Levitra

What is Levitra?

Levitra is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. It contains vardenafil, a type of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, which works by increasing blood flow to the penis. Levitra only works when a man is sexually stimulated and does not increase sexual desire, but allows the man to maintain an erection long enough for sexual activity to take place.

How effective is Levitra?

Levitra provides an effective solution to erectile dysfunction for 60-70% of patients. If Levitra is not working for you, speak to a doctor for advice on alternative treatments.

When is Levitra most effective?

Levitra becomes effective from 25 to 30 minutes after administration, and can continue to work for up to 5 hours.

How long does Levitra take to work?

Levitra should be taken between 25 and 60 minutes before intercourse and usually takes around 25 minutes to have an effect. 

How long does Levitra last?

Levitra can stay in the bloodstream for up to 8 hours. In combination with sexual stimulation, Levitra can help a man achieve and maintain an erection within 4 to 5 hours of administration.

What if Levitra doesn’t work for me?

Different erectile dysfunction treatments are better suited to different people. If Levitra does not work for you, speak to a doctor about alternative treatments for erectile dysfunction.

Levitra and psychological erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction can have a psychological cause, such as anxiety or depression. In this case, counselling can be an effective treatment. This approach can take time and Levitra is often recommended for use in the short term, although it is important not to allow treatment to mask the problem.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Levitra is vardenafil.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients in Levitra are crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, macrogol 400, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), ferric oxide yellow (E172), ferric oxide red (E172).

Starting Levitra

Your doctor will usually recommend starting with a 10 mg dose of Levitra. If you feel that this dose is too strong or two weak, inform your doctor. They may recommend switching to a different dosage or to a different form of Levitra.

How to take Levitra

Swallow one Levitra capsule with water between 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. You should not take more than one capsule per day. Taking too much Levitra increases the risk of side effects and may cause back pain.

Levitra dosage

The recommended dose of Levitra is 10 mg taken about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity, no more than once daily. Capsules are available at a dosage of 5, 10 and 20 mg.

How to get an erection whilst taking Levitra

If taken 25 to 50 minutes before sexual activity, Levitra can increase your ability to get and maintain an erection from arousal.

Levitra side effects

Like all medications, Levitra can cause side effects in some patients. If you experience any partial, sudden, temporary or permanent decrease or loss of vision or hearing, stop taking Levitra and contact your doctor immediately. 

Roughly 1 in 10 users may experience headaches while using this medication. Other common side effects, which may affect up to 1 in 10 people, include:

• Dizziness
• Flushing
• Blocked or runny nose
• Indigestion

Uncommon side effects (up 1 in 100 users) include:

• Swelling of the skin and mucous tissue including swollen face, lips or throat
• Sleep disorder
• Numbness and impaired perception of touch
• Sleepiness
• Effects on vision, redness of the eyes, effects on colour vision, eye pain or discomfort, and light sensitivity
• Ringing in the ears
• Vertigo
• Fast or pounding heartbeat
• Breathlessness
• Congested nose
• Acid reflux, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, or dry mouth
• Raised level of liver enzymes in your blood
• Rash or reddened skin
• Back or muscle pain, increase of the muscle enzyme creatine phosphokinase in the blood, muscle stiffness
• Prolonged erections
• Malaise

Rarely (1 in 1000), users may experience the following:

• Conjunctivitis
• Allergic reaction
• Anxiety
• Fainting
• Amnesia
• Seizure
• Glaucoma, increased lacrimation
• Altered heartbeat, angina, heart attack
• High or low blood pressure
• Nose bleed
• Effect on results of blood test to check liver function
• Photosensitivity
• Painful erections
• Chest pain

The following side effects are very rare (less than 1 in 10,000 users) or of an unknown frequency:

• Blood in the urine
• Penile bleeding
• Blood in the semen  

Contraindications

Do NOT take Levitra if:

• You are allergic to vardenafil or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You have severe heart or liver problems
• You are having kidney dialysis
• You have recently had a stroke or heart attack
• You have or have had low blood pressure
• You have a family history of degenerative eye diseases
• You have ever had a condition involving loss of vision due to damage of the optic nerve from insufficient blood supply known as non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)

You should inform your doctor and take particular care when taking Levitra if:

• You have heart trouble
• You suffer from an irregular heartbeat or inherited disease affecting your electrocardiogram
• You have a physical condition affecting the shape of your penis
• You have an illness that can cause erections which won’t go away, including sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma and leukaemia
• You have stomach ulcers
• You have haemophilia or any other bleeding disorder
• You are using other treatments for erectile difficulties.

Drug interactions

Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including those purchased over the counter without a prescription. Do NOT take Levitra in combination with:

• Any other treatment for erectile dysfunction
• Medicines containing nitrates, such as glycerol trinitrate for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrate
• Ritonavir or indinavir for treatment of HIV infections
• Ketoconazole or itraconazole (antifungal medications) if you are over the age of 75
• Riociguat, used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Additionally, inform your doctor if you are taking:

• Medicine for the treatment of arrhythmias, such as quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone or sotalol
• Erythromycin or clarithromycin
• Alpha-blockers
• Riociguat

Levitra and heavy machinery/driving

Levitra can cause some people to feel light headed or dizzy, or to experience problems with their vision. If you experience any of these side effects, avoid driving or operating heavy machinery.

Levitra and alcohol

Alcohol can make erectile dysfunction worse. Try cutting down on the amount of alcohol you drink to experience the full effects of Levitra. 

Levitra vs Orodispersible Levitra

Levitra can be purchased in two forms. If you have difficulty swallowing the capsules, you can try orodispersible tablets which can be chewed and dissolve in the mouth. However, orodispersible Levitra is only available as 10 mg tablets, while the capsules are available at a dosage of  5, 10 and 20 mg. If the orodispersible version is not working for you, you may need to switch to the capsules for a higher dose.

Levitra vs other ED medications

Different ED medications are better suited to different people, and your doctor will be able to help you find the one that is right for you. Like Levitra, Cialis (Tadalafil) and Viagra (Sildenafil) are PDE-5 inhibitors that work by increasing blood flow to the penis in the event of sexual stimulation. Unlike Levitra and Viagra, which can be effective for up to 5 hours, Cialis can remain effective for up to 36 hours. Spedra (Avanafil) is a new, fast-acting variant that can take as little at 15 minutes to become effective and has a similar duration of action to Viagra and Levitra.

Lifestyle changes to improve erectile dysfunction

The root cause of erectile dysfunction is often psychological. Stress is often the problem, so finding ways to manage and reduce stress in your life is important. Anxiety may also contribute, and is often exacerbated further by difficulties with sexual performance. Being open with your partner about sexual anxiety can help, as can maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exercising regularly and cutting down on alcohol and smoking. You can speak to a doctor or nurse for advice on dealing with anxiety or depression.

Is Levitra a cure?

Levitra will not cure erectile dysfunction, the root cause of which is often psychological. However, it can help to relieve the stress and anxiety associated with ED.

Will Levitra give me an erection for hours?

Levitra only works in combination with sexual stimulation, increasing blood flow to the penis when man is aroused. While Levitra can be effective for up to 5 hours after administration, it does not stimulate arousal and so will not give you an erection for hours.

Are Levitra and Viagra the same?

While Levitra and Viagra work in similar ways, they are not the same medication. Levitra contains the active ingredient vardenafil, while Viagra contains sildenafil, and Levitra is generally longer lasting than Viagra. 

Can Levitra be bought over the counter?

Levitra is a prescription-only medication and cannot be purchased over the counter in the UK.

Can women take Levitra?

Levitra is not intended for use in women and there is little evidence to suggest that it has any effect on female sexual pleasure.

Does Levitra increase libido?

Levitra does no increase libido or stimulate sexual arousal. It works when a man becomes secually aroused by increasing blood flow to the penis, allowing him to maintain an erection for longer.

What is generic Levitra?

The generic version of Levitra, referred to as Vardenafil, became available in the UK in October 2018. While it can be cheaper that branded Levitra, it is important that you only purchase it from a registered online pharmacy, such as Dr Felix, as unlicensed versions of this medication exist and can be dangerous.  

Sources

• Patient Information Leaflet
• NHS > Erectile Dysfunction
• MedBroadcast > Levitra
• Healthline > Cialis, Levitra, Viagra