Levitra 20mg

Levitra tablets and orodispersible tablets contain the active ingredient vardenafil, which is a type of medicine called a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor. Vardenafil helps you to achieve and maintain an erection by helping more blood get into your levitra 20mg penis when you are sexually aroused. An erection is produced via a complex chain of events, involving signals from the nervous system and the release of chemical messengers within the tissues of the penis. One of the messengers released when you're aroused is called cyclic GMP.

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  • Cyclic GMP relaxes and widens the blood vessels in the penis, allowing more blood to enter. This causes the penis to get hard and erect.
  • Cyclic GMP is normally broken down by an enzyme in the body called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Vardenafil works by stopping this enzyme from breaking down the cyclic GMP. This allows the blood vessels in the penis to stay dilated for longer, which improves blood flow to the penis and helps produce and maintain an erection.

How long does Levitra take to work and how long does it last?

Vardenafil will only work once the messengers responsible for producing an erection start to be produced. This means that you have to be sexually stimulated for vardenafil to produce and maintain an erection.

You should be able to get an erection 25 to 60 minutes after taking a Levitra tablet, if you're sexually stimulated, for example by engaging in foreplay. The orodispersible tablets can take slightly longer to work. You should still be able to get an erection for up to five hours after taking a dose.

How do I take Levitra?

You should take your Levitra tablet 25 to 60 minutes before you plan to have sex.
If you're taking standard Levitra tablets you can take these either with or without food, but be aware that if you take them with a high fat meal they will take longer to start working. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a drink of water.
If you're taking orodispersible Levitra tablets you can take these either with or without food - this type of Levitra tablet is not affected by high fat meals. The orodispersible tablet should be removed from the blister pack with dry hands. Put it on your tongue straight away - it will rapidly disintegrate on your tongue and should then be swallowed without a drink. Levitra orodispersible tablets must be taken without liquid.

Do not take more than the dose prescribed by your doctor. If you don't think the medicine is working well enough you should see your doctor again.
Don't take Levitra more than once in 24 hours. Levitra may make you feel dizzy or affect your vision and so may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely. Don't drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won't affect your performance.
It's best to avoid drinking too much alcohol if you're taking Levitra. Drinking alcohol can reduce your ability to get an erection and so might make the Levitra less effective. As Levitra can also make some people feel dizzy or lightheaded, this could be made worse if you drink alcohol.

Avoid drinking grapefruit juice while taking Levitra, as it may increase the level of vardenafil in your blood and so increase the risk of its side effects.

  1. People who have conditions in which sexual activity is not advisable, for example severe heart disorders such as unstable angina or severe heart failure. If you have a heart condition your doctor will be able to advise if it's safe for you to take Levitra and have sex.
  2. People who have had a heart attack or stroke in the last six months.
  3. People with low blood pressure (hypotension). This means lower than 90/50 mmHg.
  4. People taking the medicine riociguat, or any form of nitrate medication, eg glyceryl trinitrate or amyl nitrite ("poppers").
  5. People taking protease inhibitors to treat HIV infection, eg ritonavir, indinavir.
  6. People with severe kidney failure requiring dialysis.
  7. People with severe liver problems.
  8. People with hereditary degeneration of the back of the eyeball (retina), such as retinitis pigmentosa.People who have ever experienced an eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This condition causes a sudden, partial decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes due to damage to the optic nerve. It can be temporary or permanent. Make sure your doctor knows if you have ever experienced this.
  9. People who are allergic to any ingredients of the tablets. Levitra orodispersible tablets contain sorbitol and are not suitable for people with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance.

They also contain aspartame, which is a source of phenylalanine, so are not suitable for people with an inherited disorder of protein metabolism called phenylketonuria.
Levitra is not licensed for women, or for children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

  1. People over 65 years of age.
  2. People with kidney or liver problems.
  3. People with a heart condition, such as aortic stenosis or an irregular heartbeat, or risk factors for heart disease.
  4. People who a low level of potassium in their blood (hypokalaemia).

Men who have conditions in which there is an increased risk of getting a prolonged erection (priapism), for example sickle cell disease, bone marrow cancer (multiple myeloma) or leukaemia. Men with a physical abnormality of the penis, such as severe curvature, scarring or Peyronie's disease.

  • People with bleeding disorders, eg haemophilia.
  • People with an active peptic ulcer.
  • People taking certain other medicines (see end of factsheet).

What are the possible side effects of Levitra?

Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with vardenafil. Just because a side effect is stated here does not mean that all people using Levitra will experience that or any side effect.

  • Very common side effects (affect more than 1 in 10 people)
  • Headache.
  • Common side effects (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)
  • Dizziness.
  • Flushing.
  • Blocked nose.
  • Indigestion.
  • Uncommon side effects (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)
  • Visual disturbances, such as blurred vision, blue/green tinge to vision, light sensitivity.
  • Red or bloodshot eyes, eye pain or discomfort.
  • Fast heartbeat or palpitations.
  • Numbness, or reduced or changed sensation of touch.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Sensation of spinning.
  • Sensation of ringing or other noise in the ears (tinnitus).
  • Muscle or back pain.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Feeling sick or vomiting.
  • Abdominal pain or heartburn.
  • Diarrhoea.
  • Inflamed stomach lining (gastritis).
  • Rash.


Allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, throat or tongue. Get medical advice if you think you've had an allergic reaction to the medicine.
Rare (affect between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000 people)
Prolonged erection (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts for longer than four hours you should see a doctor immediately. Treatment of this condition should not be delayed more than six hours, as this can cause damage to the erectile tissue in the penis and irreversible erectile dysfunction.

  • Nosebleeds.
  • Watery eyes.
  • Increased sensitivity of the skin to UV light (photosensitivity).
  • Anxiety.

Increased or decreased blood pressure.

Chest pain, abnormal heart beats (arrhythmias), heart attack. If you get chest pains after taking Levitra you should see a doctor straight away. Do not use nitrates to treat any chest pain. 
An eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This condition causes a sudden, partial decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes due to damage to the optic nerve. It can be temporary or permanent. If you experience a sudden, partial decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes after taking Levitra you should contact your doctor immediately. Do not take another dose until you have seen your doctor.
Read the leaflet that comes with the medicine or talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist if you want any more information about the possible side effects of Levitra. If you think you have experienced a side effect, did you know you can report this using the yellow card website?