Levitra Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Brand name: Levitra

Generic Name:  Vardenafil hydrochloride

Levitra relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body. It was developed by German chemical and healthcare conglomerate, Bayer AG. In the United states, Levitra was being co-marketed with British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline but they cancelled their agreement. Levitra (also called vardenafil HCl) is a prescription pill, similar to Viagra, that helps men with erectile dysfunction (impotence). Levitra is not an aphrodisiac. And it has been taken with medications used to treat other common medical conditions. It works on the body, not on the mind. Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite. It is an oral therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Uses of Levitra:

• Levitra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence).
• It relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body.
• Levitra is also used to reduce the number of attacks that occur by using the medicine regularly on a long-term basis.
• Levitra may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Side Effects of Levitra:

Some common side effects reported with this medicine include:

• Feeling of warmth and redness of the face.
• Low blood pressure.
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes.
• Chest tightness or heaviness.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Lightheadedness when getting up from lying or sitting position.
• Shortness of breath.
• Sneezing.
• Abnormal ejaculation and priapism (painful erection).
• Blurred vision and changes in color vision.
• Headache.
• Unusual tiredness or weakness.
• Flu like symptoms and nausea. Vardenafil also may cause chest pain

Warnings and precautions before taking Levitra:

• Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of Levitra.
• This medicine does not protect you against transmitted diseases. Use protective measures and ask your doctor if you have any questions about this.
• Accompanying use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, indinavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole.
• Conditions predisposing to painful erection (e.g., sickle cell anemia, leukemia).
• Do not use any other drug to treat impotence, such as alprostadil (Caverject, Muse, Edex) or yohimbine (Yocon, Yodoxin, others), unless your doctor tells you to.
• Retinal disorders including retinitis pigmentosa.
• Do not use more of it and do not use it more often than your doctor ordered. If too much is used, the chance of side effects is increased.

Drug Interaction:

The breakdown and elimination of vardenafil from the body is inhibited by erythromycin , ketoconazole (Nizoral), itraconazole (Sporanox), indinavir (Crixivan) and ritonavir (Norvir). Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following medications:

• cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB);
• erythromycin (E-Mycin, Eryc, Ery-Tab) or clarithromycin (Biaxin);
• itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral);
• carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital (Luminal), or phenytoin (Dilantin);
• (Prezista), efavirenz (Sustiva), nevirapine (Viramune), indinavir (Crixivan), or
• rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane).

Overdose:

• Any medication taken in excess can have serious consequences.
• After taking levitra, if you feel that overdose is suspected, then contact with your doctor immediately.
• Symptoms of a Levitra overdose may include back pain, muscle pain, or vision problems.
• In case of overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.