Levitra

Introduction

Written by Patricia Weiser, PharmD
Medically reviewed by Alex Brewer, PharmD, MBA
Updated on August 31, 2023

Vardenafil (var DEN a fil) is a generic medication prescribed for erectile dysfunction. Vardenafil belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

This article doesn’t provide coupons for all forms of vardenafil. To find coupons for vardenafil oral disintegrating tablet, see this article.

Side effects of vardenafil

Vardenafil may cause mild or serious side effects. More common mild side effects of vardenafil and its serious side effects are listed below. This article doesn’t include all possible side effects of the drug. Side effects can vary based on your age, overall health, and any other medications you take.

To learn more about vardenafil’s side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also refer to the prescribing information for vardenafil listed in the “Resources” section.

Mild side effects

More common mild side effects reported with some forms of vardenafil are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible mild side effects of the drug. To learn more about vardenafil’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for vardenafil listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, mild side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If the side effects are bothersome, tell your doctor or pharmacist. They may be able to suggest ways to manage them.

Mild side effects of vardenafil oral tablet and vardenafil oral disintegrating tablet may include:

• headache
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color) in the face, neck, chest, and arms
• stuffy nose
• indigestion
• mild allergic reaction*

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for vardenafil” section.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects of vardenafil are listed below.

This article doesn’t include all possible serious side effects of the drug. To learn more about vardenafil’s side effects, refer to the prescribing information for vardenafil listed in the “Resources” section.

With many drugs, serious side effects are possible but not common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. If you’re having severe symptoms or a medical emergency, call 911 or a local emergency number.

In general, vardenafil’s serious side effects include:

• sudden vision loss in one or both eyes
• sudden hearing loss
• painful erection lasting longer than 4 hours
• heart rhythm changes
• severe allergic reaction†

* For details about this side effect, see the “Interactions and warnings for vardenafil” section.

Common questions about vardenafil

Below you’ll find answers to a few commonly asked questions about vardenafil.

Is vardenafil similar to sildenafil or tadalafil?

Yes, vardenafil is similar to sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis). All three drugs belong to the same group of drugs known as phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. Vardenafil, sildenafil, or tadalafil can be used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). But unlike sildenafil and vardenafil, tadalafil is also used to treat to treat an enlarged prostate.

These medications differ in how long they work to treat ED. A dose of tadalafil keeps working for up to 36 hours, while the effects of vardenafil and sildenafil wear off a few hours after taking a dose.

Talk with your doctor for more information on how vardenafil compares with other ED medications.

What brand names are available for vardenafil?

Vardenafil is only available as a generic medication. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generic drugs are believed to be as effective and safe as brand-name drugs. And generic drugs typically cost less than brand-name drugs.

In the past, vardenafil was available as the brand-name drugs Levitra and Staxyn. If you’d like to know more about brand or generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How does vardenafil work? And how long does it take to start working?

Vardenafil can help you get an erection by supporting increased blood flow to the penis.

When sexually aroused, your body releases a signaling molecule called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). When cGMP is present, blood vessels in the penis relax, blood flow increases, and an erection occurs.

Eventually an enzyme* called phosphodiesterase-type 5 (PDE-5) breaks down cGMP. Without cGMP, the erection ends.

In people with ED, PDE-5 may be too active. Vardenafil works by blocking PDE-5.

Vardenafil starts working about an hour after you take a dose. But vardenafil won’t cause an erection on its own. You’ll only get an erection once you’re sexually aroused.

If you’d like to know more about this, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* An enzyme is a type of protein that helps to speed up chemical reactions in the body.

Uses of vardenafil

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as vardenafil for certain conditions. Approved uses for vardenafil are described below.

Use for erectile dysfunction

Doctors may prescribe vardenafil for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s used for this purpose in adult males.* It’s usually prescribed as a long-term treatment and taken as needed.

With ED, a male has difficulty getting or keeping an erection long enough to have sex. Common causes of ED include certain:

• medications
• medical conditions, such as diabetes and Parkinson’s disease
• mental health conditions, such as depression and performance anxiety
• habits which can negatively affect health, such as smoking and drinking alcohol
• changes in the body related to aging

*Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Interactions and warnings for vardenafil

Below, you’ll find information about vardenafil’s possible interactions and warnings.

Interactions of vardenafil

Certain things may affect how a drug works. These include getting vaccines, consuming alcohol or certain foods, or taking the drug with other medications. This effect is called a drug interaction.

Before you take vardenafil, ask your doctor to check for possible interactions. Be sure to tell them about any of the following you take or use:

• prescription or over-the-counter drugs
• vitamins, herbs, or supplements

To learn about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings for vardenafil” section below.

Warnings for vardenafil

Some people should not take vardenafil, and others should take it cautiously.

Vardenafil could cause harm to people with certain health conditions. This effect is called a drug-condition interaction. Other factors can also affect whether vardenafil is a safe option for you. These warnings may differ based on the form of vardenafil your doctor prescribes.

Ask your doctor about specific warnings for vardenafil, and be sure to tell your doctor about your:

• current health, including any allergies to medications
• past health conditions or surgeries

Allergic reaction

Vardenafil can cause an allergic reaction in some people. Severe allergic reactions are rare but possible.

If you’ve had an allergic reaction to vardenafil or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe vardenafil. They can tell you about medications that are safer options for you.

A mild allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• skin rash
• itchiness
• flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)

A severe allergic reaction may cause the following symptoms:

• swelling under your skin, usually in your hands, feet, eyelids, or lips
• swelling of your mouth, throat, or tongue, which can cause breathing problems

If you have an allergic reaction to vardenafil, call your doctor right away. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number.

Overdose of vardenafil

You should not take more vardenafil than your doctor prescribes. For some drugs, doing so may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much vardenafil, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have concerning symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

Pregnancy or breastfeeding and vardenafil

Information about vardenafil and pregnancy and breastfeeding is described below.

Vardenafil and pregnancy

Vardenafil isn’t approved for use in females.* It’s not known whether it’s safe to take it during pregnancy. This is because Vardenafil hasn’t been studied in this situation. For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Vardenafil and breastfeeding

Vardenafil isn’t approved for use in females.* It’s not known whether vardenafil is safe to take while breastfeeding. This is because Vardenafil hasn’t been studied in this situation. For more information, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the term “female” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

What to ask your doctor

Let your doctor know whether you have questions about vardenafil or would like more details about it.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Am I at a higher risk than others of side effects from vardenafil?
• What should I do if vardenafil isn’t helping?
• Does vardenafil disintegrating tablet work faster or better than vardenafil oral tablet?
• How does the cost of vardenafil compare with other medications for erectile dysfunction?

Resources

• Burnett AL, et al. (2018). Erectile dysfunction: AUA guideline. https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/erectile-dysfunction-(ed)-guideline
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Vardenafil tablet, film coated. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/cb94ba1f-aec3-a058-e053-2995a90a9b00/spl-doc
• Vardenafil tablet, orally disintegrating. (2023). https://nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/0ce4eb7b-fa50-441d-ae71-eb33dca27926/spl-doc

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.