Posted by Vardenafil is a powerful medication that is the active ingredient in Levitra. It was co-marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, and Schering-Plough. It is very similar to the active ingredient in Viagra, Sildenafil Citrate. Like Sildenafil Citrate, Vardenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is when a man has trouble obtaining or maintaining an erection. A major cause of this is the narrowing of the arteries that take the blood to the penis. Vardenafil increases blood flow to the penis by widening the arteries that bring the blood to the penis.[1]
Vardenafil may also be effective in treating men who suffer from premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation is when a man has difficulty or an inability to control the time from initial sexual stimulation to ejaculation.
Research indicates that doctors may prescribe Vardenafil for other medical conditions as well. The price is quite reasonable – one pill is sold at $3, however the more you buy, the cheaper it gets. It also depends on the retailer.
Used For
Vardenafil is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and is shown to help men suffering from erectile dysfunction by relaxing and widening the blood vessels to increase blood flow to the penis, thereby allowing the man to obtain and maintain an erection during sexual activity. With this medication, the man should be able to maintain an erection and reach orgasm. Taking Vardenafil does not increase sexual desire and the medication will only work with sexual stimulation.
Of the reviews on webmd.com, the men rated it as 2.72 stars out of 5 for effectiveness, 4.39 ease of use, and 2.67 satisfaction.
Dosage
For use in treatment for erectile dysfunction, the doctor will usually prescribe Vardenafil at 5 or 10 mgs daily or as needed one to two hours before sexual activity is anticipated. After using the medication and consulting with the doctor, the man may have his prescription changed to 2.5 mgs, 5 mgs, 10 mgs, or 20 mgs once a day or as needed. For the disintegrating tablets, adults will be prescribed a 10-milligram dose, not to be taken more than one time a day. The patient also takes it 1-2 hours before anticipated sexual activity.
In both cases of use, if you miss a dose, do not take another dose, wait until it is time for the next dose and then continue as normal.
How to Use
Vardenafil is an oral medication. For use as a male sexual performance medicine, it is recommended for the man to take it with a full glass of water about 60 minutes to 2 hours before anticipated sexual activity. It can be taken up to 4 hours before anticipated sexual activity, but the recommendation is 1 hour before. Taking it with a glass of water may reduce the side effects associated with Vardenafil. It can be taken with or without food but taking it with a high fat meal may increase the time it takes for the medication to begin working. For use in sexual performance, it cannot be taken more than 1 time in a 24-hour period.
There is also a Vardenafil disintegrating tablet available. This tablet is very fragile and should not be touched with wet hands. It also should not be opened from its blister pack until it is ready to be taken. Because it is so fragile, it must be removed from the foil pack by removing the foil, not by pushing the tablet through the foil. The tablet should be placed on the tongue. It will melt quickly and can be followed by liquids. It should not be broken, crushed or chewed.
Side Effects
Possible side effects of Vardenafil are similar to many other medications for enhancing male sexual performance. Some possible side effects include: warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest, stuffy nose, headache, heartburn, upset stomach, or back pain, drowsiness, dizziness, fainting, blurred vision.
Taking Vardenafil with other drugs or alcohol, in hot weather, while performing vigorous exercise, or if you have a fever, is likely to increase the chances of these effects. If you experience these symptoms, sit or lie down, and put your head between your legs and wait for the symptoms to pass. Drink water when possible.
More serious side effects are not common but may include: sudden vision loss, ringing in the ears or sudden hearing loss, chest pain or a heavy feeling in the chest, pain spreading to the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling, irregular heartbeat, swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet, shortness of breath, vision changes, feeling light headed, fainting, and/or penis erection that is painful or lasts four hours or longer. The prolonged or painful erection could lead to permanent sexual problems such as impotence. If you experience any of these symptoms you should consult a physician.[2]
Patients should not use Vardenafil if they have any allergies to any of the ingredients in the medication, if they have pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, if they are taking any form of nitrate medications as this combination could cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure. Patients also should not take Vardenafil if they have taken another medication that contains another PDE5 inhibitor such as Tadafil, Sildenafil, or Ritonavir. And patients also should not take Vardenafil if they use recreational drugs known as poppers such as amyl nitrate, butyl nitrate.