Levitra

Generic name: Vardenafil

Vardenafil tablets

What is vardenafil used for?

VARDENAFIL (Levitra®) is intended for the treatment of male impotence.

What should I inform my doctor about before taking this drug?

Your health care provider needs to be informed about the following health conditions:

• any allergies that may affect your treatment
• diabetes
• if you ever had an abnormally long and painful erection (priapism)
• heart problems, such as angina, a history of heart attack, heart disease, irregular heartbeat
• sickle cell disease
• anatomical deformity of the penis or Peyronie's disease
• high or low blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• stomach or intestinal ulcers
• vision problems or such conditions as retinitis pigmentosa
• bleeding disorder
• pregnancy of breastfeeding
• a history of a stroke
• gastroesophageal reflux disease or frequent heartburn
• HIV infection
• kidney or liver disease

How should I take this medicine?

Vardenafil tablets are intended for oral use. Take the dose prescribed by your doctor with a full glass of water, with some food or without. Although the most common dosage will be indicated on the label, yours may be different if you have certain health conditions. Taking an extra dose will not increase the effects of this medicine. In case you happen to miss a dose do not get worried as this drug is taken on when-needed basis

Vardenafil is not recommended for children.

What are vardenafil storage conditions?

Vardenafil needs to be kept away from children, in a tightly closed contained where people that do not have a prescription will not access it.

It's best to store this drug at the temperature of 59 to 86 degrees F. Any expired medicine you did not use must be thrown away to avoid serious health effects.

Are there any drug interactions with Vardenafil?

In case of using any of the following drugs you must not start taking Vardenafil:

nitroglycerin-based drugs prescribed to treat chest pain. These include nitroglycerin, amyl nitrite, isosorbide mononitrate, isosorbide dinitrate and recreational drugs that contain potentially dangerous butyl nitrate and amyl nitrate, even if you take them from time to time.

Vardenafil has also been reported to interfere with:

alpha blockers, including doxazosin (Cardura®), tamsulosin (Flomax®), alfuzosin (UroXatral®), terazosin (Hytrin®) or prazosin (Minipress®). All these medicines can be prescribed for the treatment of an enlarged prostate and high blood pressure.

• seizures medicines, including phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital
• arsenic trioxide
• bosentan
• HIV or AIDS medicines
• drugs that belong to the group of antibiotics, including clarithromycin, erythromycin, sparfloxacin, troleandomycin
• fungal infection medicine (fluconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole)
• diltiazem
• heart rhythm medicine, such as flecainide, quinidine, disopyramide, amiodarone, ibutilide, dofetilide, procainamide, sotalol, propafenone
• cisapride
• methadone
• nicardipine
• verapamil
• chloroquine
• pentamidine
• pimozide
• rifabutin, rifampin, or rifapentine
• grapefruit juice
• depression medication, including drugs intended for the treatment of mood changes (amoxapine, maprotiline, nefazodone, pimozide, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants)

Your health care provider needs to know about any other drugs you are currently taken to make sure no dangerous side effects occur. Even if you are using some herbal supplements it should be mentioned when you visit your doctor to get a prescription. If you often drink coffee, consume other caffeine-containing products or drink alcohol regularly tell your doctor in advance. Smokers and users of illicit drugs must also be very careful with taking this medicine as its efficiency can be affected. Do not start taking any new drugs before discussing it with a qualified professional.

What should be reported to the doctor?

Urgent medical assistance is advised if you experience sudden vision changes. In very rare cases this medicine has been reported to be connected with vision loss. Stop taking this medicine and report this side effect to your doctor to avoid further complication of the condition.

If you experience priapism - a long and painful erection that lasts for 4 hours or more seek emergency medical assistance as this symptom is fraught with a permanent damage of your penis tissues.

Stop taking this medicine and talk to your health care provider if you experience chest pain, nausea, arm pain and dizziness while having sex. Make sure you discuss this episode and tell your health care provider as much as possible about the way you felt.

The dose of this drug is based on a number of factors, including your health condition, and should not be changed unless a professional health care provider tell you to do so. If you think your dose needs to be reconsidered talk to your doctor first.

Vardenafil does not protect you from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, which means wearing a condom is necessary to ensure safety.

What are Vardenafil side effects?

The following side effects should be reported as soon as possible in spite of their intensity:

• trouble breathing, shortness of breath
• dizziness
• changes in hearing such as loss of hearing or ringing in ears
• back pain
• muscle aches
• chest pain
• prolonged erection (priapism)
• vision changes (increased eye sensitivity, blurred vision, trouble telling the difference between blue and green
• eyelid swelling
• skin rash, itching

Some less serious side effects that need to be reported to your health care provider only if they change in intensity or become bothersome include:

• headache
• flushing
• indigestion
• stuffy nose
• nausea