What mechanism underlies Voriconazole's potential for dangerous interactions with numerous other medications?
It affects liver enzymes (CYP enzymes) involved in drug metabolism.
Voriconazole possesses a significant potential for drug-drug interactions because of its role as an inhibitor or inducer of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system in the liver. Since this system is responsible for metabolizing a vast array of other medications, interference by voriconazole can profoundly alter the concentrations of these co-administered drugs. If voriconazole inhibits the metabolism of another drug, that drug's concentration can increase to toxic levels. Conversely, if voriconazole induces the metabolism of another drug, its effectiveness might be severely reduced. This interaction profile requires prescribers to perform a thorough review of all concurrent medications, including non-prescription items, before initiating voriconazole treatment.