception of light, colour blindness, eye disorder, halo vision, night blindness, swinging vision, seeing sparks, visual aura, visual acuity reduced, visual brightness, loss of part of the usual field of vision, spots before the eyes)
- Fever
- Rash
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
- Headache
- Swelling of the extremities
- Stomach pains
- Breathing difficulties
- Elevated liver enzymes
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Inflammation of the sinuses, inflammation of the gums, chills, weakness
- Low numbers of some types, including severe, of red (sometimes immune-related) and/or white blood cells (sometimes with fever), low numbers of cells called platelets that help the blood to clot
- Low blood sugar, low blood potassium, low sodium in the blood
- Anxiety, depression, confusion, agitation, inability to sleep, hallucinations
- Seizures, tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements, tingling or abnormal skin sensations, increase in muscle tone, sleepiness, dizziness
- Bleeding in the eye
- Heart rhythm problems including very fast heartbeat, very slow heartbeat, fainting
- Low blood pressure, inflammation of a vein (which may be associated with the formation of a blood clot)
- Acute breathing difficulty, chest pain, swelling of the face (mouth, lips and around eyes), fluid accumulation in the lungs
- Constipation, indigestion, inflammation of the lips
- Jaundice, inflammation of the liver and liver injury
- Skin rashes which may lead to severe blistering and peeling of the skin characterized by a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps, redness of the skin
- Itchiness
- Hair loss
- Back pain
- Kidney failure, blood in the urine, changes in kidney function tests
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Flu-like symptoms, irritation and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract causing antibiotic associated diarrhoea, inflammation of the lymphatic vessels
- Inflammation of the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers the abdominal organ
- Enlarged lymph glands (sometimes painful), failure of blood marrow, increased eosinophil
- Depressed function of the adrenal gland, underactive thyroid gland
- Abnormal brain function, Parkinson-like symptoms, nerve injury resulting in numbness, pain, tingling or burning in the hands or feet
- Problems with balance or coordination
- Swelling of the brain
- Double vision, serious conditions of the eye including: pain and inflammation of the eyes and eyelids, abnormal eye movement, damage to the optic nerve resulting in vision impairment, optic disc swelling
- Decreased sensitivity to touch
- Abnormal sense of taste
- Hearing difficulties, ringing in the ears, vertigo
- Inflammation of certain internal organs - pancreas and duodenum, swelling and Inflammation of the tongue
- Enlarged liver, liver failure, gallbladder disease, gallstones
- Joint inflammation, inflammation of the veins under the skin (which may be associated with the formation of a blood clot)
- Inflammation of the kidney, proteins in the urine, damage to the kidney
- Very fast heart rate or skipped heartbeats, sometimes with erratic electrical impulses
- Abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Blood cholesterol increased, blood urea increased
- Allergic skin reactions (sometimes severe), including life-threatening skin condition that causes painful blisters and sores of the skin and mucous membranes, especially in the mouth, inflammation of the skin, hives, sunburn or severe skin reaction following exposure to light or sun, skin redness and irritation, red or purple discoloration of the skin which may be caused by low platelet count, eczema
- Infusion site reaction
- Allergic reaction or exaggerated immune response
Rare: may affect up to 1 in 1000 people
- Overactive thyroid gland
- Deterioration of brain function that is a serious complication of liver disease
- Loss of most fibres in the optic nerve, clouding of the cornea, involuntary movement of the eye
- Bullous photosensitivity
- A disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the peripheral nervous system
- Heart rhythm or conduction problems (sometimes life threatening)
- Life threatening allergic reaction
- Disorder of blood clotting system
- Allergic skin reactions (sometimes severe), including rapid swelling (oedema) of the dermis, subcutaneous tissue, mucosa and submucosal tissues, itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales of skin, irritation of the skin and mucous membranes, life-threatening skin condition that causes large portions of the epidermis, the skin's outermost layer, to detach from the layers of skin below
- Small dry scaly skin patches, sometimes thick with spikes or ‘horns’ Side effects with frequency not known:
- Freckles and pigmented spots
Other significant side effects whose frequency is not known, but should be reported to your doctor immediately:
- Skin cancer
- Inflammation of the tissue surrounding the bone
- Red, scaly patches or ring-shaped skin lesions that may be a symptom of an autoimmune disease called cutaneous lupus erythematous
Reactions during the infusion have occurred uncommonly with VOCONZA Injection (including flushing, fever, sweating, increased heart rate and shortness of breath). Your doctor may stop the infusion if this occurs.
As VOCONZA Injection has been known to affect the liver and the kidney, your doctor should monitor the function of your liver and kidney by doing blood tests. Please advise your doctor if you have any stomach pains or if your stools have a different consistency.
There have been reports of skin cancer in patients treated with VOCONZA Injection for long periods of time.
Sunburn or severe skin reaction following exposure to light or sun was experienced more frequently in children. If you or your child develops skin disorders, your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist, who after consultation may decide that it is important for you or your child to be seen on a regular basis. Elevated liver enzymes were also observed more frequently in children.
If any of these side effects persist or are troublesome, please tell your doctor.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
• Saudi Arabia:
The National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Centre (NPC) o Fax: +966-11-205-7662 o Call NPC at +966-11-2038222, Exts: 2317-2356-2353-2354-2334-2340. o Toll free phone: 8002490000 o E-mail: npc.drug@sfda.gov.sa o Website: www.sfda.gov.sa/npc |
o Other GCC States:
Please contact the relevant competent authority.
· Store below 30°C.
· Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
· Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
· Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the vial and on the box. The expiry date
Reconstitution and Dilution information:
Diluent details
Reconstitute Details:
Primary Dilution with Sodium chloride and water for Injection. Secondary Diluents:
0.9% Sodium chloride injection 0.45% Sodium chloride injection 5% Dextrose injection
5% Dextrose & 0.45% Sodium chloride injection Ringer lactate injection
Reconstituting 1 vial of Voriconazole for Injection 200 mg/vial with 19 mL of Water and sodium chloride for injection shake well to get clear solution to get a concentration 10 mg/mL, further diluting 20 mL of sample solution to 380 ml of secondary diluents as specified to get a desired concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. Reconstituting 1 vial each of VOCONZA for Injection 200 mg/vial with 19 mL of Water for injection shake well to get clear solution to get a concentration 10mg/mL.
Further adding 20 mL of sample solution to 20 ml of secondary diluents as specified above to get a desired concentration of 0.5 mg/mL & 5 mg/mL.
Based on the test procedure, required infusion bag volume shall be selected and respective volume of sample shall be added to that bag without changing the final concentration of the infusion bag.
Once reconstituted, VOCONZA should be used immediately, but if necessary may be stored for up to 24 hours at 2°C - 8°C (in a refrigerator). Reconstituted VOCONZA needs to be diluted with a compatible infusion solution first before it is infused.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Based on the test procedure, required infusion bag volume shall be selected and respective volume of sample shall be added to that bag without changing the final concentration of the infusion bag Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
The reconstituted product of Voriconazole for injection 200 mg/vial is stable for 24 hours when stored at 2-8°C condition.
Admixtured product of Voriconazole for injection is stable for 2 hours when stored at Temperature below 30°C.
What VOCONZA injection contains
The active substance is Voriconazole (Form-I). Each vial contains Voriconazole Ph.Eur 200 mg.
The other ingredients are: Betadex Sulfobutyl ether sodium and Water for Injection
Saudi Amarox Industrial Company
Aljameah Street, Malaz quarter, Riyadh 11441 Saudi Arabia
Tel: +966 11 477 2215
تحتوي فوكونزا فيال على المادة الفعالة فوريكونازول وهو دواء مضاد للفطريات. حيث إنه يعمل عن طريق قتل أو إيقاف نمو الفطريات التي تسبب العدوى.
يستخدم لعلاج المرضى (البالغين والأطفال فوق سن عامين) من الحالات التالية:
· مرض طفيلي يسمى داء الرشاشيات (نوع من أنواع العدوى الفطرية الناجمة عن فطر يسمى الرشاشيات)
· داء المبيضات (نوع آخر من أنواع العدوى الفطرية الناتجة عن فطر يسمى المبيضات) في المرضى غير المصابين بحالة نقص العدلات (المرضى اللذين لا يعانون من انخفاض غير طبيعي في خلايا الدم البيضاء)،
· حالات الإصابة الخطيرة بداء المبيضات. حيث تحدث تكون هذه الالتهابات بفطر مقاومًا للفلوكونازول (دواء آخر مضاد للفطريات)،
· الالتهابات الفطرية الخطيرة الناجمة عن فطر البوغانة أو فوزاريوم. (نوعان مختلفان من الفطريات).
فوكونزا فيال للحقن مخصص للمرضى الذين يعانون من الالتهابات الفطرية التي قد تهدد حياتهم. الوقاية من خطورة الالتهابات الفطرية في حالة عمليات زرع نخاع العظام (للمتلقي).
يجب استخدام هذا المنتج تحت إشراف الطبيب فقط.
لا تقم باستعمال فوكونزا فيال للحقن:
- إذا كنت تعاني من حساسية تجاه المادة الفعالة فوريكونازول أوبيتا سيكلو ديكسترين الصوديوم سلفوبيوتيل إيثر أي من المكونات الأخرى لهذا الدواء (المذكورة في القسم 6).
يجب أيضا ومن المهم جدًا أن تبلغ طبيبك أو الصيدلي إذا كنت تتناول أو تناولت أي أدوية أخرى، بما في ذلك تلك الأدوية التي تم الحصول عليها بدون وصفة طبية، أو الأدوية العشبية.
يجب عدم تناول الأدوية الموجودة في القائمة التالية خلال فترة العلاج بتناول فوكونزا فيال للحقن:
· تيرفينادين (يستخدم للحساسية)
· أستيميزول (يستخدم للحساسية)
· سيسابريد (يستخدم لمشاكل في المعدة)
· بيموزايد (يستخدم لعلاج الأمراض العقلية)
· الكينيدين (يستخدم لعلاج عدم انتظام ضربات القلب)
· ريفامبيسين (يستخدم لعلاج السل)
· إيفافيرينز (يستخدم لعلاج فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية) بجرعات 400 ملغم وما فوق مرة واحدة يوميًا
· كاربامازيبين (يستخدم لعلاج النوبات)
· الفينوباربيتال (يستخدم لعلاج الأرق والنوبات الشديدة)
· قلويدات الإرغوت (على سبيل المثال، الإرغوتامين، ديهيدروجوتامين؛ يستخدم لعلاج الصداع النصفي)
· سيروليموس (يستخدم في مرضى زرع الأعضاء)
· ريتونافير (يستخدم لعلاج فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية) بجرعات 400 ملغم وأكثر مرتين يوميًا
· نبتة سانت جون (مكملات عشبية)
التحذيرات والاحتياطات
تحدث إلى طبيبك أو الصيدلي في المستشفى أو الممرضة قبل استخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن:
· إذا كنت تعاني من رد فعل تحسسي تجاه الأزولات الأخرى.
· إذا كنت تعاني من مرض بالكبد أو عانيت مسبقا منه. إذا كان لديك مرض بالكبد، قد يصف الطبيب جرعة أقل من فوكونزا فيال للحقن. يجب أن يراقب طبيبك أيضًا وظائف الكبد أثناء العلاج باستخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن من خلال إجراء اختبارات الدم.
· إذا كان من المعروف أنك تعاني من اعتلال بعضلة القلب أو عدم انتظام ضربات القلب أو بطء معدل ضربات القلب أو خلل في رسم القلب الكهربائي (ECG) الذي يطلق عليه "متلازمة طول فترة QTc ".
يجب تجنب التعرض لأشعة الشمس أثناء العلاج. من المهم تغطية مناطق البشرة المعرضة للشمس واستخدام واقٍ من الشمس بعامل حماية عالي تجاه أشعة الشمس (SPF)، حيث يمكن زيادة حساسية البشرة لأشعة الشمس فوق البنفسجية. تنطبق هذه الاحتياطات أيضًا على الأطفال.
أثناء العلاج باستخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن:
· أخبر طبيبك فورا إذا واجهت:
o حروق الشمس
o طفح جلدي شديد أو بثور
o آلام العظام
إذا كنت تعاني من اضطرابات في الجلد كما هو موضح أعلاه، فقد يحيلك طبيبك إلى طبيب أمراض جلدية، والذي قد يقرر بعد التشاور أنه من المهم أن يتم رؤيتك بشكل منتظم. هناك احتمال ضئيل أن يتطور سرطان الجلد مع الاستخدام طويل الأجل لدواء فوكونزا فيال للحقن.
يجب أن يراقب طبيبك وظيفة الكبد والكلى عن طريق إجراء اختبارات الدم.
الأطفال والمراهقين
لا ينبغي إعطاء فوكونزا فيال للحقن للأطفال الذين تقل أعمارهم عن سنتين.
تناول أدوية أخرى مع فوكونزا فيال للحقن
يرجى إخبار طبيبك أو الصيدلي إذا كنت تتناول أو تناولت مؤخراً أو قد تتناول أي أدوية أخرى، بما في ذلك الأدوية التي يتم الحصول عليها دون وصفة طبية.
· بعض الأدوية، عندما يتم تناولها في نفس الوقت مع فوكونزا فيال للحقن، قد تؤثر على الطريقة التي تعمل بها فوكونزا أو قد تؤثر فوكونزا على طريقة عملها.
أخبر طبيبك إذا كنت تتناول الأدوية التالية، حيث يجب تجنب العلاج باستخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن في نفس الوقت إن أمكن:
· ريتونافير (يستخدم لعلاج فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية) بجرعات 100 ملغم مرتين يوميًا
أخبر طبيبك إذا كنت تتناول أيًا من الأدوية التالية، حيث يجب تجنب العلاج باستخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن في نفس الوقت إن أمكن، وقد يتطلب الأمر إجراء ضبط لجرعة فوكونزا فيال للحقن:
· ريفابوتين (يستخدم لعلاج السل). إذا كنت تعالج بالفعل بااستخدام لريفابوتين، فسيتعين مراقبة مكونات الدم والآثار الجانبية للريفابوتين.
· الفينيتوين (يستخدم لعلاج الصرع). إذا كنت تعالج بالفعل باستخدام الفينيتوين، فسيتعين مراقبة تركيز الفينيتوين في دمك أثناء العلاج باستخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن وقد يتم ضبط الجرعة.
أخبر طبيبك إذا كنت تتناول أيًا من الأدوية التالية، حيث قد تكون هناك حاجة لتعديل الجرعة أو مراقبتها للتحقق من أن الأدوية و / أو فوكونزا فيال للحقن لا تزال تتمتع بالتأثير المطلوب:
· الوارفارين ومضادات التخثر الأخرى (مثل الفينبروكومون، الأسينوكومارول؛ تستخدم لإبطاء تخثر الدم)
· السيكلوسبورين (يستخدم في حالات زرع الأعضاء)
· تاكروليموس (يستخدم في حالات زرع الأعضاء)
· السلفونيل يوريا (على سبيل المثال، تولبوتميد، جليبيزايد، وجليبيورايد) (يستخدم لمرض السكري)
· الستاتين (على سبيل المثال، أتورفاستاتين، سيمفاستاتين) (يستخدم لخفض الكولسترول)
· البنزوديازيبينات (على سبيل المثال ميدازولام، تريازولام) (يستخدم للأرق الشديد والإجهاد)
· أوميبرازول (يستخدم لعلاج القرحة)
· موانع الحمل الفموية (إذا كنت تستخدم فوكونزا فيال للحقن أثناء استخدام موانع الحمل الفموية، فقد تتعرض لآثار جانبية مثل الغثيان واضطرابات الدورة الشهرية)
· قلويدات الفينكا (على سبيل المثال، فينكريستين والفينبلاستين) (يستخدم في علاج السرطان)
· إندينافير ومثبطات الأنزيم البروتيني الأخرى (المستخدمة لعلاج فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية)
· مثبطات إنزيم النسخ العكسي غير النيوكليوتيدي (مثل، إيفافيرينز، ديلافيردين، نيفيرابين) (تستخدم لعلاج فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية) (لا يمكن تناول بعض جرعات إيفافيرينز في نفس الوقت مع فوكونزا)
· الميثادون (يستخدم لعلاج إدمان الهيروين)
· الفنتانيل وفنتانيل وغيره من المواد الأفيونية قصيرة المفعول مثل السيفنتانيل (مسكنات الألم المستخدمة في العمليات الجراحية)
· أوكسيكودون وغيره من المواد الأفيونية طويلة المفعول مثل الهيدروكودون (يستخدم في الألم المعتدل إلى الشديد)
· الأدوية المضادة للالتهابات غير الستيرويدية (على سبيل المثال، ايبوبروفين، ديكلوفيناك) (تستخدم لعلاج الألم والالتهابات)
· الفلوكونازول (يستخدم للعدوى الفطرية)
· إيفيروليموس (يستخدم لعلاج سرطان الكلى المتقدم وحالات زرع الأعضاء)
الحمل والرضاعة الطبيعية
يجب عدم استخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن أثناء الحمل، إلا إذا أشار طبيبك. يجب استخدام وسائل منع الحمل الفعالة في النساء ذوات إمكانية الحمل. اتصل بطبيبك على الفور إذا أصبحت حاملاً أثناء العلاج باستخدام فوكونزا فيال للحقن.
إذا كنت حاملاً أو مرضعة، تعتقدين أنك قد تكون حاملاً أو تخططين لإنجاب طفل، اسأل طبيبك أو الصيدلي للحصول على المشورة قبل تناول هذا الدواء.
القيادة واستخدام الآلات
لا تقم بقيادة السيارة أو استخدام الآلات إذا واجهت أي آثار جانبية (مثل الدوخة) مما قد يقلل من قدرتك على القيام بذلك.
قد يسبب تناول فوكونزا فيال للحقن في حدوث ضبابية في الرؤية أو حساسية غير مريحة للضوء. عندما تتأثر، لا تقم بالقيادة أو تشغل أي أدوات أو آلات. أخبر طبيبك إذا واجهت هذا.
محتوى فوكونزا فيال للحقن من الصوديوم
تحتوي كل قارورة من فوكونزا للحقن على 217.6 ملغم من الصوديوم. يجب أن يؤخذ ذلك في الاعتبار إذا كنت تتبع نظامًا غذائيًا صارما بالنسبة للصوديوم.
يجب أن تتناول هذا الدواء تماما كما أخبر طبيبك. استشر طبيبك إذا كنت غير متأكد.
سوف يحدد طبيبك الجرعة الخاصة بك اعتمادا على وزنك ونوع العدوى لديك.
قد يغير طبيبك الجرعة حسب حالتك.
الجرعة الموصي بها للبالغين (بما في ذلك المرضى المسنين) هي كما يلي:
| الحقن الوريدي |
جرعة لمدة 24 ساعة الأولى (جرعة البداية) | 6 ملغم / كغم كل 12 ساعة لأول 24 ساعة |
الجرعة بعد ال 24 ساعة الأولى (جرعة الاستمرار) | 4 ملغم / كغم مرتين في اليوم |
بناءً على مدى استجابتك للعلاج، قد يخفض طبيبك الجرعة إلى 3 ملغم / كغم مرتين يوميًا.
قد يقرر الطبيب خفض الجرعة إذا كان لديك تليُّف خفيف بالكبد إلى متوسط.
الاستخدام في الأطفال والمراهقين
الجرعة الموصي بها للأطفال والمراهقين هي كما يلي:
| الحقن الوريدي | |
| الأطفال الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 2 إلى أقل من 12 سنة والمراهقين الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 12 إلى 14 سنة ووزنهم أقل من 50 كجم | المراهقون الذين تتراوح أعمارهم بين 12 و14 سنة ووزنهم 50 كجم أو أكثر؛ وجميع المراهقين الأكبر سنا من 14 عام |
جرعة لمدة 24 ساعة الأولى (جرعة البداية) | 9 ملغم / كغم كل 12 ساعة لأول 24 ساعة | 6 ملغم / كغم كل 12 ساعة لأول 24 ساعة |
الجرعة بعد ال 24 ساعة الأولى (جرعة الاستمرار) | 8 ملغم / كغم مرتين في اليوم | 4 ملغم / كغم مرتين في اليوم |
بناءً على مدى استجابتك للعلاج، قد يزيد طبيبك الجرعة اليومية أو ينقصها.
سيتم إعداد مسحوق فوكونزا فيال للحقن بالحل ليصبح محلول جاهز للتسريب الوريدي ويتم تخفيفه للحصول على التركيز الصحيح من قبل الصيدلي أو ممرض المستشفى. (يرجى الرجوع إلى آخر هذه النشرة لمزيد من المعلومات).
سيتم إعطاؤك هذا الدواء عن طريق الحقن في الوريد بمعدل أقصاه 3 ملغم / كغم في الساعة على مدى من ساعة إلى 3 ساعات.
إذا كنت أنت أو طفلك تتناولان فوكونزا فيال للحقن للوقاية من الالتهابات الفطرية، فقد يتوقف طبيبك عن إعطاءكم فوكونزا فيال للحقن إذا كنت أنت أو طفلك قد واجهتم أيا من الآثار الجانبية المتعلقة بالعلاج.
نسيان تناول جرعة فوكونزا فيال للحقن
نظرًا لأنك ستحصل على هذا الدواء تحت إشراف طبي دقيق، فمن غير المرجح أن يتم تفويت جرعة. ومع ذلك، أخبر طبيبك أو الصيدلي إذا كنت تعتقد أن الجرعة قد نسيت.
التوقف عن تناول فوكونزا فيال للحقن
سيستمر العلاج بتناول فوكونزا فيال للحقن طالما نصح طبيبك بذلك، ولكن يجب ألا تزيد مدة العلاج بفوكونزا فيال للحقن عن طريق التسريب الوريدي لمدة أكثر من 6 أشهر.
قد يحتاج المرضى الذين يعانون من ضعف الجهاز المناعي أو المصابين بالتهابات صعبة إلى علاج طويل الأمد لمنع عودة العدوى مرة أخرى. قد يتم تحويلك من الحقن في الوريد إلى أقراص بمجرد تحسن حالتك.
عند إيقاف العلاج بتناول فوكونزا فيال للحقن من قبل طبيبك، من المفترض ألا تواجه أي آثار.
إذا كانت لديك أي أسئلة أخرى حول استخدام هذا الدواء، اسأل طبيبك أو الصيدلي أو الممرض.
مثل جميع الأدوية، يمكن أن يسبب هذا الدواء آثارًا جانبية، على الرغم من عدم حدوثها للجميع.
في حالة حدوث أي آثار جانبية، فمن المرجح أن تكون بسيطة ومؤقتة. ومع ذلك، قد يكون بعضها خطير وتحتاج إلى عناية طبية.
الآثار الجانبية الخطيرة - حيث يجب التوقف عن تناول فوكونزا فيال للحقن واستشارة الطبيب على الفور
- طفح
- اليرقان؛ تغييرات في اختبارات الدم وظائف الكبد
- التهاب البنكرياس
آثار جانبية أخرى
شائع جدًا: قد يؤثر على أكثر من شخص من كل 10 أشخاص
- ضعف البصر (تغيير في الرؤية بما في ذلك عدم وضوح الرؤية، والتغيرات البصرية في اللون، والتعصب غير الطبيعي للإدراك البصري للضوء، والعمى اللوني، واضطراب العين، ورؤية الهالة، والعمى الليلي، والرؤية المتأرجحة، ورؤية الشرر، والهالة البصرية، وضعف في حدة البصر، السطوع المرئي فقدان جزء من مجال الرؤية المعتاد والبقع أمام العينين)
- حمى
- طفح
- غثيان، قيء، إسهال
- صداع الراس
- تورم الأطراف
- آلام المعدة
- صعوبات في التنفس
- ارتفاع في انزيمات الكبد
شائع: قد يؤثر على شخص واحد من كل 10 أشخاص
- التهاب الجيوب الأنفية، التهاب اللثة، قشعريرة، ضعف
- انخفاض في أعداد من بعض الأنواع من خلايا الدم الحمراء، وقد تكون بنسبة شديدة، (المرتبطة في بعض الأحيان بالمناعة) و / أو خلايا الدم البيضاء (في بعض الأحيان مع الحمى)، وانخفاض أعداد خلايا تسمى الصفائح الدموية والتي تساعد على تجلط الدم
- انخفاض نسبة السكر في الدم، انخفاض البوتاسيوم في الدم، انخفاض الصوديوم في الدم
- القلق، والاكتئاب، والارتباك، والاستثارة، وعدم القدرة على النوم، والهلوسة
- النوبات أو الهزات أو حركات غير منضبطة بالعضلات أو الإحساس بالوخز أو الإحساس غير الطبيعي بالجلد، وزيادة في لون العضلات والنعاس والدوار.
- نزيف في العين
- مشاكل في إيقاع القلب بما في ذلك نبضات سريعة للغاية، نبضات بطيئة للغاية، والإغماء
- انخفاض ضغط الدم، التهاب الوريد (الذي قد يرتبط بتكوين جلطة دموية)
- صعوبة في التنفس بشكل حاد، ألم في الصدر، تورم في الوجه (الفم، الشفاه وحول العينين)، تراكم السوائل في الرئتين.
- الإمساك وعسر الهضم والتهاب الشفاه
- اليرقان، التهاب الكبد وإصابة الكبد
- الطفح الجلدي الذي قد يؤدي إلى ظهور تقرحات وتهيج شديد للجلد يتميز بمنطقة حمراء مسطحة على الجلد مغطاة بكتل صغيرة متموجة، احمرار الجلد
- الحكة
- تساقط الشعر
- ألم في الظهر
- الفشل الكلوي وظهور الدم في البول، والتغيرات في اختبارات وظائف الكلى
غير شائع: قد يؤثر على ما يصل إلى شخص واحد من بين كل 100 شخص
- أعراض شبيهة بالأنفلونزا، وتهيج والتهابات الجهاز الهضمي، مما يسبب الإسهال المرتبط بالمضادات الحيوية، التهاب الأوعية اللمفاوية.
- التهاب الأنسجة التي تبطن الجدار الداخلي للبطن وتغطي البطن
- تضخم الغدد اللمفاوية (مؤلمة في بعض الأحيان)، وفشل نخاع الدم، وزيادة كريات الدم البيضاء الحمضية
- انخفاض في وظيفة الغدة الكظرية، الغدة الدرقية الخاملة
- وظائف غير طبيعية في الدماغ، وأعراض تشبه الشلل الرعاش، وإصابة العصب مما يؤدي إلى خدر أو ألم أو وخز أو حرق في اليدين أو القدمين
- مشاكل في التوازن أو التنسيق
- تورم الدماغ
- الرؤية المزدوجة، وأعراض خطيرة بالعين بما في ذلك: التهاب العينين والجفون المؤلم، وحركة غير طبيعية بالعين، وتلف العصب البصري مما يؤدي إلى ضعف البصر، وتورم في القرص البصري
- انخفاض حساسية اللمس
- شعور غير طبيعي بالتذوق
- صعوبات بالسمع، ورنين في الأذنين، الدوار
- التهاب بعض الأعضاء الداخلية - البنكرياس والاثني عشر، تورم والتهاب اللسان
- تضخم الكبد، فشل الكبد، مرض بالمرارة، حصى في المرارة
- التهاب المفاصل، التهاب الأوردة تحت الجلد (والتي قد تترافق مع تكوين جلطة دموية)
- التهاب الكلى والبروتينات في البول وتلف الكلى
- معدل ضربات القلب سريع للغاية أو عدم انتظام دقات القلب، وأحيانا مع نبضات كهربائية غير منتظمة
- تخطيط كهربية القلب غير الطبيعي (ECG)
- زيادة الكوليسترول في الدم، وزيادة اليوريا في الدم
- تفاعلات الجلد التحسسي (الشديدة في بعض الأحيان)، بما في ذلك حالة الجلد التي تهدد الحياة والتي تسبب تقرحات مؤلمة وتقرحات الجلد والأغشية المخاطية، وخاصة في الفم، التهاب الجلد، خلايا الشري، حروق الشمس أو رد فعل الجلد الشديد بعد التعرض للضوء أو الشمس، احمرار وتهيج الجلد، تغير اللون الأحمر أو الأرجواني للجلد والذي قد يكون ناتجًا عن انخفاض عدد الصفائح الدموية، الأكزيما
- رد فعل تحسسي في موقع التسريب الوريدي
- رد فعل تحسسي أو استجابة مناعية مبالغ فيها
نادر: قد يؤثر على شخص واحد من كل 1000 شخص
- فرط نشاط الغدة الدرقية
- تدهور وظائف المخ التي تعد من المضاعفات الخطيرة لأمراض الكبد
- فقدان معظم الألياف في العصب البصري، سحابة القرنية، حركة لا إرادية للعين
- حساسية الضوء الفقاعية
- اضطراب يهاجم فيه الجهاز المناعي للجسم جزءًا من الجهاز العصبي المحيطي
- مشاكل بإيقاع القلب (في بعض الأحيان تهدد الحياة)
- رد الفعل التحسسي الذي يهدد الحياة
- اضطراب نظام تخثر الدم
- تفاعلات الجلد التحسسي (الشديدة في بعض الأحيان)، بما في ذلك التورم السريع (الوذمة) في الأنسجة تحت الجلد والأغشية المخاطية والأنسجة تحت المخاطية، وحكة أو بقع حمراء على البشرة تغطيها قشور فضية وسميكة، وتهيج الجلد والأغشية المخاطية، إصابات بالجلد مهددة للحياة والتي تصيب أجزاء كبيرة من البشرة، وهي الطبقة الخارجية للجلد، وتؤدي إلى الانفصال عن طبقات الجلد الموجودة أسفل
- بقع صغيرة متقشرة بالجلد، سميكة في بعض الأحيان مع نتوءات
الآثار الجانبية غير معروف معدلاتها:
- النمش والبقع الملونة
الآثار الجانبية الأخرى المهمة التي لا يُعرف معدلاتها، ولكن يجب إبلاغ طبيبك على الفور:
- سرطان الجلد
- التهاب الأنسجة المحيطة بالعظام
- بقع حمراء أو متقشرة أو آفات جلدية على شكل حلقة قد تكون من أعراض مرض المناعة الذاتية الذي يسمى الذئبة الحمامية الجلدية
حدثت ردود فعل تحسسية أثناء التسريب الوريدي بشكل غير شائع مع فوكونزا فيال للحقن (بما في ذلك الطفح الجلدي، والحمى، والتعرق، وزيادة معدل ضربات القلب وضيق التنفس). قد يوقف طبيبك التسريب الوريدي إذا حدث ذلك.
نظرًا لأنه من المعروف أن فوكونزا فيال للحقن يؤثر على الكبد والكلى، يجب على طبيبك مراقبة وظيفة الكبد والكلى عن طريق إجراء اختبارات الدم. يرجى إبلاغ طبيبك إذا كنت تعاني من أي آلام في المعدة أو إذا كان لديك تناسقًا مختلفًا في البراز.
كانت هناك تقارير عن حالات سرطان الجلد في المرضى الذين عولجوا بحقن فوكونزا فيال لفترات زمنية طويلة.
تعرضك لحروق الشمس أو رد فعل شديد بالجلد بعد التعرض للضوء أو الشمس بشكل متكرر عند الأطفال. إذا أصيبت أنت أو طفلك باضطرابات جلدية، فقد يحولك طبيبك إلى طبيب أمراض جلدية، والذي بعد التشاور قد يقرر أنه من المهم لك أو لطفلك أن يتم رؤيتك بشكل منتظم. وقد لوحظت أيضا حالات ارتفاع في أنزيمات الكبد بمعدلات أكثر عند الأطفال.
إذا استمرت أي من هذه الآثار الجانبية أو كانت مزعجة، فيرجى إخبار طبيبك.
الإبلاغ عن الآثار الجانبية:
إذا زادت حدة أي من هذه الأعراض الجانبية، أو لاحظت ظهور أعراض جانبية غير ما تم ذكره في هذه النشرة، يرجى إبلاغ الطبيب المعالج أو الصيدلي. وهذا يشمل أي آثار جانبية محتملة غير مدرجة في هذه النشرة. يمكنك أيضا الإبلاغ عن الآثار الجانبية مباشرة (انظر التفاصيل أدناه). بالإبلاغ عن الآثار الجانبية يمكنك المساعدة في توفير مزيد من المعلومات حول أمان هذا الدواء.
دول مجلس التعاون الخليجي الأخرى: يرجى الاتصال بالسلطة الصحية المختصة. |
· يحفظ هذا الدواء عند درجة حرارة أقل من 30 درجة مئوية.
· يحفظ هذا الدواء في العبوة الأصلية للحماية من الرطوبة.
· يحفظ بعيدا عن متناول أيدي الأطفال أو على مرأى منهم.
· لا تستخدم فوكونزا فيال للحقن بعد انتهاء تاريخ الصلاحية المذكور على العبوة الخارجية. يشير تاريخ انتهاء الصلاحية إلى آخر يوم في الشهر.
كيفية إعداد وتجهيز المحلول للتنقيط الوريدي:
المحلول المعد للتسريب الوريدي: يجب استخدام المنتج على الفور. يتم الإعداد وفقًا للتوجيهات، تم التحقق من الثبات الكيميائي والفيزيائي للمحلول المعد للتسريب الوريدي فوكونزا فيال للحقن لمدة 24 ساعة عند درجة حرارة مبردة.
هذا الدواء للاستخدام مرة واحدة فقط. يجب التخلص من أي محلول غير مستخدم وفقًا للمتطلبات المحلية.
لا تتخلص من أي أدوية عن طريق مياه الصرف الصحي أو النفايات المنزلية. اسأل الصيدلي عن كيفية التخلص من الأدوية التي لم تعد تستخدمها. هذه التدابير سوف تساعد في حماية البيئة.
ما تحتويه فوكونزا فيال للحقن
المادة الفعالة هي فوريكونازول (شكل I).
تحتوي كل قارورة على 200 ملغم من فوريكونازول المتوافق مع دستور الأدوية الأوروبي.
الصواغات الأخرى هي: بيتاديكس سلفوبيوتيل إيثر الصوديوم، الماء المعد للحقن
ما هو شكل فوكونزا فيال للحقن ومحتويات العلبة؟
مسحوق مجفف بالتبريد لونه أبيض إلى الأبيض القاتم، المسحوق متوافر في قارورة زجاجية أنبوبية الشكل شفافة من النوع الأول سعة 25 مل ومتوافقة مع دستور الأدوية الأمريكي مع سدادة مطاطية رمادية اللون 20 ملم من البروموبيوتيل وسداده أمان 20 ملم لونها أزرق أرجواني
توافر فوكونزا فيال للحقن:
يتوافر فوكونزا في فيال للحقن (قارورة زجاجية).
شركة أماروكس السعودية للصناعة
شارع الجامعة – الملز – الرياض 11441
المملكة العربية السعودية.
تليفون: + 966 114772215
Voriconazole Injection is a broad-spectrum, triazole antifungal agent and is indicated in adults and children aged 2 years and above as follows:
Treatment of invasive aspergillosis.
Treatment of candidaemia in non-neutropenic patients.
Treatment of fluconazole-resistant serious invasive Candida infections (including C. krusei).
Treatment of serious fungal infections caused by Scedosporium spp. and Fusarium spp.
Voriconazole Pfizer should be administered primarily to patients with progressive, possibly lifethreatening infections.
Prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in high risk allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients.
Posology
Electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia should be monitored and corrected, if necessary, prior to initiation and during voriconazole therapy (see section
4.4).
It is recommended that Voriconazole Pfizer is administered at a maximum rate of 3 mg/kg per hour over 1 to 3 hours.
Voriconazole Pfizer is also available as 50 mg and 200 mg film-coated tablets and 40 mg/ml powder for oral suspension.
Treatment
Adults
Therapy must be initiated with the specified loading dose regimen of either intravenous or oral Voriconazole Pfizer to achieve plasma concentrations on Day 1 that are close to steady state. On the basis of the high oral bioavailability (96%; see section 5.2), switching between intravenous and oral administration is appropriate when clinically indicated.
Detailed information on dosage recommendations is provided in the following table:
| Intravenous | Oral | |
Patients 40 kg and above* | Patients less than 40 kg* | ||
Loading dose regimen (first 24 hours) | 6 mg/kg every 12 hours | 400 mg every 12 hours | 200 mg every 12 hours |
Maintenance dose (after first 24 hours) | 4 mg/kg twice daily | 200 mg twice daily | 100 mg twice daily |
*This also applies to patients aged 15 years and older.
Duration of treatment
Treatment duration should be as short as possible depending on the patient's clinical and mycological response. Long term exposure to voriconazole greater than 180 days (6 months) requires careful assessment of the benefit-risk balance (see sections 4.4 and 5.1).
Dosage adjustment (Adults)
If patient is unable to tolerate intravenous treatment at 4 mg/kg twice daily, reduce the dose to 3 mg/kg twice daily.
If patient response to treatment is inadequate, the maintenance dose may be increased to 300 mg twice daily for oral administration. For patients less than 40 kg the oral dose may be increased to 150 mg twice daily.
If patient is unable to tolerate treatment at a higher dose reduce the oral dose by 50 mg steps to the 200 mg twice daily (or 100 mg twice daily for patients less than 40 kg) maintenance dose.
In case of use as prophylaxis, refer below.
Children (2 to <12 years) and young adolescents with low body weight (12 to 14 years and <50 kg)
Voriconazole should be dosed as children as these young adolescents may metabolize voriconazole more similarly to children than to adults.
The recommended dosing regimen is as follows:
| Intravenous | Oral |
Loading Dose Regimen (first 24 hours) | 9 mg/kg every 12 hours | Not recommended |
Maintenance Dose (after first 24 hours) | 8 mg/kg twice daily | 9 mg/kg twice daily (a maximum dose of 350 mg twice daily) |
Note: Based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis in 112 immunocompromised Paediatric patients aged 2 to <12 years and 26 immunocompromised adolescents aged 12 to <17 years.
It is recommended to initiate the therapy with intravenous regimen, and oral regimen should be considered only after there is a significant clinical improvement. It should be noted that an 8 mg/kg intravenous dose will provide voriconazole exposure approximately 2-fold higher than a 9 mg/kg oral dose.
All other adolescents (12 to 14 years and ≥50 kg; 15 to 17 years regardless of body weight)
Voriconazole should be dosed as adults.
Dosage adjustment (Children [2 to <12 years] and young adolescents with low body weight [12 to 14 years and <50 kg])
If patient response to treatment is inadequate, the intravenous dose may be increased by 1 mg/kg steps. If a patient is unable to tolerate treatment, reduce the intravenous dose by 1 mg/kg steps.
Use in Paediatric patients aged 2 to <12 years with hepatic or renal insufficiency has not been studied (see sections 4.8 and 5.2).
Prophylaxis in Adults and Children
Prophylaxis should be initiated on the day of transplant and may be administered for up to 100 days. Prophylaxis should be as short as possible depending on the risk for developing invasive fungal infection (IFI) as defined by neutropenia or immunosuppression. It may only be continued up to 180 days after transplantation in case of continuing immunosuppression or graft versus host disease (GvHD) (see section 5.1).
Dosage
The recommended dosing regimen for prophylaxis is the same as for treatment in the respective age groups. Please refer to the treatment tables above. Duration of prophylaxis
The safety and efficacy of voriconazole use for longer than 180 days has not been adequately studied in clinical trials.
Use of voriconazole in prophylaxis for greater than 180 days (6 months) requires careful assessment of the benefit-risk balance (see sections 4.4 and 5.1).
The following instructions apply to both Treatment and Prophylaxis
Dosage adjustment
For prophylaxis use, dose adjustments are not recommended in the case of lack of efficacy or treatment-related adverse events. In the case of treatment-related adverse events, discontinuation of voriconazole and use of alternative antifungal agents must be considered (see section 4.4 and 4.8) Dosage adjustments in case of co-administration
Rifabutin or phenytoin may be coadministered with voriconazole if the maintenance dose of voriconazole is increased to 5 mg/kg intravenously twice daily, see sections 4.4 and 4.5.
Efavirenz may be coadministered with voriconazole if the maintenance dose of voriconazole is increased to 400 mg every 12 hours and the efavirenz dose is reduced by 50%, i.e. to 300 mg once daily. When treatment with voriconazole is stopped, the initial dosage of efavirenz should be restored (see sections 4.4 and 4.5). Elderly
No dose adjustment is necessary for elderly patients (see section 5.2).
Renal impairment
In patients with moderate to severe renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance < 50 ml/min), accumulation of the intravenous vehicle, SBECD, occurs. Oral voriconazole should be administered to these patients, unless an assessment of the risk benefit to the patient justifies the use of intravenous voriconazole. Serum creatinine levels should be closely monitored in these patients and, if increases occur, consideration should be given to changing to oral voriconazole therapy (see section 5.2).
Voriconazole is haemodialysed with a clearance of 121 ml/min. A 4-hour haemodialysis session does not remove a sufficient amount of voriconazole to warrant dose adjustment.
The intravenous vehicle, SBECD, is haemodialysed with a clearance of 55 ml/min.
Hepatic impairment
It is recommended that the standard loading dose regimens be used but that the maintenance dose be halved in patients with mild to moderate hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A and B) receiving voriconazole (see section 5.2).
Voriconazole has not been studied in patients with severe chronic hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C).
There is limited data on the safety of Voriconazole Pfizer in patients with abnormal liver function tests (aspartate transaminase [AST], alanine transaminase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], or total bilirubin >5 times the upper limit of normal).
Voriconazole has been associated with elevations in liver function tests and clinical signs of liver damage, such as jaundice, and must only be used in patients with severe hepatic impairment if the benefit outweighs the potential risk. Patients with severe hepatic impairment must be carefully monitored for drug toxicity (see section 4.8). Paediatric population
The safety and efficacy of Voriconazole Pfizer in children below 2 years has not been established. Currently available data are described in sections 4.8 and 5.1 but no recommendation on a posology can be made.
Method of administration
Voriconazole Pfizer requires reconstitution and dilution (see section 6.6) prior to administration as an intravenous infusion. Not for bolus injection.
Hypersensitivity
Caution should be used in prescribing Voriconazole Pfizer to patients with hypersensitivity to other azoles (see also section 4.8).
Duration of treatment
The duration of treatment with the intravenous formulation should be no longer than 6 months (see section 5.3).
Cardiovascular
Voriconazole has been associated with QTc interval prolongation. There have been rare cases of torsades de pointes in patients taking voriconazole who had risk factors, such as history of cardiotoxic chemotherapy, cardiomyopathy, hypokalaemia and concomitant medicinal products that may have been contributory. Voriconazole should be administered with caution to patients with potentially proarrhythmic conditions, such as:
• Congenital or acquired QTc-prolongation.
• Cardiomyopathy, in particular when heart failure is present.
• Sinus bradycardia.
• Existing symptomatic arrhythmias.
• Concomitant medicinal product that is known to prolong QTc interval. Electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia should be monitored and corrected, if necessary, prior to initiation and during voriconazole therapy (see section 4.2). A study has been conducted in healthy volunteers which examined the effect on QTc interval of single doses of voriconazole up to 4 times the usual daily dose. No subject experienced an interval exceeding the potentially clinically relevant threshold of 500 msec (see section 5.1).
Infusion-related reactions
Infusion-related reactions, predominantly flushing and nausea, have been observed during administration of the intravenous formulation of voriconazole. Depending on the severity of symptoms, consideration should be given to stopping treatment (see section 4.8).
Hepatic toxicity
In clinical trials, there have been cases of serious hepatic reactions during treatment with voriconazole (including clinical hepatitis, cholestasis and fulminant hepatic failure, including fatalities). Instances of hepatic reactions were noted to occur primarily in patients with serious underlying medical conditions (predominantly haematological malignancy). Transient hepatic reactions, including hepatitis and jaundice, have occurred among patients with no other identifiable risk factors. Liver dysfunction has usually been reversible on discontinuation of therapy (see section
4.8).
Monitoring of hepatic function
Patients receiving Voriconazole Pfizer must be carefully monitored for hepatic toxicity. Clinical management should include laboratory evaluation of hepatic function (specifically AST and ALT) at the initiation of treatment with Voriconazole Pfizer and at least weekly for the first month of treatment. Treatment duration should be as short as possible; however, if based on the benefit-risk assessment the treatment is continued (see section 4.2), monitoring frequency can be reduced to monthly if there are no changes in the liver function tests.
If the liver function tests become markedly elevated, Voriconazole Pfizer should be discontinued, unless the medical judgment of the risk-benefit of the treatment for the patient justifies continued use.
Monitoring of hepatic function should be carried out in both children and adults.
Serious dermatological adverse reactions
• Phototoxicity
In addition Voriconazole Pfizer has been associated with phototoxicity including reactions such as ephelides, lentigo, actinic keratosis and pseudoporphyria. It is recommended that all patients, including children, avoid exposure to direct sunlight during Voriconazole Pfizer treatment and use measures such as protective clothing and sunscreen with high sun protection factor (SPF).
• Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC)
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin has been reported in patients, some of whom have reported prior phototoxic reactions. If phototoxic reactions occur multidisciplinary advice should be sought, Voriconazole Pfizer discontinuation and use of alternative antifungal agents should be considered and the patient should be referred to a dermatologist. If Voriconazole Pfizer is continued, however, dermatologic evaluation should be performed on a systematic and regular basis, to allow early detection and management of premalignant lesions. Voriconazole Pfizer should be discontinued if premalignant skin lesions or squamous cell carcinoma are identified (see below the section under Long-term treatment).
• Exfoliative cutaneous reactions
Severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), which can be life-threatening or fatal, have been reported with the use of voriconazole. If a patient develops a rash he should be monitored closely and Voriconazole Pfizer discontinued if lesions progress.
Long-term treatment
Long term exposure (treatment or prophylaxis) greater than 180 days (6 months) requires careful assessment of the benefit-risk balance and physicians should therefore consider the need to limit the exposure to Voriconazole Pfizer (see sections 4.2 and 5.1).
Squamous cell carcinoma of the skin (SCC) has been reported in relation with long-term Voriconazole Pfizer treatment.
Non-infectious periostitis with elevated fluoride and alkaline phosphatase levels has been reported in transplant patients. If a patient develops skeletal pain and radiologic findings compatible with periostitis Voriconazole Pfizer discontinuation should be considered after multidisciplinary advice.
Visual adverse reactions
There have been reports of prolonged visual adverse reactions, including blurred vision, optic neuritis and papilloedema (see section 4.8).
Renal adverse reactions
Acute renal failure has been observed in severely ill patients undergoing treatment with Voriconazole Pfizer. Patients being treated with voriconazole are likely to be treated concomitantly with nephrotoxic medicinal products and have concurrent conditions that may result in decreased renal function (see section 4.8).
Monitoring of renal function
Patients should be monitored for the development of abnormal renal function. This should include laboratory evaluation, particularly serum creatinine.
Monitoring of pancreatic function
Patients, especially children, with risk factors for acute pancreatitis (e.g., recent chemotherapy, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation [HSCT], should be monitored closely during Voriconazole
Pfizer treatment. Monitoring of serum amylase or lipase may be considered in this clinical situation.
Paediatric population
Safety and effectiveness in paediatric subjects below the age of two years has not been established (see sections 4.8 and 5.1). Voriconazole is indicated for paediatric patients aged two years or older. A higher frequency of liver enzyme elevations was observed in the paediatric population (see section 4.8). Hepatic function should be monitored in both children and adults. Oral bioavailability may be limited in paediatric patients aged 2 to <12 years with malabsorption and very low body weight for age. In that case, intravenous voriconazole administration is recommended.
• Serious dermatological adverse reactions (including SCC)
The frequency of phototoxicity reactions is higher in the paediatric population. As an evolution towards SCC has been reported, stringent measures for the photoprotection are warranted in this population of patients. In children experiencing photoaging injuries such as lentigines or ephelides, sun avoidance and dermatologic follow-up are recommended even after treatment discontinuation.
Prophylaxis
In case of treatment-related adverse events (hepatotoxicity, severe skin reactions including phototoxicity and SCC, severe or prolonged visual disorders and periostitis), discontinuation of voriconazole and use of alternative antifungal agents must be considered.
Phenytoin (CYP2C9 substrate and potent CYP450 inducer)
Careful monitoring of phenytoin levels is recommended when phenytoin is coadministered with voriconazole. Concomitant use of voriconazole and phenytoin should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the risk (see section 4.5).
Efavirenz (CYP450 inducer; CYP3A4 inhibitor and substrate)
When voriconazole is coadministered with efavirenz the dose of voriconazole should be increased to 400 mg every 12 hours and the dose of efavirenz should be decreased to 300 mg every 24 hours (see sections 4.2, 4.3 and 4.5).
Rifabutin (potent CYP450 inducer)
Careful monitoring of full blood counts and adverse reactions to rifabutin(e.g., uveitis) is recommended when rifabutin is coadministered with voriconazole. Concomitant use of voriconazole and rifabutin should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the risk (see section 4.5).
Ritonavir (potent CYP450 inducer; CYP3A4 inhibitor and substrate)
Coadministration of voriconazole and low-dose ritonavir (100 mg twice daily) should be avoided unless an assessment of the benefit/risk to the patient justifies the use of voriconazole (see sections
4.3 and 4.5).
Everolimus (CYP3A4 substrate, P-gp substrate)
Coadministration of voriconazole with everolimus is not recommended because voriconazole is expected to significantly increase everolimus concentrations. Currently there are insufficient data to allow dosing recommendations in this situation (see section 4.5).
Methadone (CYP3A4 substrate)
Frequent monitoring for adverse reactions and toxicity related to methadone, including QTc prolongation, is recommended when coadministered with voriconazole since methadone levels increased following coadministration of voriconazole. Dose reduction of methadone may be needed (see section 4.5).
Short-acting opiates (CYP3A4 substrate)
Reduction in the dose of alfentanil, fentanyl and other short-acting opiates similar in structure to alfentanil and metabolised by CYP3A4 (e.g., sufentanil) should be considered when coadministered with voriconazole (see section 4.5). As the half-life of alfentanil is prolonged in a 4-fold manner when alfentanil is coadministered with voriconazole, and in an independent published study concomitant use of voriconazole with fentanyl resulted in an increase in the mean AUC0-∞ of fentanyl, frequent monitoring for opiate-associated adverse reactions (including a longer respiratory monitoring period) may be necessary.
Long-acting opiates (CYP3A4 substrate)
Reduction in the dose of oxycodone and other long-acting opiates metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., hydrocodone) should be considered when coadministered with voriconazole. Frequent monitoring for opiate-associated adverse reactions may be necessary (see section 4.5).
Fluconazole (CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 inhibitor)
Coadministration of oral voriconazole and oral fluconazole resulted in a significant increase in Cmax and AUC of voriconazole in healthy subjects. The reduced dose and/or frequency of voriconazole and fluconazole that would eliminate this effect have not been established. Monitoring for voriconazole-associated adverse reactions is recommended if voriconazole is used sequentially after fluconazole (see section 4.5).
Sodium content
Each vial of Voriconazole Pfizer contains 217.6 mg of sodium. This should be taken into consideration for patients on a controlled sodium diet
Voriconazole is metabolised by, and inhibits the activity of, cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4. Inhibitors or inducers of these isoenzymes may increase or decrease voriconazole plasma concentrations, respectively, and there is potential for voriconazole to increase the plasma concentrations of substances metabolised by these CYP450 isoenzymes.
Unless otherwise specified, drug interaction studies have been performed in healthy adult male subjects using multiple dosing to steady state with oral voriconazole at 200 mg twice daily (BID). These results are relevant to other populations and routes of administration.
Voriconazole should be administered with caution in patients with concomitant medication that is known to prolong QTc interval. When there is also a potential for voriconazole to increase the plasma concentrations of substances metabolised by CYP3A4 isoenzymes (certain antihistamines, quinidine, cisapride, pimozide), coadministration is contraindicated (see below and section 4.3).
Interaction table
Interactions between voriconazole and other medicinal products are listed in the table below (once daily as “QD”, twice daily as “BID”, three times daily as “TID” and not determined as “ND”). The direction of the arrow for each pharmacokinetic parameter is based on the 90% confidence interval of the geometric mean ratio being within (↔), below (↓) or above (↑) the 80-125% range. The asterisk (*) indicates a two-way interaction. AUC, AUCt and AUC0-∞ represent area under the curve over a dosing interval, from time zero to the time with detectable measurement and from time zero to infinity, respectively.
The interactions in the table are presented in the following order: contraindications, those requiring dose adjustment and careful clinical and/or biological monitoring, and finally those that have no significant pharmacokinetic interaction but may be of clinical interest in this therapeutic field.
Medicinal product [Mechanism of interaction] | Interaction Geometric mean changes (%) | Recommendations concerning coadministration |
Astemizole, cisapride, pimozide, quinidine and terfenadine [CYP3A4 substrates] | Although not studied, increased plasma concentrations of these medicinal products can lead to QTc prolongation and rare occurrences of torsades de pointes. | Contraindicated (see section 4.3) |
Carbamazepine and long-acting barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbital, mephobarbital) [potent CYP450 inducers] | Although not studied, carbamazepine and long-acting barbiturates are likely to significantly decrease plasma voriconazole concentrations. | Contraindicated(see section 4.3) |
Efavirenz (a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) [CYP450 inducer; CYP3A4 inhibitor and substrate] Efavirenz 400 mg QD, coadministered with voriconazole 200 mg BID*
Efavirenz 300 mg QD, |
Efavirenz Cmax↑ 38% Efavirenz AUC↑ 44% Voriconazole Cmax↓ 61% Voriconazole AUC↓ 77% Compared to efavirenz 600 mg QD, Efavirenz Cmax ↔ Efavirenz AUC↑ 17% |
Use of standard doses of voriconazole with efavirenz doses of 400 mg QD or higher is contraindicated (see section 4.3).
Voriconazole may be coadministered with efavirenz if |
coadministered with voriconazole 400 mg BID* | Compared to voriconazole 200 mg BID, Voriconazole Cmax↑ 23% Voriconazole AUC↓ 7% | the voriconazole maintenance dose is increased to 400 mg BID and the efavirenz dose is decreased to 300 mg QD. When voriconazole treatment is stopped, the initial dose of efavirenz should be restored (see section 4.2 and 4.4). | |
Ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine and dihydroergotamine) [CYP3A4 substrates] | Although not studied, voriconazole is likely to increase the plasma concentrations of ergot alkaloids and lead to ergotism. | Contraindicated (see section 4.3) | |
Rifabutin [potent CYP450 inducer] 300 mg QD 300 mg QD (coadministered with voriconazole 350 mg BID)* 300 mg QD (coadministered with voriconazole 400 mg BID)* | Voriconazole Cmax↓ 69% Voriconazole AUC↓ 78% Compared to voriconazole 200 mg BID, Voriconazole Cmax↓ 4% Voriconazole AUC↓ 32% Rifabutin Cmax↑ 195% Rifabutin AUC ↑ 331% Compared to voriconazole 200 mg BID, Voriconazole Cmax↑ 104% Voriconazole AUC↑ 87% | Concomitant use of voriconazole and rifabutin unless the benefit outweighs the risk. The maintenance voriconazole may be increased to 5 mg/kg intravenously BID or from 200 mg to 350 mg orally BID (100 mg to 200 mg orally BID in patients less than 40 kg) (see section 4.2). Careful monitoring of full blood counts and adverse reactions to | should be avoided dose of |
|
| rifabutin (e.g., uveitis) is recommended when rifabutin is coadministered with voriconazole. |
Rifampicin (600 mg QD) [potent CYP450 inducer] | Voriconazole Cmax↓ 93% Voriconazole AUC↓ 96% | Contraindicated(see section 4.3) |
Ritonavir (protease inhibitor) [potent CYP450 inducer; CYP3A4 inhibitor and substrate] High-dose (400 mg BID) Low-dose (100 mg BID)* | Ritonavir Cmax and AUC ↔ Voriconazole Cmax↓ 66% Voriconazole AUC↓ 82% Ritonavir Cmax↓ 25% Ritonavir AUC ↓13% Voriconazole Cmax↓ 24% Voriconazole AUC↓ 39% | Coadministration of voriconazole and high doses of ritonavir (400 mg and above BID) is contraindicated (see section 4.3). Coadministration of voriconazole and low-dose ritonavir (100 mg BID) should be avoided unless an assessment of the benefit/risk to the patient justifies the use of voriconazole. |
St. John's Wort [CYP450 inducer; P-gp inducer] 300 mg TID (coadministered with voriconazole 400 mg single dose) | In an independent published study, Voriconazole AUC0-∞↓ 59% | Contraindicated(see section 4.3) |
Everolimus [CYP3A4 substrate, P-gp substrate] | Although not studied, voriconazole is likely to significantly increase the plasma concentrations of everolimus. | Coadministration of voriconazole with everolimus is not recommended because voriconazole is expected to significantly increase everolimus concentrations (see section 4.4). |
Fluconazole (200 mg QD) [CYP2C9, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 inhibitor] | Voriconazole Cmax↑ 57% Voriconazole AUC↑ 79% Fluconazole Cmax ND Fluconazole AUC ND | The reduced dose and/or frequency of voriconazole and fluconazole that would eliminate this effect have not been established. Monitoring for voriconazole-associated adverse |
|
| reactions is recommended if voriconazole is used sequentially after fluconazole. |
Phenytoin [CYP2C9 substrate and potent CYP450 inducer] 300 mg QD 300 mg QD (coadministered with voriconazole 400 mg BID)* | Voriconazole Cmax↓ 49% Voriconazole AUC↓ 69% Phenytoin Cmax↑ 67% Phenytoin AUC ↑ 81% Compared to voriconazole 200 mg BID, Voriconazole Cmax↑34% Voriconazole AUC↑ 39% | Concomitant use of voriconazole and phenytoin should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs the risk. Careful monitoring of phenytoin plasma levels is recommended. Phenytoin may be coadministered with voriconazole if the maintenance dose of voriconazole is increased to 5 mg/kg IV BID or from 200 mg to 400 mg oral BID (100 mg to 200 mg oral BID in patients less than 40 kg) (see section 4.2). |
Anticoagulants Warfarin (30 mg single dose, coadministered with 300 mg BID voriconazole) [CYP2C9 substrate] Other oral coumarins (e.g., phenprocoumon, acenocoumarol) [CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 substrates] | Maximum increase in prothrombin time was approximately 2-fold. Although not studied, voriconazole may increase the plasma concentrations of coumarins that may cause an increase in prothrombin time. | Close monitoring of prothrombin time or other suitable anticoagulation tests is recommended, and the dose of anticoagulants should be adjusted accordingly. |
Benzodiazepines (e.g., midazolam, | Although not studied clinically, | Dose reduction of |
triazolam, alprazolam) [CYP3A4 substrates] | voriconazole is likely to increase the plasma concentrations of benzodiazepines that are metabolised by CYP3A4 and lead to a prolonged sedative effect. | benzodiazepines should be considered. |
Immunosuppressants [CYP3A4 substrates] Sirolimus (2 mg single dose) Ciclosporin (in stable renal transplant recipients receiving chronic ciclosporin therapy) Tacrolimus (0.1 mg/kg single dose) | In an independent published study, Sirolimus Cmax↑ 6.6-fold SirolimusAUC0-∞↑ 11-fold Ciclosporin Cmax↑ 13% Ciclosporin AUC↑ 70% Tacrolimus Cmax↑ 117% TacrolimusAUCt↑ 221% | Coadministration of voriconazole and sirolimus is contraindicated (see section 4.3). When initiating voriconazole in patients already on ciclosporin it is recommended that the ciclosporin dose be halved and ciclosporin level carefully monitored. Increased ciclosporin levels have been associated with nephrotoxicity. When voriconazole is discontinued, ciclosporin levels must be carefully monitored and the dose increased as necessary. When initiating voriconazole in patients already on tacrolimus, it is recommended that the tacrolimus dose be reduced to a third of the original dose and tacrolimus level carefully monitored. Increased tacrolimus levels have been associated with nephrotoxicity. |
|
| When voriconazole is discontinued, tacrolimus levels must be carefully monitored and the dose increased as necessary. |
Long-acting Opiates [CYP3A4 substrates] Oxycodone (10 mg single dose) | In an independent published study, Oxycodone Cmax↑ 1.7-fold Oxycodone AUC0-∞↑ 3.6-fold | Dose reduction in oxycodone and other long-acting opiates metabolized by CYP3A4 (e.g., hydrocodone) should be considered. Frequent monitoring for opiate-associated adverse reactions may be necessary. |
Methadone (32-100 mg QD) [CYP3A4 substrate] | R-methadone (active) Cmax↑ 31% R-methadone (active) AUC↑ 47% S-methadone Cmax↑ 65% S-methadone AUC ↑ 103% | Frequent monitoring for adverse reactions and toxicity related to methadone, including QTc prolongation, is recommended. Dose reduction of methadone may be needed. |
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) [CYP2C9 substrates] Ibuprofen (400 mg single dose) Diclofenac(50 mg single dose) | S-Ibuprofen Cmax↑ 20% S-Ibuprofen AUC0-∞↑ 100% Diclofenac Cmax↑ 114% Diclofenac AUC0-∞↑ 78% | Frequent monitoring for adverse reactions and toxicity related to NSAIDs is recommended. Dose reduction of NSAIDs may be needed. |
Omeprazole (40 mg QD)* [CYP2C19 inhibitor; CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 substrate] | Omeprazole Cmax↑ 116% Omeprazole AUC↑ 280% Voriconazole Cmax↑ 15% Voriconazole AUC↑ 41% Other proton pump inhibitors that are CYP2C19 substrates may also | No dose adjustment of voriconazole is recommended. When initiating voriconazole in patients already receiving omeprazole doses of 40 mg or above, it is recommended that the |
| be inhibited by voriconazole and may result in increased plasma concentrations of these medicinal products. | omeprazole dose be halved. |
Oral Contraceptives* [CYP3A4 substrate; CYP2C19 inhibitor] Norethisterone/ethinylestradiol (1 mg/0.035 mg QD) | Ethinylestradiol Cmax↑ 36% Ethinylestradiol AUC↑ 61% Norethisterone Cmax↑ 15% Norethisterone AUC↑ 53% Voriconazole Cmax↑ 14% Voriconazole AUC↑ 46% | Monitoring for adverse reactions related to oral contraceptives, in addition to those for voriconazole, is recommended. |
Short-acting Opiates [CYP3A4 substrates] Alfentanil (20 μg/kg single dose, with concomitant naloxone) Fentanyl (5 μg/kg single dose) | In an independent published study, Alfentanil AUC0-∞↑ 6-fold In an independent published study, Fentanyl AUC0-∞↑ 1.34-fold | Dose reduction of alfentanil, fentanyl and other short-acting opiates similar in structure to alfentanil and metabolised by CYP3A4 (e.g., sufentanil) should be considered. Extended and frequent monitoring for respiratory depression and other opiate-associated adverse reactions is recommended. |
Statins (e.g., lovastatin) [CYP3A4 substrates] | Although not studied clinically, voriconazole is likely to increase the plasma concentrations of statins that are metabolised by CYP3A4 and could lead to rhabdomyolysis. | Dose reduction of statins should be considered. |
Sulfonylureas (e.g., tolbutamide, glipizide, glyburide) [CYP2C9 substrates] | Although not studied, voriconazole is likely to increase the plasma concentrations of sulfonylureas and | Careful monitoring of blood glucose is recommended. Dose reduction of sulfonylureas should |
| cause hypoglycaemia. | be considered. |
Vinca Alkaloids (e.g., vincristine and vinblastine) [CYP3A4 substrates] | Although not studied, voriconazole is likely to increase the plasma concentrations of vinca alkaloids and lead to neurotoxicity. | Dose reduction of vinca alkaloids should be considered. |
Other HIV Protease Inhibitors (e.g., saquinavir, amprenavir and nelfinavir)* [CYP3A4 substrates and inhibitors] | Not studied clinically. In vitro studies show that voriconazole may inhibit the metabolism of HIV protease inhibitors and the metabolism of voriconazole may also be inhibited by HIV protease inhibitors. | Careful monitoring for any occurrence of drug toxicity and/or lack of efficacy, and dose adjustment may be needed. |
Other Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) (e.g., delavirdine, nevirapine)* [CYP3A4 substrates, inhibitors or CYP450 inducers] | Not studied clinically. In vitro studies show that the metabolism of voriconazole may be inhibited by NNRTIs and voriconazole may inhibit the metabolism of NNRTIs. The findings of the effect of efavirenz on voriconazole suggest that the metabolism of voriconazole may be induced by an NNRTI. | Careful monitoring for any occurrence of drug toxicity and/or lack of efficacy, and dose adjustment may be needed. |
Cimetidine (400 mg BID) [non-specific CYP450 inhibitor and increases gastric pH] | Voriconazole Cmax↑ 18% Voriconazole AUC↑ 23% | No dose adjustment |
Digoxin (0.25 mg QD) [P-gp substrate] | Digoxin Cmax ↔ Digoxin AUC ↔ | No dose adjustment |
Indinavir (800 mg TID) | Indinavir Cmax ↔ | No dose adjustment |
[CYP3A4 inhibitor and substrate] | Indinavir AUC ↔ Voriconazole Cmax ↔ Voriconazole AUC ↔ |
|
Macrolide antibiotics Erythromycin (1 g BID) [CYP3A4 inhibitor] Azithromycin (500 mg QD) | Voriconazole Cmax and AUC ↔ Voriconazole Cmax and AUC ↔ The effect of voriconazole on either erythromycin or azithromycin is unknown. | No dose adjustment |
Mycophenolic acid (1 g single dose) [UDP-glucuronyl transferase substrate] | Mycophenolic acid Cmax ↔ Mycophenolic acid AUCt ↔ | No dose adjustment |
Prednisolone (60 mg single dose) [CYP3A4 substrate] | Prednisolone Cmax↑ 11% Prednisolone AUC0-∞↑ 34% | No dose adjustment |
Ranitidine (150 mg BID) [increases gastric pH] | Voriconazole Cmax and AUC ↔ | No dose adjustment |
Pregnancy
There are no adequate data on the use of Voriconazole Pfizer in pregnant women available.
Studies in animals have shown reproductive toxicity (see section 5.3). The potential risk for humans is unknown.
Voriconazole Pfizer must not be used during pregnancy unless the benefit to the mother clearly outweighs the potential risk to the foetus.
Women of child-bearing potential
Women of child-bearing potential must always use effective contraception during treatment.
Breast-feeding
The excretion of voriconazole into breast milk has not been investigated. Breast-feeding must be stopped on initiation of treatment with Voriconazole Pfizer.
Fertility
In an animal study, no impairment of fertility was demonstrated in male and female rats (see section
5.3).
Voriconazole Pfizer has moderate influence on the ability to drive and use machines. It may cause transient and reversible changes to vision, including blurring, altered/enhanced visual perception and/or photophobia. Patients must avoid potentially hazardous tasks, such as driving or operating machinery while experiencing these symptoms
Summary of safety profile
The safety profile of voriconazole in adults is based on an integrated safety database of more than 2,000 subjects (including 1,603 adult patients in therapeutic trials) and an additional 270 adults in prophylaxis trials. This represents a heterogeneous population, containing patients with hematological malignancy, HIV-infected patients with esophageal candidiasis and refractory fungal infections, non-neutropenic patients with candidaemia or aspergillosis and healthy volunteers.
The most commonly reported adverse reactions were visual impairment, pyrexia, rash, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea, headache, peripheral oedema, liver function test abnormal, respiratory distress and abdominal pain.
The severity of the adverse reactions was generally mild to moderate. No clinically significant differences were seen when the safety data were analysed by age, race, or gender.
Tabulated list of adverse reactions
In the table below, since the majority of the studies were of an open nature, all causality adverse reactions and their frequency categories in 1,873 adults from pooled therapeutic (1,603) and prophylaxis (270) studies, by system organ class, are listed.
Frequency categories are expressed as: Very common (≥1/10); Common (≥1/100 to <1/10);
Uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100); Rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000); Very rare (<1/10,000); Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Within each frequency grouping, undesirable effects are presented in order of decreasing seriousness.
Undesirable effects reported in subjects receiving voriconazole:
System Organ Class | Very common ≥ 1/10 | Common ≥ 1/100 to < 1/10 | Uncommon ≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100 | Rare ≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000 | Frequency not known (cannot be estimated from available data) |
Infections and infestations |
| sinusitis | pseudomembranous colitis |
|
|
Neoplasms benign, malignant and unspecified (including cysts and polyps) |
|
|
|
| squamous cell carcinoma* |
Blood and lymphatic system disorders |
| agranulocytosis1, pancytopenia, thrombocytopenia2, leukopenia, anaemia | bone marrow failure, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia | disseminated intravascular coagulation |
|
Immune system disorders |
|
| hypersensitivity | anaphylactoid reaction |
|
Endocrine disorders |
|
| adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism | hyperthyroidism |
|
Metabolism and nutrition disorders | oedema peripheral | hypoglycaemia, hypokalaemia, hyponatraemia |
|
|
|
Psychiatric disorders |
| depression, hallucination, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, confusional state |
|
|
|
Nervous system disorders | headache | convulsion, syncope, tremor, hypertonia3, paraesthesia, somnolence, dizziness | brain oedema, encephalopathy4, extrapyramidal disorder5, neuropathy peripheral, ataxia, hypoaesthesia, dysgeusia | hepatic encephalopathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, nystagmus
|
|
Eye disorders | visual impairment6 | retinal haemorrhage | optic nerve disorder7, papilloedema8, oculogyric crisis, diplopia, scleritis, blepharitis | optic atrophy, corneal opacity
|
|
Ear labyrinth disorders | and |
|
| hypoacusis, vertigo, tinnitus |
|
| |
Cardiac disorders |
|
| arrhythmia supraventricular, tachycardia, bradycardia | ventricular fibrillation, ventricular extrasystoles, ventricular tachycardia, electrocardiogram QT prolonged, supraventricular tachycardia | torsades pointes, atrioventricular block comp bundle block, rhythm
| de lete, branch nodal |
|
Vascular disorders |
|
| hypotension, phlebitis | thrombophlebitis, lymphangitis |
|
|
|
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | respiratory distress9 | acute respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary oedema |
|
|
|
| |
Gastrointestinal disorders | diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea | cheilitis, dyspepsia, constipation, gingivitis | peritonitis, pancreatitis, swollen tongue, duodenitis, gastroenteritis, glossitis |
|
|
| |
Hepatobiliary disorders | liver function test abnormal | jaundice, jaundice cholestatic, | hepatic failure, hepatomegaly, |
|
|
|
| hepatitis10 | cholecystitis, cholelithiasis |
|
| |
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | rash | dermatitis exfoliative, alopecia, rash maculo-papular, pruritus, erythema | Stevens-Johnson syndrome8, phototoxicity, purpura, urticaria, dermatitis allergic, rash papular, rash macular, eczema | toxic epidermal necrolysis8, drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)8, angioedema, actinic keratosis*, pseudoporphyria erythema multiforme, psoriasis, drug eruption | cutaneous lupus erythematosus*, ephelides*, lentigo*
| |
Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders |
| back pain | arthritis |
| periostitis* | |
Renal and urinary disorders |
| renal failure acute, haematuria | renal tubular necrosis, proteinuria, nephritis |
|
| |
General disorders and administration | pyrexia
| chest pain, face oedema11, asthenia, chills | infusion site reaction, influenza like illness |
|
| |
site conditions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investigations |
| blood creatinine increased | blood increased, cholesterol increased | urea blood |
|
|
*ADR identified post-marketing
1
Includes febrile neutropenia and neutropenia.
2
Includes immune thrombocytopenic purpura.
3
Includes nuchal rigidity and tetany.
4
Includes hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and metabolic encephalopathy.
5
Includes akathisia and Parkinsonism.
6
See “Visual impairments” paragraph in section 4.8.
7
Prolonged optic neuritis has been reported post-marketing. See section 4.4.
8
See sections 4.4.
9
Includes dyspnoea and dyspnoea exertional.
10
Includes drug-induced liver injury, hepatitis toxic, hepatocellular injury and hepatotoxicity.
11
Includes per orbital oedema, lip oedema, and oedema mouth.
Description of selected adverse reactions
Visual impairments
In clinical trials, visual impairments (including blurred vision, photophobia, chloropsia, chromatopsia, colour blindness, cyanopsia, eye disorder, halo vision, night blindness, oscillopsia, photopsia, scintillating scotoma, visual acuity reduced, visual brightness, visual field defect, vitreous floaters, and xanthopsia) with voriconazole were very common. These visual impairments were transient and fully reversible, with the majority spontaneously resolving within 60 minutes and no clinically significant long-term visual effects were observed. There was evidence of attenuation with repeated doses of voriconazole. The visual impairments were generally mild, rarely resulted in discontinuation and were not associated with long-term sequelae. Visual impairments may be associated with higher plasma concentrations and/or doses.
The mechanism of action is unknown, although the site of action is most likely to be within the retina. In a study in healthy volunteers investigating the impact of voriconazole on retinal function, voriconazole caused a decrease in the electroretinogram (ERG) waveform amplitude. The ERG measures electrical currents in the retina. The ERG changes did not progress over 29 days of treatment and were fully reversible on withdrawal of voriconazole.
There have been post-marketing reports of prolonged visual adverse events (see Section 4.4).
Dermatological reactions
Dermatological reactions were very common in patients treated with voriconazole in clinical trials, but these patients had serious underlying diseases and were receiving multiple concomitant medicinal products. The majority of rashes were of mild to moderate severity. Patients have developed severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) (uncommon), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) (rare), drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) (rare) and erythema multiforme (rare) during treatment with Voriconazole Pfizer (see section 4.4).
If a patient develops a rash they should be monitored closely and Voriconazole Pfizer discontinued if lesions progress. Photosensitivity reactions such as ephelides, lentigo and actinic keratosis have been reported, especially during long-term therapy (see section 4.4).
There have been reports of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin in patients treated with Voriconazole Pfizer for long periods of time; the mechanism has not been established (see section 4.4).
Liver function tests
The overall incidence of transaminase increases >3 xULN (not necessarily comprising an adverse event) in the voriconazole clinical programme was 18.0 % (319/1,768) in adults and 25.8% (73/283) in paediatric subjects who received voriconazole for pooled therapeutic and prophylaxis use. Liver function test abnormalities may be associated with higher plasma concentrations and/or doses. The majority of abnormal liver function tests either resolved during treatment without dose adjustment or following dose adjustment, including discontinuation of therapy.
Voriconazole has been associated with cases of serious hepatic toxicity in patients with other serious underlying conditions. This includes cases of jaundice; hepatitis and hepatic failure leading to death (see section 4.4).
Infusion-related reactions
During infusion of the intravenous formulation of voriconazole in healthy subjects, anaphylactoidtype reactions, including flushing, fever, sweating, tachycardia, chest tightness, dyspnoea, faintness, nausea, pruritus and rash have occurred. Symptoms appeared immediately upon initiating the infusion (see section 4.4).
Prophylaxis
In an open-label, comparative, multicenter study comparing voriconazole and itraconazole as primary prophylaxis in adult and adolescent allogeneic HSCT recipients without prior proven or probable IFI, permanent discontinuation of voriconazole due to AEs was reported in 39.3% of subjects versus 39.6% of subjects in the itraconazole arm. Treatment-emergent hepatic AEs resulted in permanent discontinuation of study medication for 50 subjects (21.4%) treated with voriconazole and for 18 subjects (7.1%) treated with itraconazole.
Paediatric population
The safety of voriconazole was investigated in 288 paediatric patients aged 2 to <12 years (169) and 12 to <18 years (119) who received voriconazole for prophylaxis (183) and therapeutic use (105) in clinical trials. The safety of voriconazole was also investigated in 158 additional paediatric patients aged 2 to <12 years in compassionate use programs. Overall, the safety profile of voriconazole in paediatric population was similar to that in adults. However, a trend towards a higher frequency of liver enzyme elevations, reported as adverse events in clinical trials was observed in paediatric patients as compared to adults (14.2% transaminases increased in paediatrics compared to 5.3% in adults). Post-marketing data suggest there might be a higher occurrence of skin reactions (especially erythema) in the paediatric population compared to adults. In the 22 patients less than 2 years old who received voriconazole in a compassionate use programme, the following adverse reactions (for which a relationship to voriconazole could not be excluded) were reported: photosensitivity reaction
(1), arrhythmia (1), pancreatitis (1), blood bilirubin increased (1), hepatic enzymes increased (1), rash (1) and papilloedema (1). There have been post-marketing reports of pancreatitis in paediatric patients.
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly (see details below). By reporting side affects; you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
• Saudi Arabia:
The National Pharmacovigilance and Drug Safety Centre (NPC) |
o Other GCC States:
Please contact the relevant competent authority.
In clinical trials there were 3 cases of accidental overdose. All occurred in Paediatric patients, who received up to five times the recommended intravenous dose of voriconazole. A single adverse reaction of photophobia of 10 minutes duration was reported.
There is no known antidote to voriconazole.
Voriconazole is haemodialysed with a clearance of 121 ml/min. The intravenous vehicle, SBECD, is haemodialysed with a clearance of 55 ml/min. In an overdose, haemodialysis may assist in the removal of voriconazole and SBECD from the body.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antimycotics for systemic use, triazole derivatives, ATC code:
J02AC03
Mode of Action
Voriconazole is a triazole antifungal agent. The primary mode of action of voriconazole is the inhibition of fungal cytochrome P450-mediated 14 alpha-lanosterol demethylation, an essential step in fungal ergosterol biosynthesis. The accumulation of 14 alpha-methyl sterols correlates with the subsequent loss of ergosterol in the fungal cell membrane and may be responsible for the antifungal activity of voriconazole. Voriconazole has been shown to be more selective for fungal cytochrome P450 enzymes than for various mammalian cytochrome P-450 enzyme systems.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic Relationship
In 10 therapeutic studies, the median for the average and maximum plasma concentrations in individual subjects across the studies was 2425 ng/ml (inter-quartile range 1193 to 4380 ng/ml) and 3742 ng/ml (inter-quartile range 2027 to 6302 ng/ml), respectively. A positive association between mean, maximum or minimum plasma voriconazole concentration and efficacy in therapeutic studies was not found and this relationship has not been explored in prophylaxis studies.
Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic analyses of clinical trial data identified positive associations between plasma voriconazole concentrations and both liver function test abnormalities and visual disturbances. Dose adjustments in prophylaxis studies have not been explored.
Clinical efficacy and safety
In vitro, voriconazole displays broad-spectrum antifungal activity with antifungal potency against Candida species (including fluconazole resistant C. krusei and resistant strains of C. glabrata and C. albicans) and fungicidal activity against all Aspergillus species tested. In addition voriconazole shows in vitro fungicidal activity against emerging fungal pathogens, including those such as Scedosporium or Fusarium which have limited susceptibility to existing antifungal agents.
Clinical efficacy defined as partial or complete response, has been demonstrated for Aspergillus spp. including A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, A. niger, A. nidulans; Candida spp., including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis; and limited numbers of C. dubliniensis, C. inconspicua, and C. guilliermondii, Scedosporium spp., including S. apiospermum, S. prolificans; and Fusarium spp.
Other treated fungal infections (often with either partial or complete response, see below under
Clinical Experience) included isolated cases of Alternaria spp., Blastomyces dermatitidis, Blastoschizomyces capitatus, Cladosporium spp., Coccidioides immitis, Conidiobolus coronatus,
Cryptococcus neoformans, Exserohilum rostratum, Exophialas pinifera, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Madurella mycetomatis, Paecilomyces lilacinus, Penicillium spp. including P. marneffei, Phialophora richardsiae, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis and Trichosporon spp. including T. beigelii infections.
In vitro activity against clinical isolates has been observed for Acremonium spp., Alternaria spp., Bipolaris spp., Cladophialophora spp., and Histoplasma capsulatum, with most strains being inhibited by concentrations of voriconazole in the range 0.05 to 2 µg/ml.
In vitro activity against the following pathogens has been shown, but the clinical significance is unknown: Curvularia spp. and Sporothrix spp.
Breakpoints
Specimens for fungal culture and other relevant laboratory studies (serology, histopathology) should be obtained prior to therapy to isolate and identify causative organisms. Therapy may be instituted before the results of the cultures and other laboratory studies are known; however, once these results become available, anti-infective therapy should be adjusted accordingly.
The species most frequently involved in causing human infections include C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei, all of which usually exhibit minimal inhibitory concentration (MICs) of less than 1 mg/L for voriconazole.
However, the in vitro activity of voriconazole against Candida species is not uniform. Specifically, for C. glabrata, the MICs of voriconazole for fluconazole-resistant isolates are proportionally higher than are those of fluconazole-susceptible isolates. Therefore, every attempt should be made to identify Candida to species level. If antifungal susceptibility testing is available, the MIC results may
be interpreted using breakpoint criteria established by European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST).
EUCAST Breakpoints
Candida species | MIC breakpoint (mg/L) | |
>R (Resistant) | ||
Candida albicans1 | 0.125 | 0.125 |
Candida tropicalis1 | 0.125 | 0.125 |
Candida parapsilosis1 | 0.125 | 0.125 |
Candida glabrata2 | Insufficient evidence | |
Candida krusei3 | Insufficient evidence | |
Other Candida spp.4 | Insufficient evidence | |
1 Strains with MIC values above the Susceptible (S) breakpoint are rare, or not yet reported. The identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests on any such isolate must be repeated and if the result is confirmed the isolate sent to a reference laboratory. 2 C. glabrata infections was 21% lower In clinical studies, response to voriconazole in patients with compared to C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. In vitro data showed a slight increase of resistance of C. glabrata to voriconazole. 3 C. krusei infections was similar to C. albicans, C. In clinical studies, response to voriconazole in parapsilosis and C. tropicalis.However, as there were only 9 cases available for EUCAST analysis, there |
is currently insufficient evidence to set clinical breakpoints for C. krusei.
4
EUCAST has not determined non-species related breakpoints for voriconazole.
Clinical experience
Successful outcome in this section is defined as complete or partial response.
Aspergillus infections – efficacy in aspergillosis patients with poor prognosis Voriconazole has in vitro fungicidal activity against Aspergillus spp. The efficacy and survival benefit of voriconazole versus conventional amphotericin B in the primary treatment of acute invasive aspergillosis was demonstrated in an open, randomised, multicentre study in 277 immunocompromised patients treated for 12 weeks. Voriconazole was administered intravenously with a loading dose of 6 mg/kg every 12 hours for the first 24 hours followed by a maintenance dose of 4 mg/kg every 12 hours for a minimum of 7 days. Therapy could then be switched to the oral formulation at a dose of 200 mg every 12 hours. Median duration of IV voriconazole therapy was 10 days (range 2-85 days). After IV voriconazole therapy, the median duration of oral voriconazole therapy was 76 days (range 2-232 days).
A satisfactory global response (complete or partial resolution of all attributable symptoms, signs, radiographic/bronchoscopic abnormalities present at baseline) was seen in 53% of voriconazoletreated patients compared to 31% of patients treated with comparator. The 84-day survival rate for voriconazole was statistically significantly higher than that for the comparator and a clinically and statistically significant benefit was shown in favour of voriconazole for both time to death and time to discontinuation due to toxicity.
This study confirmed findings from an earlier, prospectively designed study where there was a positive outcome in subjects with risk factors for a poor prognosis, including graft versus host disease, and, in particular, cerebral infections (normally associated with almost 100% mortality).
The studies included cerebral, sinus, pulmonary and disseminated aspergillosis in patients with bone marrow and solid organ transplants, haematological malignancies, cancer and AIDS.
Candidaemia in non-neutropenic patients
The efficacy of voriconazole compared to the regimen of amphotericin B followed by fluconazole in the primary treatment of candidaemia was demonstrated in an open, comparative study. Three hundred and seventy non-neutropenic patients (above 12 years of age) with documented candidaemia were included in the study, of whom 248 were treated with voriconazole. Nine subjects in the voriconazole group and 5 in the amphotericin B followed by fluconazole group also had mycologically proven infection in deep tissue. Patients with renal failure were excluded from this study. The median treatment duration was 15 days in both treatment arms. In the primary analysis, successful response as assessed by a Data Review Committee (DRC) blinded to study medicinal product was defined as resolution/improvement in all clinical signs and symptoms of infection with eradication of Candida from blood and infected deep tissue sites 12 weeks after the end of therapy (EOT). Patients who did not have an assessment 12 weeks after EOT were counted as failures. In this analysis a successful response was seen in 41% of patients in both treatment arms.
In a secondary analysis, which utilised DRC assessments at the latest evaluable time point (EOT, or 2, 6, or 12 weeks after EOT) voriconazole and the regimen of amphotericin B followed by fluconazole had successful response rates of 65% and 71%, respectively. The Investigator's assessment of successful outcome at each of these time points is shown in the following table.
Timepoint | Voriconazole (N=248) | Amphotericin B → fluconazole (N=122) |
EOT | 178 (72%) | 88 (72%) |
2 weeks after EOT | 125 (50%) | 62 (51%) |
6 weeks after EOT | 104 (42%) | 55 (45%) |
12 weeks after EOT | 104 (42%) | 51 (42%) |
Serious refractory Candida infections
The study comprised 55 patients with serious refractory systemic Candida infections (including candidaemia, disseminated and other invasive candidiasis) where prior antifungal treatment, particularly with fluconazole, had been ineffective. Successful response was seen in 24 patients (15 complete, 9 partial responses). In fluconazole-resistant non-albicans species, a successful outcome was seen in 3/3 C. krusei (complete responses) and 6/8 C. glabrata (5 complete, 1 partial response) infections. The clinical efficacy data were supported by limited susceptibility data.
Scedosporium and Fusarium infections
Voriconazole was shown to be effective against the following rare fungal pathogens:
Scedosporium spp.: Successful response to voriconazole therapy was seen in 16 (6 complete, 10 partial responses) of 28 patients with S. apiospermum and in 2 (both partial responses) of 7 patients with S. prolificans infection. In addition, a successful response was seen in 1 of 3 patients with infections caused by more than one organism including Scedosporium spp.
Fusarium spp.: Seven (3 complete, 4 partial responses) of 17 patients were successfully treated with voriconazole. Of these 7 patients, 3 had eye, 1 had sinus, and 3 had disseminated infection. Four additional patients with fusariosis had an infection caused by several organisms; 2 of them had a successful outcome.
The majority of patients receiving voriconazole treatment of the above mentioned rare infections were intolerant of, or refractory to, prior antifungal therapy.
Primary Prophylaxis of Invasive Fungal Infections – Efficacy in HSCT recipients without prior proven or probable IFI
Voriconazole was compared to itraconazole as primary prophylaxis in an open-label, comparative, multicenter study of adult and adolescent allogeneic HSCT recipients without prior proven or probable IFI. Success was defined as the ability to continue study drug prophylaxis for 100 days after HSCT (without stopping for >14 days) and survival with no proven or probable IFI for 180 days after
HSCT. The modified intent-to-treat (MITT) group included 465 allogeneic HSCT recipients with 45% of patients having AML. From all patients 58% were subject to myeloablative conditions regimens. Prophylaxis with study drug was started immediately after HSCT: 224 received voriconazole and 241 received itraconazole. The median duration of study drug prophylaxis was 96 days for voriconazole and 68 days for itraconazole in the MITT group.
Success rates and other secondary endpoints are presented in the table below:
Study Endpoints | Voriconazole N=224 | Itraconazole N=241 | Difference in proportions and the 95% confidence interval (CI) | P-Value
|
Success at day 180* | 109 (48.7%) | 80 (33.2%) | 16.4% (7.7%, 25.1%)** | 0.0002** |
Success at day 100 | 121 (54.0%) | 96 (39.8%) | 15.4% (6.6%, 24.2%)** | 0.0006** |
Completed at least 100 days of study drug prophylaxis | 120 (53.6%) | 94 (39.0%) | 14.6% (5.6%, 23.5%) | 0.0015 |
Survived to day 180 | 184 (82.1%) | 197 (81.7%) | 0.4% (-6.6%, 7.4%) | 0.9107 |
Developed proven or probable IFI to day 180 | 3 (1.3%) | 5 (2.1%) | -0.7% (-3.1%, 1.6%) | 0.5390 |
Developed proven or probable IFI to day 100 | 2 (0.9%) | 4 (1.7%) | -0.8% (-2.8%, 1.3%) | 0.4589 |
Developed proven or probable IFI while on study drug | 0 | 3 (1.2%) | -1.2% (-2.6%, 0.2%) | 0.0813 |
* Primary endpoint of the study
** Difference in proportions, 95% CI and p-values obtained after adjustment for randomization
The breakthrough IFI rate to Day 180 and the primary endpoint of the study, which is Success at Day 180, for patients with AML and myeloablative conditioning regimens respectively, is presented in the table below:
AML
Study endpoints | Voriconazole (N=98) | Itraconazole (N=109) | Difference in proportions and the 95% confidence interval (CI) |
Breakthrough IFI – Day 180 | 1 (1.0%) | 2 (1.8%) | -0.8% (-4.0%, 2.4%) ** |
Success at Day 180* | 55 (56.1%) | 45 (41.3%) | 14.7% (1.7%, 27.7%)*** |
* Primary endpoint of study
** Using a margin of 5%, non inferiority is demonstrated
***Difference in proportions, 95% CI obtained after adjustment for randomization
Myeloablative conditioning regimens
Study endpoints | Voriconazole (N=125) | Itraconazole (N=143) | Difference in proportions and the 95% confidence interval (CI) |
Breakthrough IFI – Day 180 | 2 (1.6%) | 3 (2.1%) | -0.5% (-3.7%, 2.7%) ** |
Success at Day 180* | 70 (56.0%) | 53 (37.1%) | 20.1% (8.5%, 31.7%)*** |
* Primary endpoint of study
** Using a margin of 5%, non inferiority is demonstrated
*** Difference in proportions, 95% CI obtained after adjustment for randomization
Secondary Prophylaxis of IFI – Efficacy in HSCT recipients with prior proven or probable IFI
Voriconazole was investigated as secondary prophylaxis in an open-label, non-comparative, multicenter study of adult allogeneic HSCT recipients with prior proven or probable IFI. The primary endpoint was the rate of occurrence of proven and probable IFI during the first year after HSCT. The MITT group included 40 patients with prior IFI, including 31 with aspergillosis, 5 with candidiasis, and 4 with other IFI. The median duration of study drug prophylaxis was 95.5 days in the MITT group.
Proven or probable IFIs developed in 7.5% (3/40) of patients during the first year after HSCT, including one candidemia, one scedosporiosis (both relapses of prior IFI), and one zygomycosis. The survival rate at Day 180 was 80.0% (32/40) and at 1 year was 70.0% (28/40).
Duration of treatment
In clinical trials, 705 patients received voriconazole therapy for greater than 12 weeks, with 164 patients receiving voriconazole for over 6 months.
Paediatric population
Fifty-three paediatric patients aged 2 to <18 years were treated with voriconazole in two prospective, open-label, non-comparative, multi-center clinical trials. One study enrolled 31 patients with possible, proven or probable invasive aspergillosis (IA), of whom 14 patients had proven or probable IA and were included in the MITT efficacy analyses. The second study enrolled 22 patients with invasive candidiasis including candidaemia (ICC), and esophageal candidiasis (EC) requiring either primary or salvage therapy, of whom 17 were included in the MITT efficacy analyses. For patients with IA the overall rates of global response at 6 weeks were 64.3% (9/14), the global response rate was 40% (2/5) for patients 2 to <12 years and 77.8% (7/9) for patients 12 to <18 years of age. For patients with ICC the global response rate at EOT was 85.7% (6/7) and for patients with EC the global response rate at EOT was 70% (7/10). The overall rate of response (ICC and EC combined) was 88.9% (8/9) for 2 to <12 years old and 62.5% (5/8) for 12 to <18 years old.
Clinical studies examining QTc interval
A placebo-controlled, randomized, single-dose, crossover study to evaluate the effect on the QTc interval of healthy volunteers was conducted with three oral doses of voriconazole and ketoconazole. The placebo-adjusted mean maximum increases in QTc from baseline after 800, 1200 and 1600 mg of voriconazole were 5.1, 4.8, and 8.2 msec, respectively and 7.0 msec for ketoconazole 800 mg. No subject in any group had an increase in QTc of ≥60 msec from baseline. No subject experienced an interval exceeding the potentially clinically-relevant threshold of 500 msec.
General pharmacokinetic characteristics
The pharmacokinetics of voriconazole have been characterised in healthy subjects, special populations and patients. During oral administration of 200 mg or 300 mg twice daily for 14 days in patients at risk of aspergillosis (mainly patients with malignant neoplasms of lymphatic or haematopoietic tissue), the observed pharmacokinetic characteristics of rapid and consistent absorption, accumulation and non-linear pharmacokinetics were in agreement with those observed in healthy subjects.
The pharmacokinetics of voriconazole are non-linear due to saturation of its metabolism. Greater than proportional increase in exposure is observed with increasing dose. It is estimated that, on average, increasing the oral dose from 200 mg twice daily to 300 mg twice daily leads to a 2.5-fold increase in exposure (AUC). The oral maintenance dose of 200 mg (or 100 mg for patients less than 40 kg) achieves a voriconazole exposure similar to 3 mg/kg IV. A 300 mg (or 150 mg for patients less than 40 kg) oral maintenance dose achieves an exposure similar to 4 mg/kg IV. When the recommended intravenous or oral loading dose regimens are administered, plasma concentrations close to steady state are achieved within the first 24 hours of dosing. Without the loading dose, accumulation occurs during twice daily multiple dosing with steady-state plasma voriconazole concentrations being achieved by Day 6 in the majority of subjects.
Absorption
Voriconazole is rapidly and almost completely absorbed following oral administration, with maximum plasma concentrations (Cmax) achieved 1-2 hours after dosing. The absolute bioavailability of voriconazole after oral administration is estimated to be 96%. When multiple doses of voriconazole are administered with high fat meals, Cmax and AUC are reduced by 34% and 24%, respectively. The absorption of voriconazole is not affected by changes in gastric pH.
Distribution
The volume of distribution at steady state for voriconazole is estimated to be 4.6 L/kg, suggesting extensive distribution into tissues. Plasma protein binding is estimated to be 58%.
Cerebrospinal fluid samples from eight patients in a compassionate programme showed detectable voriconazole concentrations in all patients.
Biotransformation
In vitro studies showed that voriconazole is metabolised by the hepatic cytochrome P450 isoenzymes
CYP2C19, CYP2C9 and CYP3A4.
The inter-individual variability of voriconazole pharmacokinetics is high.
In vivo studies indicated that CYP2C19 is significantly involved in the metabolism of voriconazole. This enzyme exhibits genetic polymorphism. For example, 15-20% of Asian populations may be expected to be poor metabolisers. For Caucasians and Blacks the prevalence of poor metabolisers is 3-5%. Studies conducted in Caucasian and Japanese healthy subjects have shown that poor metabolisers have, on average, 4-fold higher voriconazole exposure (AUC) than their homozygous extensive metaboliser counterparts. Subjects who are heterozygous extensive metabolisers have on average 2-fold higher voriconazole exposure than their homozygous extensive metaboliser counterparts.
The major metabolite of voriconazole is the N-oxide, which accounts for 72% of the circulating radiolabelled metabolites in plasma. This metabolite has minimal antifungal activity and does not contribute to the overall efficacy of voriconazole
Elimination
Voriconazole is eliminated via hepatic metabolism with less than 2% of the dose excreted unchanged in the urine.
After administration of a radiolabelled dose of voriconazole, approximately 80 % of the radioactivity is recovered in the urine after multiple intravenous dosing and 83 % in the urine after multiple oral dosing. The majority (>94 %) of the total radioactivity is excreted in the first 96 hours after both oral and intravenous dosing.
The terminal half-life of voriconazole depends on dose and is approximately 6 hours at 200 mg (orally). Because of non-linear pharmacokinetics, the terminal half-life is not useful in the prediction of the accumulation or elimination of voriconazole.
Pharmacokinetics in special patient groups
Gender
In an oral multiple-dose study, Cmax and AUC for healthy young females were 83% and 113% higher, respectively, than in healthy young males (18-45 years). In the same study, no significant differences in Cmax and AUC were observed between healthy elderly males and healthy elderly females (≥65 years).
In the clinical programme, no dosage adjustment was made on the basis of gender. The safety profile and plasma concentrations observed in male and female patients were similar. Therefore, no dosage adjustment based on gender is necessary.
Elderly
In an oral multiple-dose study Cmax and AUC in healthy elderly males (≥65 years) were 61% and 86% higher, respectively, than in healthy young males (18-45 years). No significant differences in Cmax and AUC were observed between healthy elderly females (≥65 years) and healthy young females (18- 45 years).
In the therapeutic studies no dosage adjustment was made on the basis of age. A relationship between plasma concentrations and age was observed. The safety profile of voriconazole in young and elderly patients was similar and, therefore, no dosage adjustment is necessary for the elderly (see section
4.2).
Paediatric population
The recommended doses in children and adolescent patients are based on a population pharmacokinetic analysis of data obtained from 112 immunocompromised paediatric patients aged 2 to <12 years and 26 immunocompromised adolescent patients aged 12 to <17 years. Multiple intravenous doses of 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 mg/kg twice daily and multiple oral doses (using the powder for oral suspension) of 4 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and 200 mg twice daily were evaluated in 3 paediatric pharmacokinetic studies. Intravenous loading doses of 6 mg/kg IV twice daily on day 1 followed by 4 mg/kg intravenous dose twice daily and 300 mg oral tablets twice daily were evaluated in one adolescent pharmacokinetic study. Larger inter-subject variability was observed in paediatric patients compared to adults.
A comparison of the paediatric and adult population pharmacokinetic data indicated that the predicted total exposure (AUC) in children following administration of a 9 mg/kg IV loading dose was comparable to that in adults following a 6 mg/kg IV loading dose. The predicted total exposures in children following IV maintenance doses of 4 and 8 mg/kg twice daily were comparable to those in adults following 3 and 4 mg/kg IV twice daily, respectively. The predicted total exposure in children following an oral maintenance dose of 9 mg/kg (maximum of 350 mg) twice daily was comparable to that in adults following 200 mg oral twice daily. An 8 mg/kg intravenous dose will provide voriconazole exposure approximately 2-fold higher than a 9 mg/kg oral dose.
The higher intravenous maintenance dose in paediatric patients relative to adults reflects the higher elimination capacity in paediatric patients due to a greater liver mass to body mass ratio. Oral bioavailability may, however, be limited in paediatric patients with malabsorption and very low body weight for their age. In that case, intravenous voriconazole administration is recommended.
Voriconazole exposures in the majority of adolescent patients were comparable to those in adults receiving the same dosing regimens. However, lower voriconazole exposure was observed in some young adolescents with low body weight compared to adults. It is likely that these subjects may metabolize voriconazole more similarly to children than to adolescents/adults. Based on the population pharmacokinetic analysis, 12- to 14-year-old adolescents weighing less than 50 kg should receive children's doses (see section 4.2).
Renal impairment
In patients with moderate to severe renal dysfunction (serum creatinine levels > 2.5 mg/dl), accumulation of the intravenous vehicle, SBECD, occurs (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).
Hepatic impairment
After an oral single-dose (200 mg), AUC was 233% higher in subjects with mild to moderate hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh A and B) compared with subjects with normal hepatic function. Protein binding of voriconazole was not affected by impaired hepatic function.
In an oral multiple-dose study, AUC was similar in subjects with moderate hepatic cirrhosis (ChildPugh B) given a maintenance dose of 100 mg twice daily and subjects with normal hepatic function given 200 mg twice daily. No pharmacokinetic data are available for patients with severe hepatic cirrhosis (Child-Pugh C) (see sections 4.2 and 4.4).
Repeated-dose toxicity studies with voriconazole indicated the liver to be the target organ. Hepatotoxicity occurred at plasma exposures similar to those obtained at therapeutic doses in humans, in common with other antifungal agents. In rats, mice and dogs, voriconazole also induced minimal adrenal changes. Conventional studies of safety pharmacology, genotoxicity or carcinogenic potential did not reveal a special hazard for humans.
In reproduction studies, voriconazole was shown to be teratogenic in rats and embryotoxic in rabbits at systemic exposures equal to those obtained in humans with therapeutic doses. In the pre- and postnatal development study in rats at exposures lower than those obtained in humans with therapeutic doses, voriconazole prolonged the duration of gestation and labour and produced dystocia with consequent maternal mortality and reduced perinatal survival of pups. The effects on parturition are probably mediated by species-specific mechanisms, involving reduction of oestradiol levels, and are consistent with those observed with other azole antifungal agents. Voriconazole administration induced no impairment of male or female fertility in rats at exposures similar to those obtained in humans at therapeutic doses.
Preclinical data on the intravenous vehicle SBECD indicated that the main effects were vacuolation of urinary tract epithelium and activation of macrophages in the liver and lungs in the repeated-dose toxicity studies. As GPMT (guinea pig maximisation test) result was positive, prescribers should be aware of the hypersensitivity potential of the intravenous formulation. Standard genotoxicity and reproduction studies with the excipient SBECD reveal no special hazard for humans. Carcinogenicity studies were not performed with SBECD. An impurity present in SBECD, has been shown to be an alkylating mutagenic agent with evidence for carcinogenicity in rodents. This impurity should be considered a substance with carcinogenic potential in humans. In light of these data the duration of treatment with the intravenous formulation should be no longer than 6 months.
The other ingredients are: Betadex Sulfobutyl ether sodium, Water for injection.
Voriconazole injection must not be infused into the same line or cannula concomitantly with other intravenous products. The bag should be checked to ensure that the infusion is complete. When the Voriconazole injection infusion is complete, the line may be used for administration of other intravenous products.
Blood products and short-term infusion of concentrated solutions of electrolytes: Electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia should be corrected prior to initiation of voriconazole therapy (see sections 4.2 and 4.4). Voriconazole Pfizer must not be administered simultaneously with any blood product or any short-term infusion of concentrated solutions of electrolytes, even if the two infusions are running in separate lines.
Total parenteral nutrition: Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) need not be discontinued when prescribed with Voriconazole Injection, but does need to be infused through a separate line. If infused through a multiple-lumen catheter, TPN needs to be administered using a different port from the one used for Voriconazole injection. Voriconazole injection must not be diluted with 4.2% Sodium Bicarbonate Infusion. Compatibility with other concentrations is unknown.
This medicinal product must not be mixed with other medicinal products except those mentioned in section 6.6.
Store below 30ºC.
Reconstitute Details:
Primary Dilution with Sodium chloride and water for Injection.
Secondary Diluents:
0.9% Sodium chloride injection
0.45% Sodium chloride injection
5% Dextrose injection
5% Dextrose & 0.45% Sodium chloride injection
Ringer lactate injection
5% Dextrose and Lactated ringers
5% Dextrose and 0.9% Sodium chloride
5% Dextrose and 20 mEq Potassium chloride
Reconstituting 1 vial each of Voriconazole for Injection 200 mg/vial with 19 mL of Water for injection shake well to get clear solution to get a concentration 10 mg/mL Pool the vials together and further diluting 20 mL of sample solution to 380 ml of secondary diluents as specified in Table 1 to get a desired concentration of 0.5 mg/mL 6.2.3 Reconstituting 1 vial each of VOCONZA for Injection 200 mg/vial with 19 mL of Water for injection shake well to get clear solution to get a concentration 10mg/mL.
Further adding 20 mL of sample solution to 20 ml of secondary diluents as specified above to get a desired concentration of 0.5 mg/mL & 5 mg/mL.
Based on the test procedure, required infusion bag volume shall be selected and respective volume of sample shall be added to that bag without changing the final concentration of the infusion bag.
Once reconstituted, VOCONZA should be used immediately, but if necessary may be stored for up to 24 hours at 2°C - 8°C (in a refrigerator). Reconstituted VOCONZA needs to be diluted with a compatible infusion solution first before it is infused.
Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
Based on the test procedure, required infusion bag volume shall be selected and respective volume of sample shall be added to that bag without changing the final concentration of the infusion bag Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
The reconstituted product of Voriconazole for injection 200 mg/vial is stable for 24 hours
when stored at 2-8°C condition.
Admixtured product of Voriconazole for injection is stable for 2 hours when stored at Temperature below 30°C.
1's count (25 mL clear tubular glass vial, USP Type - I with 20 mm slotted grey bromobutyl rubber stopper and 20 mm burgundy colored flip off seal).
NA