Levitra Patient Information

Levitra 20 mg film-coated tablets (Vardenafil as hydrochloride trihydrate)

The active substance is vardenafil (as hydrochloride trihydrate). Each tablet contains 20 mg of vardenafil.

The other ingredients of the tablets are: In the tablet core: crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica. In the film coat: macrogol 400, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), ferric oxide yellow (E172), ferric oxide red (E172).

What Levitra is and what it does

Levitra 20 mg film-coated tablets are orange with the BAYER cross on one side and the strength (20) on the other. Each pack contains 2, 4, 8 or 12 tablets.

Not all pack sizes may be marketed.

Levitra is a treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) in men - the medical name for difficulties in getting or keeping an erection.

About erection difficulties
At least one in ten men has trouble getting or keeping an erection at some time. There may be physical causes or psychological causes, or most likely, a mixture of both. Whatever the cause, the effect is the same: muscle and blood vessel changes mean that not enough blood stays in the penis to make it hard and keep it hard.

How Levitra works
Erections are usually controlled by a balance of two body chemicals. The first brings on erections; the second takes erections away. If the two chemicals are out of balance, you can lose an erection before it starts. Levitra works by reducing the action of the second chemical (called PDE-5). Levitra allows an erection to last long enough for you to satisfactorily complete sexual activity. It is taken about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity and it will only work when you are sexually stimulated.

Before you take Levitra

Do not use Levitra:

• If you have an allergy (if you're hypersensitive) to vardenafil or any of the other ingredients of Levitra. See the ingredients in the box, over the page. Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, itching, swollen face or lips and shortness of breath.
• If you take nitrates, such as glycerol trinitrate for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrite. Taking these drugs with Levitra could seriously affect your blood pressure.
• If you have a severe heart or liver problem
• If you are having kidney dialysis
• If you have recently had a stroke or heart attack
• If you have low blood pressure, or used to
• If your family has a history of degenerative eye diseases (such as retinitis pigmentosa)

• If you have heart trouble. It may be risky for you to have sex
• If you have a physical condition affecting the shape of the penis. This includes conditions called angulation, Peyronie's disease and cavernosal fibrosis
• If you have an illness that can cause erections which won't go away (priapism). These include sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma and leukaemia
• If you have stomach ulcers (also called gastric or peptic ulcers)
• If you have a bleeding disorder (such as haemophilia)
• If you are using any other treatments for erection difficulties.

• You can take Levitra with or without food - but preferably not after a heavy or high-fat meal as this may delay the effect.
• Don't drink grapefruit juice when you use Levitra. It can interfere with the usual effect of the medicine.
• Alcoholic drink can make erection difficulties worse.

• Nitrates, medicines for angina, or nitric oxide donors, such as amyl nitrite. Taking these medicines with Levitra could seriously affect your blood pressure. Talk to a doctor without taking Levitra
• Ritonavir or indinavir, medicines for HIV
• Ketoconazole or itraconazole, anti-fungal medicines
• Erythromycin, an antibiotic
• Alpha-blockers, a type of medicine used to treat high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

How to take Levitra

How much to take and how to take it

Your doctor will have suggested a suitable dose for you.

• Always take Levitra exactly as your doctor has instructed you, and check with the doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure.
• Tell the doctor if you think Levitra is too strong or too weak. He or she may suggest a different dose, depending on how well it works for you. Take a Levitra tablet about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. With sexual stimulation you may achieve an erection anywhere from 25 minutes up to four to five hours after taking Levitra.
• Swallow one tablet with a glass of water
• You can take Levitra with or without food - but preferably not after a heavy or high-fat meal.

Possible side effects

Taking Levitra can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Most of the effects are mild or moderate.

Very common side effects (These may affect 1 in 10 people or more)

• Headaches
• Flushing

• Indigestion
• Feeling sick (nausea)
• Dizziness
• Blocked or runny nose

Uncommon side effects (These may affect less than 1 in 100 people)

• Sensitivity of the eye to sunlight
• High or low blood pressure
• Fainting
• Stiffness in muscles
• Effects on vision
• Erectile disturbances (such as spontaneous or painful erections)

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Further Reading

CLICK HERE for a list of periodical articles relating to Levitra  (Vardenafil)