FAQ Levitra, Faq About Levitra

What is Levitra?

Levitra (also named vardenafil HCl) is the tablet of the instruction similar to Viagra which helps
Men with capable to be straightened by dysfunction (powerlessness).
It not treatment for ED, you should take it each time when you want to have sex.

For last some years the new class of a preparation has been developed to help men with
ED (capable to be straightened dysfunction).

Viagra was the first of them so-called "PDE-5 inhibitors" to be let out.
Levitra the second is to be accessible in the USA, and the third, Cialis, arrives soon.

ED (capable to be straightened dysfunction) it was in the habit to be made responsible psychological factors.
However, with drugs as Levitra, we know now that capable to be straightened dysfunction - substantially a
physical problem.

Problems as a diabetes, cardiovascular disease, a high blood pressure, and and a simple old age can cause
difficulties in reception and installation maintenance.

Before drugs as Levitra capable to be straightened considered dysfunction with injections directly in a member or
with introductions concerning a man's penis.
With drugs as, however, this unpleasant and aggressive reference is not necessary for Levitra any more.
Only, accepting a simple tablet, the huge majority of men tests the improved installations and successful dialogue.

Levitra does not cure ED.
You take Levitra directly before you will want to have sex.
Within approximately hour you are capable to receive installation better, and the effect is softened after some hours
after that.

Some people inform on languid positive effects after that, but generally, you should take Levitra again each time
when you want to have sex.

Levitra not a stimulant.
It will not force you to wish a floor, it only will allow you to receive installation if you are sexually stimulated.
It works over a body, not over mind.
People who take Levitru, are surprised that she does not force them to feel a little different while they do not receive
some sexual excitation. Then they notice distinction.

Who makes Levitra?

According to the FDA, "Levitra is manufactured by Bayer Corporation in Germany and will be distributed by
Glaxo Smith Kline." Bayer initially developed Levitra and manufactures the drug.

The orange/yellow Levitra pill has the "Bayer cross" trademark on it, Bayer registered the "Levitra" trademark, owns
the Levitra.com domain, etc.

Since GlaxoSmithKline has a better marketing infrastructure for prescription drugs, Bayer joined with
Glaxo Smith Kline to market the drug jointly. The two companies describe the relationship this way: Levitra
is "co-developed and co-promoted by Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline".

Here's an interesting quote from an article in 2001 before Bayer partnered with
GlaxoSmithKline to market Levitra:

According to Ebsworth, Bayer's ideal partner
would "have muscle in that therapeutic area and a willingness to spend.

They also must have a real vision and understanding of what we can do with the brand.
The icing on the cake would be if they had broad consumer marketing experience.
After that, it is down to the chemistry of how the companies can work together."

How Does Levitra Work?

Though a complicated chemical process, Levitra allows the muscles in the penis to relax, which allows blood to flow in,
creating a firm erection.

Like Viagra and Cialis, Levitra is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5).
All of these drugs function in essentially the same way.
In smooth muscle cells, GMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate) mediates smooth muscle relaxation.

The more GMP, the more the muscles can relax, the more blood can flow in, and the better the erection. PDE-5 breaks
down cGMP, so PDE-5 inhibitors like Levitra keep this from happening, helping to maintain high levels of GMP.
Levitra's strong point is that it is very selective in attacking PDE-5 without affecting other isoenzymes.

This allows a smaller dose of Levitra to have the same effect as a larger dose of Viagra
(an average Levitra dose is 10mg while an average Viagra dose is 50mg), even though the two drugs essentially
function the same way.

Is a Generic Version of Levitra Available?

No, Levitra is still "under patent".
That means that Bayer/GlaxoSmithKline have the exclusive right to manufacture and market Levitra.
In countries (like India) that do not recognize patent rights, some companies may produce "generic" versions of Levitra.
However, this "generic" Levitra is not approved or tested by the FDA or European regulators so you cannot be sure
of its purity or quality.

What is "Herbal Levitra" or "Herbal Viagra"?

Who knows. "Herbal Levitra" could contain anything. "Herbal" products do not meet the strict standards for quality and
safety required for FDA-approved drugs like Levitra.

There's no telling what might be in "Herbal Levitra" or "Herbal Viagra".
There's no way to know exactly what it contains, what are the exact dosages of those ingredients, etc.

Even though people imagine "herbal" products to be safer, you are taking a much lower risk by taking authentic Levitra,
manufactured by Bayer, or authentic Viagra, manufactured by Pfizer.

You can be sure these drugs are pure, produced under safe conditions, and that the drugs have been studied carefully
for safety, side effects, interactions with other drugs, etc.

When you purchase an "herbal alternative" you can only hope it is safe and effective.
Herbal products may or may not work.
One "herbal Viagra" product sold in the US was even found to contain sildenafil citrate, the active ingredient in Viagra!

It probably did work, but if you want to take Viagra or Levitra, why wouldn't you take real FDA-approved Viagra or
Levitra instead of some potentially dangerous knock-off?

How much Levitra should I take?

Levitra is available in 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg pills. We advise cutting a 20mg pill into fourths and trying 5mg first,
see how it works, then increase the dose only if 5mg doesn't work well.

People over 65 and people taking some medications might even take a lower dose, consult with your physician on the
best dosing for your individual situation..
The less Levitra you take, the better. Lower doses have fewer side effects, and if a lower dose works for you, a higher
dose probably won't work any better.

The most cost-efficient way to buy Levitra is to purchase 20mg pills.
Use a pill cutter (available at any drugstore) to cut the pill into four pieces (5mg each).

Try 5mg. If that doesn't work, you can try 10mg, or 20mg. 20mg is the maximum dose for Levitra. You shouldn't take more
than that; it won't work any better, and it is not safe, since the drug hasn't been approved for higher doses.

Levitra is absorbed more slowly by older people, especially people over 65, so they can often have the same benefits
with a lower dose. Using some medications can also make a lower dose more appropriate.
Discuss with your doctor or pharmacist any other medications you are taking before taking Levitra.

How Can I Lessen Side Effects?

The number one thing you can do to lessen side effects is to take a lower dose.
The lower the dose, the less likely you are to experience side effects.

We can't stress this enough.
With Levitra, the less the better.

More of the drug won't necessarily work better for you, and the lower the dose, the less likely you are to experience
side effects.
So experiment with lower dosages until you find the optimal one for you.

Using a pill cutter, available at any drugstore, makes it easy to adjust your dose.
Take a 20 mg pill and divide it into fourths.
Try Levitra first at 5mg. If that doesn't work, increase to 10 mg or 20mg (the maximum dose).

There are other tricks to help deal with side effects.
Many people find that drinking a lot of water along with the pill helps with headaches and nasal congestion.

You can also experiment taking Levitra with and without food to see which works better for you.
If you experience headaches, you might try taking an over-the-counter pain medication like Tylenol along with Levitra.

If you take Levitra over a long period of time, side effects should lessen.

Side effects with Levitra should be mild and should go away within a few hours.
If side effects are more serious or last a longer time, you should contact a doctor immediately.

What are possible drug interactions with Levitra?

Below you will find some information excerpted from the FDA-approved package insert for Levitra.
However, you should discuss with your doctor and pharmacist any medications you are currently taking or any health
problems you have, since this list may not be complete or up-to-date.
You should also download and read the entire insert in detail before taking Levitra.

Download the insert

from the FDA web site: http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2003/021400lbl.pdf

Do not take Levitra if you:

take any medicines called "nitrates"
(See "What important information should you know about Levitra?").

Nitrates are commonly used to treat angina.
Angina is a symptom of heart disease and can cause pain in your chest, jaw, or down your arm.

Medicines called nitrates include nitroglycerin that is found in tablets, sprays, ointments, pastes, or patches.
Nitrates can also be found in other medicines such as isosorbide dinitrate or isosorbide mononitrate.
Some recreational drugs called "poppers" also contain nitrates, such as amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.

Do not use Levitra if you are using these drugs.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure if any of your medicines are nitrates.
use recreational drugs called "poppers" like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.
take medicines called "alpha-blockers."

Alpha-blockers are sometimes prescribed for prostate problems or high blood pressure.
If Levitra is taken with alpha-blockers, your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level. You could get
dizzy and faint.

you have been told by your healthcare provider to not have sexual activity because of health problems.
Sexual activity can put an extra strain on your heart, especially if your heart is already weak from a heart attack or
heart disease.

are allergic to Levitra or any of its ingredients.
The active ingredient in Levitra is called vardenafil.

Active Ingredient: vardenafil hydrochloride
Inactive Ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate,
hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, titanium dioxide, yellow ferric oxide, and red ferric oxide.

Before taking Levitra, tell your doctor about all your medical problems, including if you:

have heart problems such as angina, heart failure, irregular heartbeats, or have had a heart attack. Ask your doctor
if it is safe for you to have sexual activity.
have low blood pressure or have high blood pressure that is not controlled

have had a stroke
or any family members have a rare heart condition known as prolongation of the QT interval
(long QT syndrome)

have liver problems
have kidney problems and require dialysis
have retinitis pigmentosa, a rare genetic (runs in families) eye disease

have stomach ulcers
have a bleeding problem
have a deformed penis shape or Peyronie's disease

have had an erection that lasted more than 4 hours
have blood cell problems such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia

Can other medications affect Levitra?

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins,
and herbal supplements.

Levitra and other medicines may affect each other.
Always check with your doctor before starting or stopping any medicines.
Especially tell your doctor if you take any of the following:

medicines called nitrates, medicines called alpha-blockers.
These include Hytrin® (terazosin HCl), Flomax® (tamsulosin HCl), Cardura® (doxazosin mesylate), Minipress®
(prazosin HCl) or Uroxatral® (alfuzosin HCl).

medicines that treat abnormal heartbeat.
These include quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol.
ritonavir (Norvir®) or indinavir sulfate (Crixivan®)

ketoconazole or itraconazole (such as Nizoral® or Sporanox®)
erythromycin
other medicines or treatments for ED

What is the Equivalent Viagra Dose with Levitra?

Viagra pills come in three varieties: 100 mg, 50 mg, and 25 mg.
The maximum dose is 100 mg; you should not take more than 100 mg, and most people get effective results with less.

However, it makes sense to buy 100 mg pills and cut them into half or into four pieces using a pill cutter
(available at any drugstore). This is the cheapest way to buy Viagra.

Levitra pills come in four dosages: 20 mg, 10 mg, 5 mg and 2.5 mg.

Even if you are already taking Viagra, it makes sense to try Levitra at a relatively low dose, see
how that works, and increase the dose to find the one right for you.
Levitra is a more targeted drug than Viagra, so it is effective at lower doses.

Viagra Didn't Work for Me, Will Levitra?

Some people respond to one drug better than another, and since Levitra is said to be less affected by food or
alcohol intake, that may help. However, the drugs work in a similar way in the body, so they tend to have similar
levels of effectiveness.

If Viagra doesn't work for you, it's worth giving Levitra a try.
Each person is different, and your body may respond better to Levitra than Viagra.

However, do not take both drugs on the same day, and it's a good idea to get a full physical to make sure something
serious isn't causing your ED.

It's important to note that the maximum dose for Viagra is 100mg while the maximum dose of Levitra is 20mg.
The two drugs do the same thing in the body, they inhibit the PDE-5 enzyme.

However, Levitra is a much more targeted drug that does the job with a lower dose.
So if you've tried 100mg of Viagra with no success, try 20mg of Levitra, but no more.
Overdosing won't make the drug any more effective.

Sometimes when Viagra doesn't work for people, it's due to a misunderstanding of just what is supposed to happen.
Neither Viagra nor Levitra is an aphrodisiac: they will not make you want sex.

They only help you get an erection when you are sexually stimulated.
Also, neither drug works instantaneously they both take 15 minutes to an hour to kick in.
So experimenting how and when you take either drug can help.

Should I take Levitra and Viagra at the same time?

No, it is not safe to take Levitra and Viagra together.
You should only take one or the other.

They are similar drugs, so it makes sense to try both, on different days, and see which works best for you.

More is not better with these drugs.
In fact, you should try to take the smallest dose that is effective for you.

Lower doses generally result in fewer side effects.
Taking too much can be uncomfortable and is potentially dangerous.

Both Levitra and Viagra should be taken at most once a day.
Never take more than one dose a day of either drug.

Which has fewer side efects, Levitra or Viagra?

In general, Levitra and Viagra have similar side effects, and similar percentages of people will experience side effects.
Some side effects are seen in one pill more than another, for instance, visual disturbance is only seen in Viagra.

Which works faster and lasts longer, Viagra or Levitra?

This is an issue of some controversy.
The makers of Levitra tout Levitra's speed as a strong point, though the makers of Viagra have published a study
that Viagra can work just as quickly. As a general rule, they both take from 15 minutes to an hour to kick in, and the
effect lasts for three to four hours.

One of Levitra's main claims to fame is that it is supposed to work faster than Viagra.
The idea being that a faster-acting drug allows for more romantic spontaneity.

Conventional wisdom has been that Viagra takes 30 minutes to an hour to kick-in. However, Pfizer released a study in
December 2002 that showed that "Results showed that within 14 minutes of taking Viagra, 35 percent of men achieved
at least one erection that resulted in successful sexual intercourse.

A majority of men (51 percent) achieved this response within 20 minutes.
So, for many men, Viagra too can work in less than 30 minutes.

An important point with Viagra is that it works fastest on an empty stomach; Levitra, however, is said to be less
sensitive to food or alcohol intake.

That may be one reason why for some men Levitra works somewhat faster.
Here is a quote from some research on this issue:

In a separate randomized, double-blind study, men with mild to severe ED received a four-week supply of Levitra 20
mg or placebo and were asked to start sexual activity immediately after dosing.

Results showed that significantly more men taking Levitra 20 mg experienced an erection adequate for successful
completion of intercourse as early as 16 minutes after dosing compared with men taking placebo
(34 per cent versus 24 per cent, respectively).

Both drugs last about as long, up to four hours, though some people report residual effects up to a full day later.
A competing drug, Cialis, has been nicknamed the "weekender" because it lasts much longer, up to two or three days.

Overall, which is better, Levitra or Viagra?

Both drugs work essentially the same way and both have similar side effects.
Levitra may work a little faster in some people and may be less sensitive to food or alcohol intake.
Viagra has been around for a lot longer and has a proven safety track record.

No controlled studies have yet been done comparing Levitra directly with Viagra, so it is difficult to compare features
directly. However, here is an overview of some of the issues:

Levitra Pros:

May work somewhat faster
May be more effective even on a full stomach (though even Levitra is slowed by a very fatty meal)

Less likely to have visual disturbance side effect
(Viagra sometimes causes a bluish tint to vision, a harmless side effect that wears off along with the drug)

Viagra Pros:

Extremely well-tested and well understood drug.
Viagra has been taken by millions of people worldwide.
Levitra is a newer drug that has not been used by as many people. .

Issues where neither has an advantage:

Effective in about the same percentage of people (about 80%)
Work essentially in the same way

Have similar side effects
About the same price
Last about the same amount of time (3-4 hours)

Can I Take Levitra with Alcohol?

Yes.
Levitra works well even after drinking moderate amounts of alcohol, and also appears to be safe with moderate
amounts of alcohol.
However, it has not been tested for safety after heavy drinking, and heavy drinking is a proven cause of erectile
dysfunction. So drink in moderation when you're planning to take Levitra.

The FDA-approved package insert for Levitra offers no cautions about taking Levitra with alcohol, and some clinical
testing has been done on this issue. It appears to be safe when taken with moderate amounts of alcohol and its
effectiveness doesn't appear to be much diminished..

Here's a report on Levitra and alcohol:

In a randomized, double-blind, three-fold crossover study, 20 mg Levitra or placebo was administered orally
together with alcohol (0.5 g/kg in 200 ml of orange juice) or placebo.
Results showed that Levitra PK parameters were largely unaffected by alcohol

Can I Take Levitra with Food?

Yes.
Levitra works well even after a meal, though a high fat meal can slow absorption of Levitra.

One of Levitra's biggest selling points is that it is supposedly not affected much by food intake.
However, even Levitra can be slowed down by a very fatty meal.
So even though you don't need to take it on an empty stomach, you might want to order the fish and vegetables instead
of the steak and fries.

Here's a report on Levitra and food:

In another randomized, crossover study, 20 mg Levitra was administered at 8:00 a.m. after an overnight fast or
immediately after consuming a high-fat breakfast

(57 per cent fat), or at 6:00 p.m. on an empty stomach or after consuming a
moderate-fat meal (30 per cent fat).

Results showed that Levitra PK [effectiveness] parameters were largely unaffected by
food, except when taken with a meal with high-fat content (more than 55 per cent).

In this situation, absorption was delayed by one hour.

Can Women Take Levitra?

Levitra has not been thoroughly tested on, nor approved for use by women.
No woman should consider taking Levitra without first discussing it with her gynecologist.

Some women have had success taking Viagra, and studies have been done showing that it has some positive effects.
Like with men, Viagra doesn't increase interest in sex, but it may increase blood flow to the genitals, making a
woman more sexually responsive, and increasing the likelihood of orgasm. Since Levitra works in a very similar
way to Viagra, it may also work on women.

Even if Levitra and Viagra work for women, the effects are unlikely to be as dramatic.
Female sexual satisfaction is complex, with many factors, as opposed to men, where an erection is generally c
onsidered success.

How quickly does Levitra work?

Levitra can start working within 15 minutes and can take up to an hour to kick in.
Eating a very fatty meal may slow absorption time somewhat.