As the years go by, more and more men are likely to experience occasional problems with sex drive. Occasional problems, mind you! If it hits home for you, there is no need to worry at all. You may just need to change your routine, stick to the sleep schedule, or get rid of some harmful habits such as drinking too much alcohol or consuming tobacco products. However, if you feel like having constant problems with keeping an erection, this may be a sign of erectile dysfunction. Yes, it does seem to be a verdict. After all, this is often the reason for divorces or adultery. And while there’s no magic way to eliminate the problem completely, you can still enjoy your sexual life. Here you can resort to ED medications. Levitra is one of them.
How does it work?
Levitra, or Vardenafil under a generic name, belongs to the class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors (phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors). Their initial purpose was treating hypertension—for they effectively and quickly lower the blood pressure. Prolonged erection was just a side effect of these drugs. Later they turned out to be a success in terms of treating erectile dysfunction.
After the drug is taken, there’s quite a complex process in the body. PDE5 inhibitors prevent the excessive production of phosphodiesterase-5, the element that causes abnormally fast degradation of cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate). The latter plays the main role in maintaining the right speed of blood flow, as it makes blood vessels dilate. Thus, cGMP can freely accumulate in the vascular smooth muscle, while men can happily enjoy hard prolonged erections.
So, Levitra boosts the blood flow to the penis enabling men to keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Remember that Levitra and other PDE5 inhibitors cannot cure ED. You can expect positive results only if you still can produce erection naturally, then the drugs will stimulate the process.
Taking the drug properly
Levitra is available in the form of tablets for oral consumption. The dosage will vary depending on your age, health condition, or individual needs. Before starting to use the drug, consult your doctor to make sure that it is safe for you. By doing so, you’ll have the full picture and won’t expose yourself to danger.
Normally, the recommended dose starts at 10mg per day and doesn’t exceed 20mg. For elderly men (from 65 years old and further), the dose may start at 5mg. But again, it may slightly differ. Levitra guarantees a prolonged erection of up to 5 hours.
Take Levitra one hour before sexual intercourse with or without food. Do not take the drug more than once a day so as not to increase the risk of adverse reactions.
Your medical history: what you should know before using the drug
First of all, make sure you are not allergic to any ingredient of Levitra.
This drug can be potentially dangerous to those suffering both from hypertension or hypotension or any other heart problems. As already mentioned, ED drugs can also treat a disease related to blood pressure. When having such problems, you are bound to use other medications with similar effect. Taking Levitra with such drugs can lead to dangerous leaps of blood pressure. You should be extremely careful while using Levitra if you’ve ever had:
- Priapism—long and painful erection
- Eye problems (sudden decreased vision)
- Stomach ulcers
- Stroke
- Dialysis
- Liver disease
- Dehydration
- Bleeding disorder
- Seizures
- Long QT syndrome
- Peyronie’s disease (deformation of the penis)
Also, excessively low levels of potassium or magnesium in the blood may escalate the risk of QT prolongation.
As a rule of thumb, ED drugs can be safely used even if you have ever experienced any of the abovementioned diseases, yet you do need to clarify things in your doctor to avoid undesirable consequences.
Potential side effects of Generic Levitra: negligence to be avoided
While taking Levitra, there’s also a chance of some adverse reactions which occur either because you use some other contraindicated drugs or because of the individual nature of your body.
First, let’s talk about potentially dangerous side effects. They seem to be quite rare, so most likely you’ll not experience any of them. However, under no circumstances should you exclude the chance of their occurrence. It’s always better to be on the safe side! You have to seek medical attention immediately in case you experience one of the following side effects:
- blindness or decreased vision
- cold sweats or chills
- difficulty in breathing
- chest pain
- dizziness, faintness, or confusion
- eye pain
- severe heartache
- nausea and vomiting
- irregular or racing heartbeat
- severe weakness
- severe allergic reaction
- priapism or persistent erection
And now, mild side effects. These do not normally require medical treatment, as the symptoms go away in a matter of days. Some of them are even included in the list of serious adverse reactions, yet in this case, they have a lighter form, and over time your body adapts. Common mild side effects of Levitra include:
- running or stuffy nose
- flushing in the face, neck, and arms
- abnormal ejaculation
- back pain
- changes in vision
- cough
- congestion
- constipation or indigestion
- dry mouth
- changes in heartbeat
- fever
- light weakness
- sore throat
This list of adverse reactions is incomplete and aims only to give you an overall idea of what side symptoms you may expect. For more information, check the official website or go to a medical expert.
Be aware of drug interactions
Levitra is not to be used with nitrates and alpha-blockers (Terazosin, Alfuzosin, Doxazosin) and antihypertensives, as, once again, these drugs also make blood vessels wider and cause blood pressure to drop. This can lead to drastic blood pressure leaps, and thus dizziness or loss of consciousness, and in some extreme cases to a heart attack or a stroke.
Also, azole antifungals (drugs used to treat thrush, yeast infection), HIV inhibitors and some other antivirus drugs are known to reduce levels of Levitra in the blood, making it less effective.
Apart from that, there are some products that you should abstain from while taking Levitra or any other ED drug. You should be careful with alcohol, for it’s been reported to interact with Levitra. That’s because ethanol also tends to reduce blood pressure, and if consumed together with the drug, the effect can be stronger. Grapefruit juice is not recommended either, because it can increase blood levels of Levitra, which, in turn, can cause adverse reactions.
Are there any alternatives to Levitra?
If you want to tighten your belt a bit, you can buy the generic version of Levitra, namely Vardenafil. There is basically no difference, both versions are equally effective, except some inactive ingredients can be slightly different. You can also consider getting other PDE5 inhibitors such as Viagra, Cialis, and Stendra or their generic counterparts. The pharmacological action is no different. Yet there are some things that can vary. For example, Viagra is more affected by food and alcohol drinks, so it’s better to take it on an empty stomach. Cialis, in turn, produces a more potent effect and can last even up to 36 hours.
Do a bit of research on your own and consult your private doctor to find out which drug suits you best. Always be cautious. Do not neglect your health. It is by far the most important thing you can possibly have.
Important information: We urge you to read this disclaimer for the protection of your health. Our customers are the only ones responsible for the health damage caused by the irresponsible intake of the pharmaceutical products we sell. As a reputable pharmacy, we are obliged to warn our customers about the unwanted side-effects of the medications we offer. All items presented on the website should be taken only after a consultation with a medical practitioner. Our online staff members, as well as the trained pharmacists, cannot replace professional medical assistance. Visit your physician before ordering the medications. An irresponsible approach to the med intake can result in tragic consequences that our pharmacy is not related to.