Common questions about vardenafil - Brand names: levitra, Adcirca
vardenafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
If you have erectile dysfunction, it works by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis when you get sexually excited.
It helps reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, such as difficulty peeing or needing to pee urgently, by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder.
It helps pulmonary hypertension by relaxing blood vessels in the chest. This increases blood supply to the lungs and reduces the workload of the heart.
vardenafil usually starts to work within 30 to 60 minutes.
If you're taking it for erectile dysfunction, it's triggered by sexual stimulation, so you need to be aroused for it to work.
If you're taking it for erectile dysfunction, you should be able to get an erection at any time between 30 minutes and 36 hours after taking vardenafil. You need to be sexually excited for it to work.
Your erection should go away after you have had sex.
vardenafil works well for erectile dysfunction.
If vardenafil does not work for you, it may be because:
- you have not waited long enough after taking it before trying to have sex
- you have waited too long after taking it to have sex
- the dose is not high enough
- you're not sexually aroused enough
No – do not take vardenafil more than once a day.
Other medicines are usually taken on demand, 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity.
The alternatives to vardenafil work for up to 4 hours. If you take vardenafil, it can be effective for up to 36 hours.
If vardenafil does not work, there are other tablets you could try that work in a similar way, such as:
Only sildenafil (Viagra) is available without prescription.
You can take vardenafil and tadalafil with or without food.
However, it's best to take sildenafil and avanafil on an empty stomach for fastest effects. Eating a meal that is high in fat may delay the effect of tadalafil.
Alprostadil (only available with a prescription) is a synthetic hormone that helps to stimulate blood flow to the penis.
- an injection directly into your penis
- a small pellet placed inside your urethra (the tube that carries pee from your bladder to the tip of your penis)
If you cannot get erections because of a hormonal problem, your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist (a doctor who spelevitraes in the treatment of hormonal problems). They may recommend hormone injections to bring your body's levels back to normal.
Some complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, have been claimed to treat erectile dysfunction. But there's little evidence they work.
vardenafil (5mg only) is the only medicine in its group (phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors) that treats an enlarged prostate.
If vardenafil does not work, a doctor might recommend sildenafil, which works in a similar way.
Other medicines used to treat pulmonary hypertension are:
- endothelin receptor antagonists – such as bosentan, ambrisentan and macitentan
- soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators – such as riociguat
- prostaglandins – such as epoprostenol, iloprost and treprostinil
- calcium channel blockers – nifedipine, diltiazem, nicardipine and amlodipine
Women can use vardenafil for pulmonary hypertension.
There's no good evidence that vardenafil works for women with sexual problems.
vardenafil does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.
Occasionally vardenafil can make you feel dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive, cycle or use machines or tools until you feel better.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking vardenafil. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.
Having 1 beer or glass of wine is unlikely to stop or delay vardenafil from working. But if you're taking it for erectile dysfunction, drinking lots of alcohol can make it more difficult to get an erection.
To get the most benefit from vardenafil, do not drink heavily before taking it.
Do not drink grapefruit juice if you're taking vardenafil. It can affect the way the medicine works.
Erectile dysfunction can often be improved if you make changes to your lifestyle, such as:
If you're taking vardenafil to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, you might be able to help the symptoms by making some simple changes to your lifestyle:
- drink fewer fizzy drinks and less alcohol, and cut down on caffeine (including tea, coffee, energy drinks and cola) and artificial sweeteners – these can irritate the bladder and make peeing more uncomfortable
- drink less liquid in the evening – try to reduce the amount you drink in the evening and avoid drinking anything for 2 hours before you go to bed. This might help you avoid getting up in the night. Make sure you're still drinking enough fluid earlier in the day
- empty your bladder – remember to go to the toilet before long journeys if you know you will not be able to reach a toilet easily
- try double voiding – this means waiting a few moments after you have finished peeing before trying to go again. It can help you empty your bladder properly. But take care not to strain or push
- check your medicines – check with a doctor whether any medicines you take, such as antidepressants or decongestants, may be making your symptoms worse
- eat more fibre – eating more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains helps you avoid constipation, which can put pressure on the bladder and make symptoms of an enlarged prostate worse
Taking poppers (amyl nitrite) with vardenafil can have a dangerous effect on your heart.
It can also be dangerous to take vardenafil with:
- stimulants like MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine
- hallucinogens like LSD
- novel psychoactive substances (which used to be known as legal highs) like mephedrone
vardenafil has not been properly tested with recreational drugs.
Talk to a doctor if you think you might use any recreational drugs with vardenafil.
You can find out about the side effects of recreational drugs on the Frank website.
More in vardenafil
Page last reviewed: 11 November 2022
Next review due: 11 November 2025
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To get the most benefit from vardenafil, do not drink heavily before taking it.
Common questions about vardenafil - Brand names: levitra, Adcirca
vardenafil belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
If you have erectile dysfunction, it works by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis when you get sexually excited.
It helps reduce symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, such as difficulty peeing or needing to pee urgently, by relaxing the muscles in the prostate and bladder.
It helps pulmonary hypertension by relaxing blood vessels in the chest. This increases blood supply to the lungs and reduces the workload of the heart.
vardenafil usually starts to work within 30 to 60 minutes.
If you're taking it for erectile dysfunction, it's triggered by sexual stimulation, so you need to be aroused for it to work.
If you're taking it for erectile dysfunction, you should be able to get an erection at any time between 30 minutes and 36 hours after taking vardenafil. You need to be sexually excited for it to work.
Your erection should go away after you have had sex.
vardenafil works well for erectile dysfunction.
If vardenafil does not work for you, it may be because:
- you have not waited long enough after taking it before trying to have sex
- you have waited too long after taking it to have sex
- the dose is not high enough
- you're not sexually aroused enough
No – do not take vardenafil more than once a day.
Other medicines are usually taken on demand, 30 to 60 minutes before sexual activity.
The alternatives to vardenafil work for up to 4 hours. If you take vardenafil, it can be effective for up to 36 hours.
If vardenafil does not work, there are other tablets you could try that work in a similar way, such as:
Only sildenafil (Viagra) is available without prescription.
You can take vardenafil and tadalafil with or without food.
However, it's best to take sildenafil and avanafil on an empty stomach for fastest effects. Eating a meal that is high in fat may delay the effect of tadalafil.
Alprostadil (only available with a prescription) is a synthetic hormone that helps to stimulate blood flow to the penis.
- an injection directly into your penis
- a small pellet placed inside your urethra (the tube that carries pee from your bladder to the tip of your penis)
If you cannot get erections because of a hormonal problem, your doctor may refer you to an endocrinologist (a doctor who spelevitraes in the treatment of hormonal problems). They may recommend hormone injections to bring your body's levels back to normal.
Some complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, have been claimed to treat erectile dysfunction. But there's little evidence they work.
vardenafil (5mg only) is the only medicine in its group (phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors) that treats an enlarged prostate.
If vardenafil does not work, a doctor might recommend sildenafil, which works in a similar way.
Other medicines used to treat pulmonary hypertension are:
- endothelin receptor antagonists – such as bosentan, ambrisentan and macitentan
- soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators – such as riociguat
- prostaglandins – such as epoprostenol, iloprost and treprostinil
- calcium channel blockers – nifedipine, diltiazem, nicardipine and amlodipine
Women can use vardenafil for pulmonary hypertension.
There's no good evidence that vardenafil works for women with sexual problems.
vardenafil does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.
Occasionally vardenafil can make you feel dizzy. If this happens to you, do not drive, cycle or use machines or tools until you feel better.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking vardenafil. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.
Having 1 beer or glass of wine is unlikely to stop or delay vardenafil from working. But if you're taking it for erectile dysfunction, drinking lots of alcohol can make it more difficult to get an erection.
To get the most benefit from vardenafil, do not drink heavily before taking it.
Do not drink grapefruit juice if you're taking vardenafil. It can affect the way the medicine works.
Erectile dysfunction can often be improved if you make changes to your lifestyle, such as:
If you're taking vardenafil to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland, you might be able to help the symptoms by making some simple changes to your lifestyle:
- drink fewer fizzy drinks and less alcohol, and cut down on caffeine (including tea, coffee, energy drinks and cola) and artificial sweeteners – these can irritate the bladder and make peeing more uncomfortable
- drink less liquid in the evening – try to reduce the amount you drink in the evening and avoid drinking anything for 2 hours before you go to bed. This might help you avoid getting up in the night. Make sure you're still drinking enough fluid earlier in the day
- empty your bladder – remember to go to the toilet before long journeys if you know you will not be able to reach a toilet easily
- try double voiding – this means waiting a few moments after you have finished peeing before trying to go again. It can help you empty your bladder properly. But take care not to strain or push
- check your medicines – check with a doctor whether any medicines you take, such as antidepressants or decongestants, may be making your symptoms worse
- eat more fibre – eating more fruit, vegetables and wholegrains helps you avoid constipation, which can put pressure on the bladder and make symptoms of an enlarged prostate worse
Taking poppers (amyl nitrite) with vardenafil can have a dangerous effect on your heart.
It can also be dangerous to take vardenafil with:
- stimulants like MDMA (ecstasy) or cocaine
- hallucinogens like LSD
- novel psychoactive substances (which used to be known as legal highs) like mephedrone
vardenafil has not been properly tested with recreational drugs.
Talk to a doctor if you think you might use any recreational drugs with vardenafil.
You can find out about the side effects of recreational drugs on the Frank website.
Do not drink grapefruit juice if you're taking vardenafil. It can affect the way the medicine works.
More in vardenafil
Stimulants like MDMA ecstasy or cocaine.
23.01.2023 01:24:35
2023-01-23 01:24:35