Vardenafil Tablet: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Precautions and Alternates

Quick overview

Vardenafil Tablet, generic name vardenafil (as vardenafil hydrochloride), is a prescription medicine belonging to the PDE5 inhibitor class. It is used to treat erectile dysfunction in men by helping improve blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. It is available as a regular tablet and a rapidly disintegrating tablet, and must be used exactly as directed by a doctor.

What is Vardenafil Tablet

Vardenafil is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors, which help improve blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.

Vardenafil Tablet uses

• Treats erectile dysfunction (difficulty getting or keeping an erection) in men

Benefits of Vardenafil Tablet

• Can help men achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual activity
• Does not require food to work, though a high-fat meal may slow its effect
• Starts working faster than some other ED medicines

How Vardenafil Tablet works

Vardenafil blocks an enzyme called PDE5 that normally breaks down a chemical in the penis needed for an erection. By blocking this enzyme, vardenafil helps blood vessels relax and increases blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation, helping produce an erection. It only works if you are sexually aroused.

Vardenafil Tablet dosage

Vardenafil is usually taken as needed, with or without food, about 60 minutes before sexual activity. It should not be taken more often than once every 24 hours. The regular tablet should be swallowed whole with water. The rapidly disintegrating tablet should not be taken with water or other liquids — place it on the tongue right after removing it from the blister pack and let it dissolve. Do not try to push the rapidly disintegrating tablet through the foil packaging. Check the blister pack before use and do not use it if any blister is torn, broken, or missing a tablet. The rapidly disintegrating tablet and the regular tablet cannot be substituted for each other.

Sexual stimulation is still needed for the medicine to work. A high-fat meal may delay how quickly the medicine starts working. Talk to your doctor about drinking grapefruit juice while taking this medicine.

Available forms and strengths

• Regular oral tablet
• Rapidly disintegrating (dissolves in the mouth) tablet

Side effects of Vardenafil Tablet

Common

• Headache
• Upset stomach (indigestion)
• Heartburn
• Flushing
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Flu-like symptoms
• Dizziness
• Back pain

Serious

• Erection that lasts longer than 4 hours (priapism)
• Sudden severe loss of vision
• Blurred vision
• Changes in color vision (blue tinge on objects, trouble telling blue from green, trouble seeing at night)
• Dizziness
• Sudden decrease or loss of hearing
• Ringing in the ears
• Swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
• Hoarseness
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Fainting
• Hives
• Rash

Warnings and precautions

• Vardenafil is only meant for use in men. Women, especially those who are or could become pregnant, should not take it. There have been no well-controlled studies of vardenafil in pregnant women. Vardenafil should not be taken by women who are breastfeeding, as it is not meant for use in women.
• Tell your doctor if you have kidney disease before taking vardenafil. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease before taking vardenafil, as your dose may need to be adjusted.
• Talk to your doctor about alcohol use with this medicine. Large amounts of alcohol may make it harder to get an erection.
• Some people may experience vision changes such as blurred vision or trouble telling colors apart after taking this medicine. If this happens, do not drive or operate heavy machinery until the effects go away.
• Do not take vardenafil if you are taking or have recently taken riociguat or nitrate medicines (such as nitroglycerin or isosorbide), since this combination can cause a dangerous, sudden drop in blood pressure.
• Do not use street drugs containing nitrates, such as amyl nitrate or butyl nitrate ('poppers'), while taking vardenafil.
• Some people have had sudden, sometimes permanent, loss of vision after taking vardenafil or similar medicines. It's not known if the medicine caused this.
• Some people have had sudden hearing loss, sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness, after taking vardenafil or similar medicines.
• Sexual activity can put strain on your heart. If you have heart disease and get chest pain during sex, stop and call your doctor right away.
• Vardenafil does not protect against pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• Vardenafil should not be used by people who have had a prior episode of vision loss from NAION (a condition caused by reduced blood flow to the optic nerve), as they may be at increased risk of it happening again.

Storage

• Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children.
• Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom).
• Dispose of unneeded medications in a way so that pets, children, and other people cannot take them.
• Do not flush this medication down the toilet.
• Use a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist about take-back programs in your community.

When to see a doctor

• Get medical help right away if you have an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours. Without prompt treatment, this can cause permanent damage.
• Stop taking vardenafil and call your doctor right away if you have sudden vision loss or vision changes in one or both eyes.
• Stop taking vardenafil and call your doctor right away if you have a sudden decrease or loss of hearing, which may come with ringing in the ears or dizziness.
• If you have chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or shortness of breath when starting sexual activity, stop and contact your doctor.
• If you have an allergic reaction such as rash, itching, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble breathing, stop taking vardenafil and contact a doctor immediately.
• If you think you have taken too much vardenafil, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or your local poison control center right away, even if you have no symptoms.

Alternatives

Vardenafil is sold under the brand names Levitra and Staxyn. Vardenafil belongs to the same class of drugs as Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), and Stendra (avanafil).