Vfend IV, Vfend

Introduction

Written by Rachel Maynard, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Molly Becze, PharmD, BCPS
Updated on December 4, 2023

Voriconazole [vor i KOE na zole] is a generic medication that’s prescribed for certain fungal infections in adults and some children. Its brand-name version is Vfend. The cost of voriconazole with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Read on to learn about voriconazole and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about voriconazole, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. 

Cost of voriconazole

Like other medications, the cost of voriconazole can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• the cost to visit a healthcare professional to receive doses of certain forms of voriconazole

To find out how much voriconazole costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for voriconazole” section.

Coupons for voriconazole

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of voriconazole. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for voriconazole

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of voriconazole. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for voriconazole. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin taking it without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• Insurance coverage. Even if your policy has prescription drug coverage, the price of voriconazole may instead be billed through your medical coverage. This is because a doctor or another healthcare professional may give doses of voriconazole. The cost of your doses will depend on your specific insurance plan and whether you receive the doses at your doctor’s clinic or a hospital. If you have questions about this process, contact your doctor or your insurance provider.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Voriconazole is a generic medication. The brand-name version of this drug is Vfend.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

If your doctor has prescribed voriconazole but you’re interested in taking Vfend, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of voriconazole compares with its brand-name version, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about voriconazole and cost

Here are some common questions about voriconazole and their answers.

Does voriconazole oral tablet cost less than the injection form of the drug?

It’s possible. The cost of voriconazole may depend on several factors, including:

• the form you’re prescribed
• the strength you’re prescribed
• where you get the drug, such as a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital
• whether you have insurance coverage, and the type of insurance plan you have

Voriconazole comes in an oral tablet, powder to make an oral liquid suspension (a type of mixture), and an injection into your vein.

Talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider if you have questions about the cost of different forms of voriconazole.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about voriconazole

This article provides cost information related to voriconazole. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for voriconazole.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Does my insurance cover the cost of voriconazole?
• Are there other lower-cost drugs that could treat my condition?
• What options are available if I can’t afford my medication?

Resources

• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm 
• Voriconazole tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/711e5a1b-8c40-4b18-9f4f-12c8ab351012/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.