Levitra

Generic Name: vardenafil HCl
Brand Name: Levitra

Indications

Levitra is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction

Dosage and Administration

Levitra is available as 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets.

Normal Dosage: For most patients, the recommended starting dose of Levitra is 10 mg, taken orally approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity. The dose may be increased to a maximum recommended dose of 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on efficacy and side effects. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. Levitra can be taken with or without food. Sexual stimulation is required for a response to treatment.

Overdose: overdose symptoms are not known, but are likely to include chest pain, back pain, dizziness, an irregular heartbeat, abnormal vision, and swelling of the ankles or legs.

Drug Description

Vardenafil HCl is designated chemically as piperazine, 1-[[3-(1,4-dihydro-5-methyl-4-oxo-7-propylimidazo[5,1-f][1,2,4]triazin-2-yl)-4-ethoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-4-ethyl-, monohydrochloride and has the following structural formula:

Side Effects

The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.

• Headache
• Flushing
• Dizziness
• Inflammation of the lining of the nose (rhinitis) causing a blocked or runny nose
• Indigestion (dyspepsia)
• Nausea
• Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, blue/green tinge to vision, watery eyes
• Sleepiness
• Increased heart rate
• Awareness of your heart beat (palpitations)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Low blood pressure (hypotension)
• Fainting (syncope)
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds
• Abnormal reaction of the skin to light, usually a rash (photosensitivity)
• Pain or increased tension in the muscles
• Prolonged or painful erections
• Anxiety
• Chest pain

Precautions

• Do not take any other drug used to treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others), without first talking to your doctor.
• This medication should not be taken with grapefruit or grapefruit juice. It can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice, and the interaction may have dangerous effects.
• This medicine may cause dizziness and visual disturbances. You should make sure you are aware of your reactions to this medicine before driving or operating machinery.
• This medicine may be taken with or without food, but its onset of action may be delayed if it is taken with a meal high in fat.
• Although  this medication is not indicated for use by women, it is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. This  medication should not be taken by women.

 

Drug Interactions

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications:

• any other drug used to treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others)
• the antibiotic drug erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab, others)
• an antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• a medication used to treat irregular heartbeats such as quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, Quin-Release), procainamide (Procan SR, Procanbid, Pronestyl), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), or sotalol (Betapace, Sorine)
• the HIV medications indinavir (Crixivan) or ritonavir (Norvir)

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