Levitra

Brand Names

Levitra, Staxyn

What is Levitra

Levitra (vardenafil HCL) is a prescription medicine that is used in the treatment of impotence. It is produced by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline and Schering-Plough.

Side effects of Levitra

The most common side effects of Levitra may include:

• headache
• upset stomach
• heartburn
• flushing
• stuffy or runny nose
• flu-like symptoms

You should stop taking this medicine and contact you doctor at once if the following serious side effects occur:

• erection that lasts longer than 4 hours
• sudden severe loss of vision
• blurred vision
• changes in color vision (seeing blue tinge on objects, difficulty telling the difference between blue and green or difficulty seeing at night)
• dizziness
• sudden decrease or loss of hearing
• ringing in ears
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles or lower legs
• hoarseness
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• fainting
• hives
• rash

Indication

Levitra treats erectile dysfunction. It works by blocking a chemical that reverses an erection by making blood to flow out of the penis. If you have more blood in the penis, it means that you have an improved erection.

Precautions

Before taking Levitra, you should inform your doctor if you have:

• Heart disease
• Liver disease or liver failure
• Kidney disease that requires dialysis
• A history of a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening arrhythmia within the past 6 months
• Retinitis pigmentosa, which is a rare eye problem
• A history of severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Stomach ulcers
• Bleeding problems
• Sickle cell anemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Leukemia
• A history of priapism which is a painful erection lasting longer than 6 hours
• Any condition that causes a penis deformation such as angulation, Peyronie's disease or cavernosal fibrosis
• Any allergies
• A rare heart condition known as prolongation of the QT interval (long QT syndrome)
• Are taking other medicines, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, antacids, vitamins and herbal supplements

Dosage forms

Levitra dose for Erectile Dysfunction

For people suffering from impotence, the recommended starting dosage is Levitra 10 mg one hour before sexual intercourse. Your doctor may change your dose, it depends on how well it works and whether you have any side effects.

The starting dose Levitra 2.5 mg is recommended for people who:

• Are over the age of 65
• Have moderate to severe liver disease
• Are taking certain medications