Levitra never achieved the fame of Viagra and the weekend allure of Cialis. It languishes in between – a short-acting erectile dysfunction tablet that works well for many men but rarely gets the top billing.
The active ingredient in Levitra is called vardenafil. Brand-name Levitra has proved hard to find in the US, where generic vardenafil is much in evidence. The name persists but the medication has not suddenly ceased to be an asset.
So where does it fit?
In the quest for an ED tablet to be taken before sex begins, vardenafil is a perfectly credible choice. It typically begins to work within an hour and allows for a several-hour window in which erections may be more easily achieved and maintained
It will not conjure an erection while you sit watching television. There must be arousal.
What it is like to take Levitra
The usual starting point is a 10 mg dose, taken roughly an hour before sex. Depending on response, age, other medication and side-effects a clinician may suggest 5 mg or 20 mg instead. It should not be taken more than once a day.
Some men find they start to respond before the hour is out. Allowing for a little leeway may be less vexing than taking the tablet, noting the clock after twenty minutes and deciding it has failed.
A heavy meal will prolong the effects. Not that dinner need be skipped entirely but eating a large burger, fries and a dessert immediately before the dose may transform an evening of predictable excitement into an uncertain wait.
Alcohol is another consideration. One or two drinks will not harm many users. Five or six may reduce the erection, lower the blood pressure and add to dizziness. At that point additional Levitra will not reverse the effects of the alcohol.
The effects typically last in the region of four to five hours. This is a chance window – not a four-hour erection – the penis should soften afterwards in the usual manner.
Does Levitra work better than Viagra?
For most men there is no universal favorite.
Levitra and Viagra act in much the same way, blocking the PDE5 enzyme and allowing greater blood flow to the penis. Their onset and durations are also similar. There are men for whom vardenafil is better than sildenafil and vice versa. That difference may be tangible even when the clinical averages have rendered the medications statistically similar.
A man may suffer a stuffy nose and headache with Viagra while hardly noticing Levitra – and his friend may have the opposite experience.
Cialis is simpler to differentiate because tadalafil stays active in the body for significantly longer – up to 36 hours in some men – making it far less reliant on the timing. Our Cialis and Viagra comparison makes the case for duration ahead of strength.
Levitra may appeal to the man who wants to avoid a medication still active when the morning comes.
Side-effects: usually annoying, occasionally serious
Headaches are the complaint most often associated with Levitra. Flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion and dizziness may follow. They should subside as the medication wears off.
Back pain is possible – though it is more commonly linked with tadalafil. Vision may be tinted or strangely sensitive to light, but this is not as closely associated with vardenafil as with sildenafil.
A sudden loss of vision or hearing requires immediate medical attention. An erection lasting four hours also needs to be checked out – waiting for a prolonged erection to pass may cause permanent damage.
If the dose has caused severe headaches or dizziness it may be preferable to reduce the dosage rather than abandon the medication. That discussion should be with the prescriber – not the online dosage chart.
Levitra has one heart-rhythm caution worth noticing
All the PDE5 inhibitors will reduce the blood pressure to some extent. None should be combined with nitrates, including nitroglycerin or isosorbide. Taking both will provoke a dangerous drop in the blood pressure.
Recreational poppers, which contain nitrites, are similarly contraindicated.
Vardenafil also has a specific caution related to the QT interval – the natural timing of the heartbeat.
It is generally avoided in men with congenital long QT syndrome or those taking certain rhythm medicines including quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol.
This is one reason Levitra should not be chosen just because there happens to be a spare tablet. The prescriber needs to be shown the full medication list.
Alpha blockers used for prostate symptoms or blood pressure may add to dizziness. Strong inhibitors of the CYP3A4 enzyme – including the antifungal, antibiotics and HIV medications – may raise the levels of vardenafil and require a lower dose or avoidance.
Why Levitra sometimes “doesn’t work”
Poor timing is a frequent culprit. So is thinking the tablet can substitute for sexual stimulation.
A heavy meal, too much alcohol, severe performance anxiety, an inadequate dose or any combination can all contribute to a disappointing response. Some men need several attempts at correctly timed use before determining if vardenafil is right for them.
If Levitra fails repeatedly despite proper use taking two tablets is not the solution. Another PDE5 inhibitor may be an improvement, or a different approach to ED. Diabetes, vascular disease, low testosterone, medication side effects and anxiety can all be contributory factors.
There are also other treatments for erectile dysfunction – including vacuum devices, injections and implants if the tablets are ineffective or inappropriate.
Levitra is neither an discarded relic nor an over-looked superior Viagra replica. It is a solid, short-acting ED medication with one advantage – some men simply get a better response from vardenafil.
That is enough for it to hold its place in the conversation.
