Levitra is available in several dosage strengths, allowing doctors to find the right treatment for their patients. It should not be taken with nitrate medications for chest pain, or with alpha blockers such as doxazosin (used to treat high blood pressure) or medicines that affect guanylate cyclase like riociguat (used to treat pulmonary hypertension).
Always tell your prescriber if you have any medical conditions or are taking any other medication. This includes vitamins, supplements, and herbal remedies.
What is Levitra?
Levitra (vardenafil) is a prescription medication that treats erectile dysfunction in men. It is part of a class of drugs called PDE-5 inhibitors, and it works by increasing blood flow to the penis. This allows a man to get and keep an erection during sexual stimulation.
Levitra comes as a film-coated tablet (5, 10 and 20 mg) or orodispersible tablet (10 mg). It is taken by mouth as needed before sexual activity. It works by blocking the phosphodiesterase enzyme that breaks down a substance in the body that causes ED. This increases blood flow to the spongy tissue in the penis (corpora cavernosa) and produces an erection.
Levitra should not be used with nitrate medications for chest pain or heart problems, including nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, and recreational drugs containing amyl nitrate or nitrite. This combination can cause a dangerous decrease in blood pressure. Levitra also interacts with certain HIV/AIDS medicines, including atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir.
How does Levitra work?
Levitra works to treat ED by increasing blood flow to the penis. It also helps the smooth muscle of your penis relax. It does this by blocking a substance called PDE5 that normally breaks down the chemicals that let your body get an erection. When pDE5 is blocked, nitric oxide can more easily get to your penis muscles and cause an erection.
Levitra and other PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra work best when you are sexually aroused. They are not effective when you're not sexually aroused or when you're on a lower dose.
Levitra should not be taken with any type of nitrate drug, including nitroglycerin (for chest pain) and recreational drugs like amyl nitrate or butyl nitrate ("poppers"). It's also not safe to take it if you have liver disease or kidney disease or are on dialysis. Talk to your doctor before taking it if you have a history of heart disease or high blood pressure.
What are the side effects of Levitra?
Levitra side effects are usually mild and go away as your body adjusts to the medication. However, some may be serious and require medical attention.
Levitra works by blocking the enzyme phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), which destroys cGMP in the blood vessels that supply the penis. This allows the erection to last longer after sexual stimulation.
Rare but serious side effects include sudden loss of vision or ringing in the ears; chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling; fast or irregular heartbeat; high fever; and stroke.
You should not take Levitra with nitrate drugs for chest pain or heart problems; nitroglycerin (Adempas); diclofenac (Celebrex, Voltaren, other brands); alpha blockers such as atazanavir (Reyataz), doxazosin (Cardura, Uroxatral), prazosin (Minipress), or tamsulosin (Flomax, in Jalyn); antidepressants; nitrate-free medications for pulmonary arterial hypertension; and isoniazid (INH). Also tell your doctor about all other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements you are taking.
How should I take Levitra?
It’s important to take Levitra as directed by your doctor. It can be taken with or without food. Be sure to avoid fatty foods before taking it, as this can delay how quickly the medication works.
It takes about an hour for the medication to kick in and produce results. It’s usually effective for 4 to 5 hours, although the duration can vary by person.
Like other erectile dysfunction medications, Levitra can cause side effects. The most common is a headache, which affects 10 to 30% of people who take the medicine. Headaches are typically mild and go away within a few hours.
It’s also important to let your doctor know if you’re taking any other prescription or nonprescription drugs, especially ones that treat blood pressure, liver problems, heart problems, or stomach problems. Some medications can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure if they’re taken together with Levitra. This includes nitrates (used to treat chest pain, also known as angina), recreational drugs like butyl nitrate, and riociguat, a guanatee cyclase stimulator used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.