Levitra

Generic name: Vardenafil

Vardenafil tablets

What are vardenafil tablets?

You and your doctor should talk about LEVITRA when you start taking it and at regular checkups. If you do not understand the information, or have questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

LEVITRA is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men.

ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. A man who has trouble getting or keeping an erection should see his doctor for help if the condition bothers him. LEVITRA may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited.

How does levitra work?

 

When a man is sexually stimulated, his body's normal physical response is to increase blood flow to his penis. This results in an erection. LEVITRA helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with ED get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity. Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his penis decreases, and his erection goes away.

LEVITRA does not:

• cure ED

• increase a man's sexual desire

• protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak to your doctor about ways to guard against sexually transmitted diseases.

• serve as a male form of birth control

LEVITRA is only for men with ED. LEVITRA is not for women or children. LEVITRA must be used only under a doctor's care.

WHO CAN TAKE LEVITRA?

LEVITRA has been shown to be effective in men over the age of 18 years who have erectile dysfunction, including men with diabetes or who have undergone prostatectomy.

Who should not take levitra?

Do not take LEVITRA if you:

• take any medicines called "nitrates" (See "What important information should you know about LEVITRA?"). Nitrates are commonly used to treat angina. Angina is a symptom of heart disease and can cause pain in your chest, jaw, or down your arm.

Medicines called nitrates include nitroglycerin that is found in tablets, sprays, ointments, pastes, or patches. Nitrates can also be found in other medicines such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate. Some recreational drugs called "poppers" also contain nitrates, such as amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate. Do not use LEVITRA if you are using these drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if any of your medicines are nitrates.

• you have been told by your healthcare provider to not have sexual activity because of health problems. Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially if your heart is already weak from a heart attack or heart disease.

• are allergic to LEVITRA or any of its ingredients. The active ingredient in LEVITRA is called vardenafil. See the end of this leaflet for a complete list of ingredients.

What should you discuss with your doctor before taking levitra?

Before taking LEVITRA, tell your doctor about all your medical problems, including if you:

• have heart problems such as angina, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack. Ask your doctor if it is safe for you to have sexual activity.

• have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled

• have had a stroke

• or any family members have a rare heart condition known as prolongation of the QT interval (long QT syndrome)

• have liver problems

• have kidney problems and require dialysis

• have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease

• have ever had severe vision loss, or if you have an eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)

• have stomach ulcers

• have a bleeding problem

• have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease

• have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours

• have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

How should you take levitra?

 

Take LEVITRA exactly as your doctor prescribes. LEVITRA comes in different doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg). For most men, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. Take LEVITRA no more than once a day. Doses should be taken at least 24 hours apart. The dose is usually taken about 1 hour before sexual activity. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.

Some men can only take a low dose of LEVITRA because of medical conditions or medicines they take. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you. Do not take double or extra doses.

• If you are older than 65 or have liver problems, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of

LEVITRA.

• If you have prostate problems or high blood pressure, for which you take medicines called alpha-blockers, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of LEVITRA.

• If you are taking certain other medicines your doctor may prescribe a lower starting dose and limit you to one dose of LEVITRA in a 72-hour (3 days) period.

Take 1 LEVITRA tablet about 1 hour (60 minutes) before sexual activity. Some form of sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to happen with LEVITRA. LEVITRA may be taken with or without meals.

Do not change your dose of LEVITRA without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may lower your

dose or raise your dose, depending on how your body reacts to LEVITRA.

If you take too much LEVITRA, call your doctor or emergency room right away.

What if I miss a dose?

Since levitra is used as needed, you are not likely to be on a dosing schedule.

Can other medications affect levitra?

 

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. LEVITRA and other medicines may affect each other.

Always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any medicines. Especially tell your doctor if you take any of the following:

• medicines called nitrates (See "What important information should you know about LEVITRA?")

• medicines called alpha-blockers. These include Hytrin® (terazosin HCl), Flomax® (tamsulosin HCl), Cardura® (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress® (prazosin HCl) or Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl). Alpha-blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure. In some patients the use of PDE5 inhibitor drugs, including LEVITRA, with alpha-blockers can lower blood pressure significantly leading to fainting. You should contact the prescribing physician if alpha-blockers or other drugs that lower blood pressure are prescribed by another healthcare provider.

• medicines that treat abnormal heartbeat. These include quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol.

• ritonavir (Norvir^®) or indinavir sulfate (Crixivan^®)

• ketoconazole or itraconazole (such as Nizoral® or Sporanox®)

• erythromycin

• other medicines or treatments for ED

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What are the possible side effects of Levitra / Vardenafil?

 

The most common side effects with LEVITRA are headache, flushing, stuffy or runny nose, indigestion, upset stomach, or dizziness. These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Call your doctor if you get a side effect that bothers you or one that will not go away.

LEVITRA may uncommonly cause:

• an erection that won't go away (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism must be treated as soon as possible or lasting damage can happen to your penis including the inability to have erections.

• color vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green.

In rare instances, men taking PDE5 inhibitors (oral erectile dysfunction medicines, including LEVITRA) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related directly to these medicines, to other factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or to a combination of these. If you experience sudden decrease or loss of vision, stop taking PDE5 inhibitors, including LEVITRA, and call a doctor right away.

These are not all the side effects of LEVITRA. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What should I watch for while taking Vardenafil?

If you notice any changes in your vision while taking this drug, notify your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible. Stop using vardenafil right away if you have a loss of sight in one or both eyes. Contact your healthcare provider immediately.

Contact your physician immediately if the erection lasts longer than 4 hours or if it becomes painful. This may be a sign of priapism and must be treated immediately to prevent permanent damage.

If you experience symptoms of nausea, dizziness, chest pain or arm pain upon initiation of sexual activity after vardenafil use, you should refrain from further activity and should discuss the episode with your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible.

Do not change the dose of your medication. Please call your prescriber or health care professional to determine if your dose needs to be reevaluated.

Using vardenafil does not protect you or your partner against HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted diseases.

Where can I keep my medicine?

 

•  Store LEVITRA at room temperature between 59° and 86° F (15° to 30° C).
• Keep LEVITRA and all medicines out of the reach of children.

Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

What are the ingredients of levitra?

 

Active Ingredient: vardenafil hydrochloride

Inactive Ingredients: 
macrocrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide.

Norvir (ritonavir) Crixivan (indinavir sulfate).

Nizoral (ketoconazole)

Sporanox (itraconazole)

Hytrin (terazosin HCl)

Flomax (tamsulosin HCl)

Cardura (doxazosin mesylate)

Minipress (prazosin HCl)

Uroxatral (alfuzosin HCl)