Levitra

Authored by

Dr Kezia Joy

20 August 2024

What is Levitra?

Levitra is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED). The active ingredient vardenafil increases blood flow to the penis, but does not cure ED or increase sexual desire.

Description

Levitra for Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the physical inability to obtain or sustain an erection long enough for sexual activity. This is usually caused by a lack of blood flow to the penis due to the vasoconstriction of the blood vessels. There are several medical conditions that may cause ED, the most common include diabetes, hormone imbalances, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

This is a very common condition that affects around 1 in 10 men, particularly adult men over 40. Levitra is a prescription medication used to treat ED and is available in film-coated or orodispersible tablet form.

What is Levitra and how does it work?

Levitra contains the active ingredient vardenafil which belongs to a group of medicines known as PDE-5 inhibitors. These medicines are only effective in the presence of sexual stimulation and foreplay is recommended to encourage sufficient arousal. Levitra works by relaxing the muscles in the penis allowing for increased blood flow to achieve and maintain a firm erection.

Levitra is not recommended for women.

The active substance vardenafil is also useful in treating other conditions along with erectile dysfunction. Please consult a Doctor, a Pharmacist or relevant product literature for more information.

Is Levitra right for me?

If you suffer from erectile dysfunction (impotence), Levitra may be an effective treatment. However, it may not be suitable for you if you have the following:

If you are allergic to vardenafil or any other ingredients in this medicine
If you are taking medicines containing nitrates or are taking riociguat,
If you are over 75 years of age, are taking ketoconazole or itraconazole, anti-fungal medicines.
If you are taking ritonavir or indinavir, medicines used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections.
If you have galactose intolerance
If you have severe heart, liver or kidney problems
If you have high or low blood pressure
If you have had a stroke or heart attack in the last 6 months
If you have Peyronie's disease or a physical deformity of the penis
If you have sickle cell anaemia or any bleeding disorders
If you have a rare inherited eye disease such as retinitis pigmentosa

Side Effects

All medications can cause potential side effects, below we have listed some potential side effects of Levitra. However, these do not always occur and are mostly mild in nature. But if you experience any prolonged or worrying side effects of Levitra, please discontinue the medication immediately and consult your doctor.

Common side effects include:

Headache
Dizziness
Flushing
Nasal congestion
Indigestion

How to take Levitra?

Always take Levitra exactly as prescribed by your doctor or advised by the pharmacist. The recommended starting dose is 10mg, however, in presence of other factors, this may be increased or decreased accordingly as per the prescriber's clinical judgement.

Levitra should be taken 25-60 minutes before you wish to have sexual intercourse
For film-coated tablets: swallow one tablet with a glass of water.
For orodispersible tablets:
- Do not remove the orodispersible tablet from the blister until you are going to take it.
- With dry hands press gently to release the tablet on your hand. Do not crush the tablet.
- Place the entire orodispersible tablet in the mouth, on the tongue, where it will dissolve in seconds, then swallow with saliva. The orodispersible tablet must be taken without any liquid.
The time taken for it to work may vary for different individuals
It can be taken with or without food, however, if taken with a heavy meal it may reduce its effectiveness or take longer to work
Avoid grapefruit juice with this medication as it may have an effect on side-effects experienced by you
Avoid alcoholic drinks as they may affect the ability to achieve an erection as well as the effect of this medication

Only 1 dose of Levitra should be taken in 24 hours. The effect of this medicine may last for 4-5 hours after taking the initial dose.

Warnings and precautions

Do not take Levitra/Vardenafil:

If you've ever had an allergic reaction to Levitra/Vardenafil or any other ingredients listed in this medicine

Are taking medicines called nitrates for angina (chest pain)
Have a serious heart or liver or kidney problem
Have low blood pressure
Have a rare inherited eye disease, such as retinitis pigmentosa
Have sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, or multiple myeloma
Have a deformity of your penis or Peyronie's disease
If you are taking riociguat
Have a stomach ulcer
Have a bleeding problem like haemophilia

The above-listed warnings and drug interactions are not exhaustive, please consult a doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you have further questions on the use of this medication or potential interactions with any other medication.

Levitra Patient Information Leaflet

To view patient information leaflet click here

To view PDF patient leaflet click here

Additional Information

Levitra is suitable for men living with diabetes.

Levitra is not suitable for women.

Levitra can last for 5 hours.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Welzo does not endorse or sell the medication discussed, nor do we recommend using this information as a substitute for professional healthcare. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health or medical treatment. Welzo assumes no responsibility for any actions taken based on the information provided in this blog.