Vardenafil (Levitra)

Vardenafil (Levitra) is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor that is used to treat impotence. It is manufactured by Bayer and marketed as Levitra, except for in Italy, where it is called Vivanza.

The standard dose is 10mg taken 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity.

Vardenafil’s most frequent side-effects are headache, flushing, indigestion, nausea, dizziness and nasal congestion, although these are generally transient and mild to moderate in nature. Nitrates and similar drugs, including amyl nitrites (poppers), should not be used with vardenafil.

A lower dose of vardenafil should also be used in patients taking protease inhibitors, of no more than 2.5mg every 24 hours for unboosted protease inhibitors or every 72 hours for ritonavir (Norvir)-boosted protease inhibitors. It should not be used by patients taking indinavir (Crixivan) or full-dose ritonavir. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are expected to reduce vardenafil levels.