What is Levitra?
Levitra (vardenafil hydrochloride) is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Levitra helps in getting and maintaining an erection only if you are sexually stimulated. Levitra may help a man with ED get and keep an erection when he is sexually excited. However, Levitra does not cure ED and does not increase a man's sexual desire. Levitra is only for men, not for women and children, and must be used only under a doctor's care. Levitra was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003. Levitra allows the muscles in the penis to relax, which allows blood to flow in, creating a firm erection. Levitra allows an erection to last long enough for you to satisfactorily complete sexual activity.
Who manufactures Levitra?
Bayer manufactures the drug and owns the trademark. GlaxoSmithKline are responsible for marketing the drug thus Levitra is co-developed and co-promoted by Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline.
What is Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?
Erectile Dysfunction (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.
What is generic or herbal Levitra?
Levitra is under patent. Bayer owns the trademark for Levitra and all other generic or herbal versions are illegal. Generic versions of Levitra are not approved or tested by FDA or European regulatory agencies thus their use contain high health risks and must be avoided.
Has there been any recent news about Levitra?
In 2005, the FDA issued an alert for men using Levitra, Cialis, or Viagra. A small number of men have lost eyesight in one eye sometime after taking these drugs. This type of vision loss is called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). The FDA still does not know if these drugs cause NAION, since this condition also occurs in men who do not take these medicines. The FDA has approved new labels for Levitra, Cialis, and Viagra to include information on possible eyesight loss (NAION). If you experience a loss in your eyesight, stop using these medicines, and get medical help right away.
Are there any special directions about taking Levitra with food?
You can take Levitra with or without food. Don’t drink grapefruit juice when you use Levitra. because it can interfere with the medicine. Also Alcoholic drinks can make erection difficulties worse.
Who should not take Levitra?
You should not take Levitra if you take any medicines called "nitrates", use recreational drugs called "poppers", or have been told by your healthcare professional to not have sexual activity because of health problems
What are the Levitra Side Effects?
The most common side effects with Levitra are flushing, stuffy or runny nose, headache, and upset stomach. These side effects go away themselves within a few hours and if not then contact your Doctor if side effects are severe.
Are there any serious health risks associated with Levitra?
Levitra can cause blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe level if taken with certain other medicines such as nitrates and alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that contain nitrates called "poppers." Sudden drops in blood pressure can cause dizziness, fainting, heart attack, or stroke.