What is Levitra?
LEVITRA® is an FDA-approved oral prescription medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It is available in 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets and is taken only when needed. Take Levitra no more than once a day. back to top
What Levitra does
Levitra helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with ED get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity. Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his penis should decrease and his erection should go away. Levitra has been clinically shown to improve erectile function even in men who had other health factors, like diabetes or prostate surgery. Levitra provided first time success and reliable improvement of erection quality for many men. Men reported having harder erections and improved overall sexual experiences. back to top
How Levitra Works
The active ingredient in Levitra works specifically on the chain of events that occur in the penis during arousal. Levitra belongs to a class of drugs called "PDE-5 inhibitors." It works by increasing blood flow to the penis to improve erectile function. In clinical trials, Levitra was shown to help men get and keep an erection for successful intercourse. Levitra won't cause an embarrassing, instant erection. For most men, Levitra did not cause an erection for longer than they were sexually stimulated.
Levitra safty and side effects
Do not take Levitra if you:
Take any form of medication known as "nitrates"
(a type of medicine used to relieve chest pain that can occur as a result of heart disease). Taking Levitra in combination with nitrates (such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, and isosorbide dinitrate) may result in serious side effects.
Take medicines called "alpha-blockers"
(sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure). Taking Levitra with alpha-blockers may drop your blood pressure to an unsafe level.
Your doctor determines that sexual activity poses a health riskfor you.
You have a known sensitivity or allergy to any component of Levitra.
The most common side effects with Levitra are:
Headaches
Flushing
Stuffy or runny nose
Levitra may uncommonly cause:
An erection that won't go away (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism must be treated as soon as possible or lasting damage can happen to your penis including the inability to have erections.
Vision changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty telling the difference between the colors blue and green.
These are not all the side effects of Levitra . For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Levitra should not be taken more than once a day. Your doctor can advise you whether Levitra is appropriate for you and can select a dose that is right for you. Remember, Levitra does not protect you or your partner from sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. Before using Levitra , you should tell your doctor about any medical problems you have and all medications you are currently taking.
LEVITRA is a prescription medicine that is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
Men taking nitrate drugs, often used to control chest pain (also known as angina), should not take LEVITRA. Such combinations could cause blood pressure to drop to an unsafe level.
As with all ED drugs, there is a rare risk of an erection lasting longer than four hours. To avoid long-term injury, seek immediate medical attention. LEVITRA does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. In rare instances, men taking PDE5 inhibitors (oral erectile dysfunction medicine, including LEVITRA) reported a sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes, or a sudden loss or decrease in hearing, sometimes with ringing in the ears and dizziness. It is not possible to determine whether these events are related directly to these medicines or to other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking PDE5 inhibitors, including LEVITRA, and call a doctor right away.
Discuss your medical conditions, including heart problems, and medications, including alpha blockers prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure, with your doctor to ensure LEVITRA is right for you and that you are healthy enough for sexual activity. LEVITRA is not recommended for men with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
The starting dose of LEVITRA is 10 mg taken no more than once per day. Your doctor will decide the dose that is right for you. In patients taking alpha blockers, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of LEVITRA. In patients taking certain medications such as ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, atazanavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin and clarithromycin, lower doses of LEVITRA are recommended, and time between doses of LEVITRA may need to be extended.
In clinical trials, the most commonly reported side effects were headache, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. LEVITRA is available in 2.5-mg, 5-mg, 10-mg, and 20-mg tablets.
