Info
About Levitra
Patient
Information LEVITRA® Tablets
Read the Patient Information about
LEVITRA before you start taking it and again each time you get a refill.
There may be new information. You may also find it helpful to share
this information with your partner. This leaflet does not take the
place of talking with your doctor. You and your doctor should talk
about LEVITRA when you start taking it and at regular checkups. If
you do not understand the information, or have questions, talk with
your doctor or pharmacist.
What
should you know about LEVITRA?
LEVITRA can cause your blood pressure to drop suddenly to an unsafe
level if it is taken with certain other medicines. With a sudden
drop in blood pressure, you could get dizzy, faint, or have a heart
attack or stroke.
Do
not take LEVITRA if you:
- take any
medicines called "nitrates."
- use recreational
drugs called "poppers" like amyl nitrate and butyl nitrate.
- take medicines
called alpha blockers.
(See "Who Should Not Take LEVITRA")
Tell all your healthcare providers that you take LEVITRA. If
you need emergency medical care for a heart problem, it will
be important for your health care provider to know when you
last took LEVITRA.
What
is LEVITRA?
LEVITRA is a prescription medicine taken by mouth for the
treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. ED is a condition
where the penis does not harden and expand when a man is sexually
excited, or when he cannot keep an erection. A man who has trouble
getting or keeping an erection should see his doctor for help if
the condition bothers him. LEVITRA may help a man with ED get and
keep an erection when he is sexually excited.
LEVITRA
does not:
- cure ED
- increase
a man`s sexual desire
- protect
a man or his partner from sexually transmitted diseases, including
HIV. Speak to your doctor about ways to guard against sexually
transmitted diseases.
- serve as
a male form of birth control
LEVITRA is only for men with ED. LEVITRA is
not for women or children. LEVITRA must be used only under a
doctor`s care. How does LEVITRA work? When a man is sexually
stimulated, his body`s normal physical response is to increase
blood flow to his penis. This results in an erection. LEVITRA
helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with
ED get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity.
Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his
penis decreases, and his erection goes away.
Who
can take LEVITRA?
Talk to your doctor to decide if LEVITRA is right for you. LEVITRA
has been shown to be effective in men over the age of 18 years
who have erectile dysfunction, including men with diabetes or
who have undergone prostatectomy.
Who
should not take LEVITRA?
Do not take LEVITRA if you:
- take any
medicines called "nitrates" (See "What is the most important information
I should 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.
- 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. See the end of this leaflet for
a complete list of ingredients.
What
should you discuss with your doctor before taking LEVITRA?
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 (See "What is the most important information I
should know about LEVITRA.")
- medicines
called alpha blockers. These include Hytrin® (terazosin), Flomax®
(tamsulosin), Cardura® (doxazosin), Minipress® (prazosin) or Uroxatral®
(alfuzosin).
- medicines
that treat abnormal heartbeat. These include quinidine, procainamide,
amiodarone and sotalol. ritonavir (Norvir®) or indinavir (Crixivan®)
- ketoconazole
or itraconazole (such as Nizoral® or Sporanox®)
- erythromycin
- other medicines
or treatments for ED
How
should you take LEVITRA?
Take LEVITRA exactly as your doctor prescribes. LEVITRA comes
in different doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg). For most
men, the recommended starting dose is 10 mg. Take LEVITRA no
more than once a day. Doses should be taken at least 24 hours
apart. Some men can only take a low dose of LEVITRA because
of medical conditions or medicines they take. Your doctor will
prescribe the dose that is right for you.
- If you are
older than 65 or have liver problems, your doctor may start you
on a lower dose of LEVITRA.
- If you are
taking certain other medicines your doctor may prescribe a lower
starting dose and limit you to one dose of LEVITRA in a 72-hour
(3 days) period.
- Take 1 LEVITRA
tablet about 1 hour (60 minutes) before sexual activity. Some
form of sexual stimulation is needed for an erection to happen
with LEVITRA. LEVITRA may be taken with or without meals.
Do not change your dose of LEVITRA without
talking to your doctor. Your doctor may lower your dose or raise
your dose, depending on how your body reacts to LEVITRA.
If you take too much LEVITRA, call your doctor
or emergency room right away.
What
are the possible side effects of LEVITRA?
The most common side effects with LEVITRA are headache, flushing,
stuffy or runny nose, indigestion, upset stomach, or dizziness.
These side effects usually go away after a few hours. Call your
doctor if you get a side effect that bothers you or one that
will not go away.
LEVITRA
may uncommonly cause:
an erection
that won`t go away (priapism). If you get an erection that lasts
more than 4 hours, get medical help right away. Priapism must
be treated as soon as possible or lasting damage can happen
to your penis including the inability to have erections. vision
changes, such as seeing a blue tinge to objects or having difficulty
telling the difference between the colors blue and green. These
are not all the side effects of LEVITRA. For more information,
ask your doctor or pharmacist. How should LEVITRA be stored?
Store LEVITRA
at room temperature between 59° and 86° F (15° to 30° C). Keep
LEVITRA and all medicines out of the reach of children. General
Information about LEVITRA. Medicines are sometimes prescribed
for conditions other than those described in patient information
leaflets. Do not use LEVITRA for a condition for which it was
not prescribed. Do not give LEVITRA to other people, even if
they have the same symptoms that you have. It may harm them.
This leaflet
summarizes the most important information about LEVITRA. If
you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider.
You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for information about
LEVITRA that is written for health professionals.
For more
information you can also visit www.LEVITRA.com, or call 1-866-LEVITRA.
What
are the ingredients of LEVITRA?
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. |