LEVITRA® is a medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction. Only your doctor can decide if it is right for you. These questions and answers contain important information about LEVITRA. However, they are not meant to take the place of your doctor's advice. Read this information carefully before you start taking LEVITRA. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand any of this information or if you want to know more about LEVITRA. This medicine can help many men when it is used as defined by their doctors. However, LEVITRA is not for everyone. It is intended for use only by men who have a condition called erectile dysfunction. LEVITRA must never be used by men who are taking medicines that contain nitrates of any kind, at any time. This includes nitroglycerin. If you take LEVITRA with any nitrate medicine your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe or life threatening level.

What is Levitra? (back to questions)

Levitra® (Vardenafil) is the newest treatment option available for men affected by erectile dysfunction (ED). Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, Levitra has been available on prescription in the UK since 2003. Levitra comes in doses of 5mg, 10mg and 20mg so it is possible to optimize treatment to each individual patient. As Levitra is a prescription medication, it is not possible to purchase it until a doctor has completed a consultation. If you wish to buy Levitra, you can complete an online consultation which will be reviewed by one of our doctors. The online consultation is free of charge and you are not obliged to buy anything. To complete your free online consultation please click on the link above.

How does Levitra work? (back to questions)

When a man is sexually aroused, the arteries in the penis relax and widen, allowing more blood to flow. While the arteries expand and harden, the veins that normally carry blood away from the penis become compressed, restricting the blood flow out of the penis. With more blood flowing in and less flowing out, the penis enlarges, resulting in an erection. Levitra acts in the same way as Viagra, by blocking an enzyme called Phosphodiesterase Type 5, or PDE-5. This helps the smooth tissue in the penis to relax, which allows for more blood to enter much in the same way as Viagra works. However, Levitra comes in lower doses and has been proven to last a longer than a Viagra tablet.

How effective is Levitra? (back to questions)

4,400 men with ED participated in over 50 trials to test the effectiveness of Levitra. The studies revealed a clinically meaningful and statistically significant result compared with a placebo. A further 2,431 patients underwent four independent trials for Levitra in the US. Two trials were conducted in the general ED population and two in special groups (patients with diabetes; and post-prostatectomy patients). The results for all four trials were just as significant: Levitra significantly improved the rates of achieving an erection compared to placebo (80% for Levitra 20mg, compared to a 52% response in the placebo). Conclusions - Levitra is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for ED that has a period of responsiveness of up to 12 hours in patients 65 years or older, and 9 and a half hours in younger participants. Overall, 85% of men achieved improved erections in clinical trials .

Is Levitra for everybody? (back to questions)

Always ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for sexual activity.

If you take any medicines that contain nitrates - either regularly or as needed - you should never take LEVITRA. If you take LEVITRA with any nitrate medicine or recreational drug containing nitrates, your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level. You could get dizzy, faint, or even have a heart attack or stroke. Nitrates are found in many prescription medicines that are used to treat angina (chest pain due to heart disease) such as:

• nitroglycerin (sprays, ointments, skin patches or pastes, and tablets that are swallowed or dissolved in the mouth)
• isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate (tablets that are swallowed, chewed, or dissolved in the mouth)
  

LEVITRA is only for patients with erectile dysfunction. LEVITRA is not for newborns, children, or women. Do not let anyone else take your LEVITRA. LEVITRA must be used only under a doctor's supervision.

What does Levitra not do? (back to questions)

• LEVITRA does not cure erectile dysfunction. It is a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
• LEVITRA does not protect you or your partner from getting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-the virus that causes AIDS.
• LEVITRA is not a hormone or an aphrodisiac.
  

What should I tell my Doctor? (back to questions)

Only your doctor can decide if LEVITRA is right for you. LEVITRA can cause mild, temporary lowering of your blood pressure. You will need to have a thorough medical exam to diagnose your erectile dysfunction and to find out if you can safely take LEVITRA alone or with your other medicines. Your doctor should determine if your heart is healthy enough to handle the extra strain of having sex.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you:

have ever had any heart problems (e.g., angina, chest pain, heart failure, irregular heart beats, or heart attack) have ever had a stroke have low or high blood pressure have a rare inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa have ever had any kidney problems have ever had any liver problems have ever had any blood problems, including sickle cell anemia or leukemia are allergic to Vardenafil or any of the other ingredients of LEVITRA tablets have a deformed penis, Peyronie's disease, or ever had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours have stomach ulcers or any types of bleeding problems
• are taking any other medicines
  
  

Can I take Levitra with other medications? (back to questions)

Some medicines can change the way LEVITRA works. Tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking. Do not start or stop taking any medicines before checking with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes prescription and nonprescription medicines or remedies. Remember, LEVITRA should never be used with medicines that contain nitrates (see Is LEVITRA for everybody). If you are taking a protease inhibitor, your dose may be adjusted (see How do I know what dose to take.)LEVITRA should not be used with any other medical treatments that cause erections. These treatments include pills, medicines that are injected or inserted into the penis, implants or vacuum pumps.

How do I know what dose to take? (back to questions)

LEVITRA comes in different doses (5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg). If you do not get the results you expect, talk with your doctor. You and your doctor can determine the dose that works best for you.

• Do not take more LEVITRA than your doctor prescribes.
• If you think you need a larger dose of LEVITRA, check with your doctor.
• LEVITRA should not be taken more than once a day.
  

Take LEVITRA about one hour before you plan to have sex. Beginning in about 30 minutes and for up to 9 hours, LEVITRA can help you get an erection if you are sexually excited. If you take LEVITRA after a high-fat meal (such as a cheeseburger and french fries), the medicine may take a little longer to start working. LEVITRA can help you get an erection when you are sexually excited. You will not get an erection just by taking the pill.

What are the possible side affects? (back to questions)

Like all medicines LEVITRA can cause some side effects. These effects are usually mild to moderate and usually don't last longer than a few hours. Some of these side effects are more likely to occur with higher doses. The most common side effects of LEVITRA are headache, flushing of the face, and upset stomach. Less common side effects that may occur are temporary changes in color vision (such as trouble telling the difference between blue and green objects or having a blue color tinge to them), eyes being more sensitive to light, or blurred vision.

In rare instances, men have reported an erection that lasts many hours. You should call a doctor immediately if you ever have an erection that lasts more than 4 hours. If not treated right away, permanent damage to your penis could occur.

Heart attack, stroke, irregular heart beats, and death have been reported rarely in men taking LEVITRA. Most, but not all, of these men had heart problems before taking this medicine. It is not possible to determine whether these events were directly related to LEVITRA.

LEVITRA may cause other side effects besides those listed on this sheet. If you want more information or develop any side effects or symptoms you are concerned about, call your doctor.

What if I accidently overdose? (back to questions)

In case of accidental overdose, call your doctor right away.

How should I store Viagra? (back to questions)

Keep LEVITRA out of the reach of children. Keep LEVITRA in its original container. Store at room temperature, 59°-86°F (15°-30°C).