Levitra Information

LEVITRA ® (Luh-VEE-Trah) Tablets
(vardenafil HCl)

What is Levitra used for?

Levitra(vardenafil HCl) is a medicine that may be used up to once a day to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Levitra is for use by prescription only. Men taking nitrate drugs, often used to control chest pain (also known as angina), should not take Levitra. Men who use alpha blockers, sometimes prescribed for high blood pressure or prostate symptoms, also should not take Levitra. Such combinations could cause blood pressure to drop to an unsafe level. The most commonly reported side effects are headache, flushing, and stuffy or runny nose. Men who experience an erection for more than four hours should seek immediate medical attention.

What important information should you know about LEVITRA?

Levitra can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if it is taken with certain other medicines. With a sudden drop in blood pressure, you could get dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or stroke.

Do not take LEVITRA if you:

take any medicines called "nitrates."
use recreational drugs called "poppers" like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.
take medicines called alpha-blockers.
(See "Who Should Not Take Levitra")

Tell all your healthcare providers that you take Levitra. If you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important for your health care provider to know when you last took LEVITRA.

What is LEVITRA?

Levitra is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men.

ED is a condition where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. A man who has trouble getting or keeping an erection should see his doctor for help if the condition bothers him. Levitra may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited.

Levitra does not:

cure ED
increase a man's sexual desire
protect a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak to your doctor about ways to guard against sexually transmitted diseases.
serve as a male form of birth control
Levitra is only for men with ED. LEVITRA is not for women or children. LEVITRA must be used only under a doctor's care.

How does LEVITRA work?

When a man is sexually stimulated, his body's normal physical response is to increase blood flow to his penis. This results in an erection. 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 decreases, and his erection goes away.

Who can take LEVITRA?

Talk to your doctor to decide if Levitra is right for you.

LEVITRA has been shown to be effective in men over the age of 18 years who have erectile dysfunction, including men with diabetes or who have undergone prostatectomy.

Who should not take LEVITRA?

Do not take Levitra if you:

take any medicines called "nitrates" (See "What important information should you know about Levitra?"). Nitrates are commonly used to treat angina. Angina is a symptom of heart disease and can cause pain in your chest, jaw, or down your arm.

Medicines called nitrates include nitroglycerin that is found in tablets, sprays, ointments, pastes, or patches. Nitrates can also be found in other medicines such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate. Some recreational drugs called "poppers" also contain nitrates, such as amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate. Do not use Levitra if you are using these drugs. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if any of your medicines are nitrates.

Can other medications affect LEVITRA?

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Levitra and other medicines may affect each other. Always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any medicines. Especially tell your doctor if you take any of the following:

medicines called nitrates (See "What important information should you know about Levitra?")
medicines called alpha-blockers. These include Hytrin® (terazosin HCl), Flomax® (tamsulosin HCl), Cardura® (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress® (prazosin HCl) or Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl).
medicines that treat abnormal heartbeat. These include quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol.
ritonavir (Norvir®) or indinavir sulfate (Crixivan®)
ketoconazole or itraconazole (such as Nizoral® or Sporanox®)
erythromycin
other medicines or treatments for ED

How should you take LEVITRA?

Take Levitra exactly as your doctor prescribes. Levitra comes in different doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg). For most men, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. Take Levitra no more than once a day. Doses should be taken at least 24 hours apart. Some men can only take a low dose of Levitra because of medical conditions or medicines they take. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you.

If you are older than 65 or have liver problems, your doctor may start you on a lower dose of Levitra.
If you are taking certain other medicines your doctor may prescribe a lower starting dose and limit you to one dose of Levitra in a 72-hour (3 days) period.
Take 1 Levitra tablet about 1 hour (60 minutes) before sexual activity. Some form of sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to happen with Levitra. Levitra may be taken with or without meals.

Do not change your dose of Levitra without talking to your doctor. Your doctor may lower your dose or raise your dose, depending on how your body reacts to Levitra.

If you take too much Levitra, call your doctor or emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of LEVITRA?

The most common side effects with Levitra are headache, flushing, stuffy or runny nose, indigestion, upset stomach, or dizziness. These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Call your doctor if you get a side effect that bothers you or one that will not go away.

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.

General Information about LEVITRA.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions other than those described in patient information leaflets. Do not use Levitra for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give Levitra to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.

For more information you can also visit LEVITRA.com , or call 1-866-LEVITRA. This number is for general information only and not for ordering Levitra.