Levitra

Levitra is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence in adult men. You can use Levitra to get and keep an erection when you are sexually aroused.

Levitra contains vardenafil, which is a PDE5 inhibitor (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor).

How does Levitra work?

• Levitra works to relax the smooth muscle in the blood vessels of your penis so you get an erection.
• It helps your blood vessels to stay relaxed and allows more blood to flow into your penis.
• This blood flow helps you keep your erection for longer.

Levitra will not work if you are not sexually aroused.

You can use 1 Levitra tablet once a day. You should take Levitra about 25 minutes to an hour before you want to have sex.

Even if you have been prescribed the lowest dose of 5mg, taking more than you need will not make it work faster.

The maximum dose of Levitra is 20mg. If you take a dose higher than this, it will not make it more effective. You’re more likely to have side effects if you take more than 20mg of Levitra and may need to see an emergency doctor.

If you have taken more Levitra tablets than advised, contact your doctor right away. If your erection lasts longer than 4 hours (also called priapism), call 999.

Levitra is available in 5mg, 10mg and 20mg dosage strengths. The usual starting dose is 10mg, but a doctor will prescribe you an appropriate Levitra dosage depending on your medical history.

• The lowest dose of Levitra is 5mg. This might be used if you have any other medical conditions or take any medicines that cause low blood pressure.
• The standard dose for Levitra is 10mg. You will be prescribed 10mg if you have no medical conditions, or if you have tried the 5mg dose and it was not effective.
• The highest dose for Levitra is 20mg. This might be used if the standard 10mg dose does not work for you.

You can use 1 Levitra tablet once a day. Even if you have been prescribed the lowest dose of 5mg, taking more than you need will not make it work faster.

The maximum dose of Levitra is 20mg. If you take a dose higher than this, it will not make it more effective. You are more likely to have side effects if you take more than 20mg of Levitra and may need to see an emergency doctor.

You should contact your doctor immediately if you have taken more Levitra tablets than advised as you may experience severe back pain or serious side effects. If your erection lasts longer than 4 hours (also called priapism), call 999.

The following are serious, but rare side effects. If you notice any of these, you or your partner should call 999 so you get medical attention urgently:

• an allergic reaction, like wheezing, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat
• chest pain: if this happens, do not use nitrate medications (given for angina)
• a prolonged or painful erection lasting more than 4 hours
• a sudden loss of vision
• seizures or fits

You should watch out for any dizziness or blurry vision after you take sildenafil. If you experience this, you should not drive or operate machinery.

Levitra might not be appropriate for you to use, for example, if you:

• do not have erectile dysfunction
• are taking other erectile dysfunction treatment, such as viagra (sildenafil) or cialis (tadalafil)
• are a woman
• are under 18 years old
• take nitric oxide donors or ‘poppers’
• have an allergy to any of the ingredients in levitra
• take medicines called nitrates to treat chest pain or heart problems like angina
• take treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension such as riociguat
• have low blood pressure or very high blood pressure
• have recently had a heart attack or a stroke
• have ever had loss of vision (also known as NAION, or ‘stroke of the eye’)
• have a family history of eye disease (such as retinitis pigmentosa)
• have severe heart disease
• have severe liver disease
• are having kidney dialysis

You should not use Levitra without speaking to a doctor first if you have:

• sickle cell anaemia
• leukaemia (blood cancer)
• multiple myeloma (bone cancer)
• any deformity of the penis or peyronie’s disease
• a current stomach ulcer
• a bleeding disorder, such as haemophilia
• any heart problems where your heart might not be able to take extra stress

If you’re unsure about anything, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.

If you have a sudden loss of vision when using Levitra, stop taking the tablets and contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Levitra tablets can interact with other medicines. These drug interactions affect how well Levitra works or how the other medicines work.

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist, if you’re taking

• angina or chest pain treatment called nitrates, such as glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) or isosorbide mononitrate
• HIV treatment called protease inhibitors, such as ritonavir or indinavir
• alpha-blockers for high blood pressure, such as doxazosin or alfuzosin
• treatment for cardiac arrhythmias, such as amiodarone, sotalol, quinidine or procainamide.
• medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as finasteride
• recreational drugs that contain amyl nitrates, such as ‘poppers’
• certain antibiotics, such as erythromycin or clarithromycin
• certain antifungal medication, such as ketoconazole or itraconazole

You can take Levitra with or without food. It’s best not to eat a large, oily or greasy meal before taking Levitra as this can slow down the effect.

You should avoid drinking grapefruit juice when taking Levitra as this can affect how the medication works.

You should avoid drinking alcohol in large amounts before you take Levitra, as this can make it difficult for you to maintain an erection.

You might get side effects when you take Levitra. These side effects usually last for a short period of time. You can speak to your doctor at any time for advice on what to do.

Common side effects of Levitra include:

• headaches
• increase in body temperature (hot flush)
• indigestion
• stuffy nose or a runny nose
• dizziness

Less common side effects of Levitra include:

• feeling sick or being sick
• diarrhoea
• muscle aches
• difficulty in sleeping or feeling sleepy
• difficulty in breathing
• dry mouth
• a fast heart rate
• palpitations (pounding sensation in your chest)
• changes in blood pressure
• acid reflux
• feeling tired or hot
• changes in vision
• prolonged erection
• skin rashes
• facial swelling

You can read the patient information leaflet inside your pack of Levitra for more details.

Which active ingredients does it contain?

The active ingredient in Levitra tablets is vardenafil (5mg, 10mg or 20mg).

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

If you have an allergy or hypersensitivity to any of these ingredients please speak to a doctor for advice before taking Levitra.

Check the patient information leaflet for the most up to date details on the ingredients of generic Levitra tablets.

How should the product be disposed of?

If you want to dispose of your Levitra tablets, take them to your local pharmacy. Do not throw away your Levitra tablets in the bin or down the drain at home.

How should the medication be stored?

You should store Levitra in its original packaging, below 30°C and away from sunlight and moisture. Keep Levitra away from children or pets.

What does Levitra look like?

Levitra tablets are round and orange and marked with the BAYER-cross on one side.

In which pack sizes is Levitra available?

Levitra is available in pack sizes of between 4 and 28 tablets from Asda Online Doctor.

Information on the manufacturer

The company that holds the marketing authorisation of Levitra is Bayer AG, 51368 Leverkusen, Germany.

Levitra is manufactured by Bayer AG and distributed by Bayer plc, 400 South Oak Way, Reading, RG2 6AD.

You might find that you lose an erection once every so often, but normally it’s nothing to worry about. If it keeps happening, you could have erectile dysfunction (ED). This means you find it difficult to get and maintain an erection, even when you are sexually aroused.

Erectile dysfunction can happen if you:

• have a condition that affects the blood vessels in your body, like severe diabetes
• use certain medications, like antidepressants
• use recreational drugs (like ‘poppers’)
• drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week
• smoke or are overweight