Vardenafil

Generic name: Vardenafil
Drug class: Impotence agents

Usage of Vardenafil

Vardenafil is used in adult men to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence).

Vardenafil may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Vardenafil side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using vardenafil and get emergency medical help if you have:

heart attack symptoms--chest pain or pressure, pain spreading to your jaw or shoulder, nausea, sweating;

vision changes or sudden vision loss; or

erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours (prolonged erection can damage the penis).

Vardenafil may cause serious side effects. Stop using vardenafil and call your doctor at once if you have:

ringing in your ears, or sudden hearing loss;

irregular heartbeat;

swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet;

shortness of breath;

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out; or

seizure (convulsions).

Common side effects of vardenafil may include:

flushing (sudden warmth, redness, or tingly feeling);

stuffy nose, sinus pain;

headache, dizziness;

upset stomach; or

back pain.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Vardenafil

You should not use vardenafil if you are allergic to it, or if you take other medicines to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, such as riociguat (Adempas).

Do not take vardenafil if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems, including nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, and isosorbide mononitrate. Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). Taking vardenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

heart disease, heart rhythm problems;

a heart attack, stroke, or congestive heart failure;

long QT syndrome (in you or a family member);

high or low blood pressure;

seizure (convulsions);

a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia;

a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;

a stomach ulcer;

hearing or vision problems, vision loss;

an eye disorder such as retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye);

a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease);

if you have been told you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons; or

liver disease, kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).

Vardenafil can decrease blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye, causing sudden vision loss. This has occurred in a small number of people, most of whom also had heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoked or were over 50 years old. It is not clear whether vardenafil is the actual cause of vision loss.

Staxyn (vardenafil disintegrating tablets) may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using this form of vardenafil if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).

Vardenafil is not approved for use in women, and the effects of vardenafil during pregnancy or in breastfeeding women are unknown.

Relate drugs

How to use Vardenafil

Usual Adult Dose for Erectile Dysfunction:

-Initial dose: 10 mg orally once a day, as needed, approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity. Increase to 20 mg or decrease to 5 mg based on efficacy and tolerability.-Maximum dose: 20 mg once a dayPatients on stable alpha blocker therapy:-Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a dayComments:-Sexual stimulation is required for a response to treatment.-A time interval between dosing should be considered when administering this drug concomitantly with alpha-blockers.-Patients taking alpha-blockers should not initiate vardenafil therapy with the orally disintegrating tablet.Use: Erectile dysfunction

Usual Geriatric Dose for Erectile Dysfunction:

65 years or older:-Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day, as needed, approximately 60 minutes before sexual activityComments: Sexual stimulation is required for a response to treatment.Use: Erectile dysfunction

Warnings

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with vardenafil. Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially riociguat (Adempas).

Do not take vardenafil if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems, including nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and some recreational drugs such as "poppers". Taking vardenafil with a nitrate medicine can cause a sudden and serious decrease in blood pressure.

Call your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis.

Stop using vardenafil and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.

What other drugs will affect Vardenafil

Do not use vardenafil with similar medications such as avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra), or tadalafil (Cialis). Tell your doctor about all other medications you use for erectile dysfunction.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

an antibiotic--clarithromycin, erythromycin;

antifungal medicine--itraconazole, ketoconazole;

drugs to treat high blood pressure or a prostate disorder--alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, silodosin, Terazosin, tamsulosin;

heart rhythm medicine--amiodarone, dronedarone, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol; or

HIV/AIDS medicine--atazanavir, Indinavir, ritonavir, Saquinavir, cobicistat, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect vardenafil. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

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