Levitra is the brand name for vardenafil hydrochloride. The trademark
for Levitra is owned by Bayer pharmaceuticals.
Levitra is a 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. Levitra may help a man with ED get and keep an
erection when he is sexually excited. Levitra must be used only under a
doctor's care.
Levitra does not:
cure ED
increase a
man’s sexual desire
protect a man
or his partner fromsexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Speak
to your healthcare professional 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 healthcare professional’s care.
Who Should Not Take Levitra?
Do not take Levitra if you:
take any
medicines called “nitrates”
use
recreational drugs called "poppers" like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate
have been
told by your healthcare professional notto have sexual activity because
you have health problems
What are The Risks?
The following are the major possible risks and side effects of Levitra
therapy. This list is not complete.
Levitra can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe
level if it is taken with certain other medicines such as nitrates
and alpha-blockers, and recreational drugs that contain nitrates called
"poppers." A sudden drop in your blood pressure could cause you to
become dizzy, faint, or have a heart attack or stroke.
Tell all your healthcare professionals that you take Levitra. If you
need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will be important
for your healthcare professionals to know when you last took Levitra.
Levitra may uncommonly cause:
an erection
that won’t go away (priapism)
vision
changes, such as seeing a blue tinge too bjects or having difficulty
telling the difference between the colors blue and green
Some common side effects with Levitra include:
headache
flushing
stuffy or
runny nose
indigestion
upset stomach
dizziness
What Should I Tell My Healthcare
Professional?
Tell your healthcare professional if you:
have or had
heart problems
have low
blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled
have had a
stroke
or any family
members have a rare heart condition known as prolongation of the QT
interval (long QT syndrome)
have liver
problems
have kidney
problems and require dialysis
have ever had
severe vision loss
have
retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease
have stomach
ulcers
have a
bleeding problem
have a
deformed penis shape or Peyronie’s disease
have had an
erection that lasted more than 4 hours
take any
medicines called “alpha blockers” (alpha blockers are sometimes
prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure)
have blood
cell problems, such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or
leukemia
Can Other Medicines or Food Affect
Levitra?
Levitra and certain other medicines can interact with each other. Tell
your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take including
prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal
supplements. Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them with you
to show your healthcare professional.
Levitra FDA Approved 2003
Patient Information Sheet Revised 07/2005
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
FDAALERT [07/2005]: A small number of men have losteyesight in one eye
some time after taking Levitra, Viagra, or Cialis. This type of vision
loss is called non-arteritic anterior ischemicoptic neuropathy (NAION).
NAION causes a sudden loss of eyesight because blood flow is blocked to
the optic nerve.
We do not know at this time if Levitra, Viagra, or Cialis cause NAION.
NAION also happens in men who do not take these medicines. People who
have a higher chance for NAION include those who:
have heart disease
are over 50 years old
have diabetes
have high blood pressure
have high cholesterol
smoke
have certain eye problems
The FDA has approved new labels for Levitra, Viagra, and Cialis to
include information on possible eyesight loss (NAION).
Stop using Levitra, Viagra, or Cialis if you have a loss in your
eyesight. Get medical help right away.
This information reflects
FDA’s current analysis of data available to FDA concerning this drug.