A patient is receiving intravenous voriconazole [Vfend]. Shortly after the infusion starts, the patient tells the nurse, "Colors look different, and the light hurts my eyes." What will the nurse do?

Question

a. Observe the patient closely for the devel-opment of hallucinations.
b. Reassure the patient that these effects will subside in about 30 minutes.
c. Stop the infusion and notify the provider of CNS toxicity.
d. Tell the patient that this is an irreversible effect of the drug.

Answer 1

B
Reduced visual acuity, increased brightness, altered color perception, and photophobia are re-versible visual disturbances that can occur in 30% of patients receiving voriconazole. These usually begin within 30 minutes of dosing and then diminish over the next 30 minutes. They are not precursors to other effects, such as hallucinations. They do not indicate CNS toxicity. They are reversible.