Vardenafil Tablets

Vardenafil Tablets for Erectile Dysfunction

What is Vardenafil Used For?

Vardenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction in adult men. Erectile dysfunction is the inability to get or maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.

ED can affect men of all ages, though it becomes more common as you get older. It can be caused by physical factors like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or hormonal issues. Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, or depression can also have an impact on ED.

The medication is designed for on-demand use, meaning you take it only when you’re planning to have sexual activity. It’s not a daily erectile dysfunction treatment and should only be taken as needed.

How Does Vardenafil Work?

Vardenafil is a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. It belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which also includes sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).

To get an erection, blood needs to flow into your penis. When you’re sexually aroused, your body naturally releases chemicals that relax the blood vessels in your penis, allowing blood to flow in and create an erection.

In men with erectile dysfunction, this process doesn’t work as well as it should. The blood vessels don’t stay relaxed for long enough, which means blood flow to the penis is reduced.

Vardenafil helps by keeping the blood vessels in your penis relaxed for longer. This increases blood flow when you’re sexually stimulated, making it easier to get and maintain an erection.

Vardenafil only works when you’re sexually aroused. Vardenafil cannot give you an erection on its own, and it doesn’t increase sexual desire. The medication simply helps your body respond naturally to sexual stimulation.

Who Can Use Vardenafil?

Vardenafil is suitable for adult men aged 18 and over who experience erectile dysfunction and need treatment to help achieve and maintain an erection.

However, it may not be suitable for everyone. You should not use vardenafil if you:

• Are allergic to vardenafil or any other ingredients in the tablets
• Are taking nitrates (medicines for chest pain or angina) or nitric oxide donors such as amyl nitrite – this combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure
• Are taking ritonavir or indinavir (medicines used to treat HIV)
• Are over 75 years old and taking ketoconazole or itraconazole (antifungal medicines)
• Have severe heart or liver problems
• Have recently had a stroke or heart attack
• Have low blood pressure
• Have a rare inherited eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa
• Have ever had loss of vision due to a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
• Are taking riociguat (a medicine used to treat pulmonary hypertension)

Before using vardenafil, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• Have heart problems or have been told you shouldn’t have sexual activity for health reasons
• Have an abnormally shaped penis or conditions like Peyronie’s disease
• Have sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, or multiple myeloma
• Have a stomach ulcer or bleeding disorder like haemophilia
• Have kidney or liver problems
• Are taking alpha-blockers for high blood pressure or prostate problems
• Are taking other medications for erectile dysfunction

How to Take Vardenafil Tablets

1. Take one tablet about 25 to 60 minutes before you plan to have sexual activity. The medication needs time to be absorbed into your bloodstream before it can work effectively.
2. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food, though taking it with a high-fat meal may delay how quickly it works.
3. The usual starting dose is 10mg. Your doctor may adjust your vardenafil dose depending on how well it works for you and any side effects you experience. They may lower your dose to 5mg or increase it to a maximum of 20mg.
4. Don’t take more than one tablet in 24 hours. Taking more won’t make the medication work better and will increase your risk of side effects.
5. Vardenafil typically stays effective for 4 to 5 hours, though this can vary from person to person. This doesn’t mean you’ll have an erection for this entire time – you’ll still need sexual stimulation for the medication to work.
6. If you’re 65 or older, your doctor will usually start you on the lower 5mg dose.

If vardenafil doesn’t work the first time, don’t give up. It can take a few attempts to find the right dose and timing that works best for you. Some men find it works better on the second or third try as they become more familiar with how their body responds to the medication.

Side Effects of Vardenafil

Like all medications, vardenafil can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience side effects. Most side effects are mild and go away on their own within a few hours.

Very Common Side Effects

• Headache

Common Side Effects

• Dizziness
• Flushing (redness of the face)
• Blocked or runny nose
• Indigestion

Uncommon Side Effects

• Swelling of the skin and mucous tissue including swollen face, lips, or throat
• Sleep problems
• Numbness and impaired perception of touch
• Sleepiness
• Effects on vision, redness of the eye, effects on colour vision, eye pain and discomfort, light sensitivity, watery eyes
• Ringing in the ears, vertigo
• Fast heartbeat or pounding heart (palpitations)
• Breathlessness
• Stuffy nose
• Acid reflux, gastritis, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, being sick (vomiting), feeling sick (nausea), dry mouth
• Increased liver enzymes in your blood
• Rash, reddened skin
• Back or muscle pain, increased blood levels of an enzyme (creatine phosphokinase), muscle stiffness
• Prolonged erections
• Feeling unwell

Rare Side Effects

These may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people:

• Inflammation of the eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Allergic reaction
• Anxiety
• Fainting
• Amnesia (loss of memory)
• Seizure
• Increased pressure in the eye (glaucoma), increased tears
• Effects on the heart (such as heart attack, altered heartbeat or angina)
• High or low blood pressure
• Nosebleed
• Effect on results of blood tests to check liver function
• Sensitivity to light
• Chest pain
• Tiredness

Serious Side Effects – Seek Immediate Medical Help

Stop taking vardenafil and get emergency medical help if you experience:

• Sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes
• Sudden decrease or loss of hearing (sometimes with ringing in the ears or dizziness)
• An erection that won’t go away (priapism) – if you have an erection lasting more than 4 hours, seek immediate medical help to avoid permanent damage
• Severe allergic reaction – symptoms include swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Serious skin reactions
• Chest pain during or after sex – do not use nitrates but seek immediate medical help

See the patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects.

If you experience any side effects, even those not listed here, speak to your doctor or pharmacist. You can report side effects to the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency) through the Yellow Card Scheme to help monitor the safety of the medication.

Vardenafil Tablets Ingredients

Active ingredient: Vardenafil (as vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate) – amount dependent on dosage

Other ingredients: Crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, colloidal anhydrous silica, hypromellose, macrogol 400, titanium dioxide (E171), yellow iron oxide (E172), red iron oxide (E172).

Vardenafil Warnings

• Never take vardenafil with nitrate medicines (for angina or chest pain) or recreational drugs called “poppers”. This combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
• Stop taking vardenafil immediately and contact your doctor if you experience sudden vision or hearing loss, or chest pain during sexual activity. Don’t use nitrates if you experience chest pain.
• Don’t take vardenafil alongside other treatment of erectile dysfunction.
• Vardenafil can cause dizziness and affect vision. Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you.
• Limit alcohol consumption when taking vardenafil, as it may increase side effects and make it harder to get an erection.
• Avoid grapefruit juice while using this medication.
• Store below 30°C and keep out of reach of children. Do not use after the expiry date.
• Vardenafil does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Use condoms for STI protection.