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Levitra (Vardenafil) is an
oral therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Having the
long-lasting effect of 25 hours, and the start time of 25 min, Levitra
represents an uncontested advantage in comparison to Viagra. |
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What is Levitra?
- Levitra relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to
particular areas of the body.
- Levitra is used to treat erectile dysfunction
(impotence).
- Levitra may also be used for purposes other than
those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my doctor before
taking Levitra?
- Do not take Levitra if you are also using a nitrate
drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin
(Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, and others), isosorbide
dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide
mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found in some
recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). Taking
Levitra with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood
pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack.
- A small number of patients have had a sudden loss of
eyesight after taking
Levitra. This type of vision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to
the optic nerve of the eye. It is not clear whether
Levitra is the actual cause of such vision loss. Sudden vision loss
with Levitra use has occurred most often in people with heart disease,
diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain
pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years
old.
- Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor if you have:
- heart disease or heart rhythm problems;
- a recent history (in the past 6 months) of a
heart attack, angina (chest pain), or congestive heart failure;
- a history of stroke or blood clots;
- a personal or family history of "Long QT
syndrome";
- high or low blood pressure;
- liver disease;
- kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
- a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia,
multiple myeloma, or leukemia;
- a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
- a stomach ulcer;
- retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of
the eye);
- a physical deformity of the penis (such as
Peyronie's disease); or
- if you have been told you should not have sexual
intercourse for health reasons.
- If you have any of these conditions, you may not be
able to use Levitra or you may need a dosage adjustment or special
tests during treatment.
- FDA pregnancy category B: Although Levitra is not for
use in women, this medication is not expected to be harmful to an
unborn baby. Do not use
Levitra without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to
become pregnant during treatment.
- Although Levitra is not for use in women, it is not
known if Levitra passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are
breast-feeding a baby.
- You may need a lower dose of this medication if you
are older than 65. Follow your doctor's instructions.
How should I take Levitra?
- ake each dose with a full glass of water.
- Avoid taking High-fat food before taking Levitra as
it may cause the medicine to take more time to start working.
- Levitra is usually taken only when needed, 30 - 90
minutes before sexual activity. The medication can help achieve an
erection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur
just by taking a pill.
- Do not take Levitra more than once a day. Allow 24
hours to pass between doses.
- Store this medication at room temperature away from
moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
- Since Levitra is used as needed, you are not likely
to be on a dosing schedule.
What happens if I overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention if you think you
have used too much of this medicine.
- Symptoms of a Levitra overdose may include back pain,
muscle pain, or vision problems.
What should I avoid while taking Levitra?
- Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of
the side effects of
Levitra.
- Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with
Levitra. Discuss the use of grapefruit products with your doctor. Do
not increase or decrease the amount of grapefruit products in your diet
without first talking to your doctor.
What are the possible side effects of Levitra?
- If you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain,
numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sexual
activity, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a
serious side effect of
Levitra.
- Stop using Levitra and get emergency medical help if
you have sudden vision loss.
- Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of
your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Stop using Levitra and call your doctor at once if
you have any of these serious side effects:
- chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to
the arm or shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
- irregular heartbeat;
- swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;
- shortness of breath;
- vision changes;
- feeling light-headed, fainting; or
- penis erection that is painful or lasts 4 hours
or longer.
- Continue taking Levitra and talk with your doctor if
you have any of these less serious side effects:
- warmth or redness in your face, neck, or chest;
- stuffy nose;
- headache;
- upset stomach; or
- back pain.
- Side effects other than those listed here may also
occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or
that is especially bothersome.
What drug(s) may interact with Levitra?
Do not take Levitra if you are taking the following
medications:
- nitroglycerin-type drugs for the heart or chest pain
such as amyl nitrite, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate,
nitroglycerin, even if these are only taken occasionally. This includes
some recreational drugs called 'poppers' which also contain amyl
nitrate and butyl nitrate.
Levitra may also interact with the following medications:
- alpha blockers such as alfuzosin
(UroXatral®), doxazosin (Cardura®), prazosin
(Minipress®), tamsulosin (Flomax®), or terazosin
(Hytrin®), used to treat high blood pressure or an enlarged
prostate.
- arsenic trioxide
- bosentan
- certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin,
erythromycin, sparfloxacin, troleandomycin
- certain medicines used for seizures such as
carbamazepine, phenytoin, and phenobarbital
- certain medicines for the treatment of HIV infection
or AIDS
- certain medicines to control the heart rhythm (e.g.,
amiodarone, disopyramide, dofetilide, flecainide, ibutilide, quinidine,
procainamide, propafenone, sotalol)
- chloroquine
- cisapride
- diltiazem
- grapefruit juice
- medicines for fungal infections (fluconazole,
itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
- methadone
- nicardipine
- pentamidine
- pimozide
- rifabutin, rifampin, or rifapentine
- some medicines for treating depression or mood
problems (amoxapine, maprotiline, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, nefazodone,
pimozide, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants)
- verapamil
What is the shelf life of the pills?
- The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is
different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the
date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on
when they were manufactured.
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