Levitra is a qualitative and safe generic distinguished by beneficial cost and high standard performance. It is indicative to men suffering from erectile dysfunction at any age group and of various severity level and origin of sexual issues.
Generic Levitra is an identical copy of the similarly-named branded medication aimed at erectile dysfunction treatment of various severity level and origin. In case you used original Levitra earlier, it is worth trying its generic.
Indications
Generic Levitra is indicative to men suffering from erectile dysfunction at any age group which means to those who are incapable to achieve and preserve erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. The medication is taken perorally regardless of the food acceptance. The effect of active substance, vardenafil occurs in case of a certain level of sexual stimulation. Levitra is quickly absorbed and completely dissolved in gastro-intestinal tract. Moreover, its first effect occurs in 15 minutes after the intake. In some cases, the medicine starts its action within 20-25 minutes. The efficiency of Generic Levitra is observed within the following 4-5 hours after the intake. The action peak occurs within 60 minutes (30-120 minutes from the moment of intake). Bioaccessibility of the drug is equal to 15%. The initial recommended dosage makes 10mg. Maximum daily frequency is once per day. The dosage may be enlarged to 20mg or decreased to 5mg per day subject to tolerability and efficiency.
How does Generic Levitra Work?
Hemodynamic process underlies the erectile function which is directed on relaxation of unstriated muscles of cavernous bodies. Stimulation of nerve endings leads to activation of nitrogen oxide stimulating enzyme called guanylate cyclase. The given process causes increase of guanosine monophosphate quantity in cavernous bodies. Under influence of Generic Levitra’s active substance, unstriated muscles get relaxed, and PDE5 is blocked. The latter is important for splitting of guanosine monophosphate. Nitrogen oxide in cavernous bodies gets enhanced causing improvement of male sexual function and natural erection.
This effect explains the capacity of Generic Levitra to enhance natural reaction on sexual stimulation. Vardenafil is a strong and high-selective PDE5 inhibitor. The inhibiting action of vardenafil on PDE5 is expressed more than in regards to other well-known PDE. Vardenafil increased guanosine monophosphate level in cavernous bodies leading to relaxation of unstriated muscles. The dosage of 20mg of vardenafil allows achieving steady erection (sufficient for sexual intercourse) in 15 minutes. The full response occurs in 25 minutes.
Contraindications
Generic Levitra is not recommended for patients suffering from:
- Cardio-vascular diseases or those who have a history of myocardial infarction, heart attack, hypertension, cardiac angina, etc.;
- Pronounced renal or hepatic disorders;
- Disorders of eye retina integrity (pigmented retinitis);
- Underlying risk of priapism development (leukemia, myeloma, etc.);
- Anomalies of sexual organs structure (penis deformation, cavernous fibrosis, Peyronie’s disease, etc.);
- Underlying risk of bleeding;
- Peptic ulcer;
- Aortic stenosis or idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis;
- Age under 16 years;
- Individual intolerability to Generic Levitra components.
Before prescribing Generic Levitra, a therapist must estimate cardio-vascular system condition, since there is a risk of cardiac complications during sexual activity. Vardenafil has vasodilatory characteristics which may cause insignificant or moderate arterial blood pressure drop. Patients with obstruction of outflow tract from left ventricle, for instance with aortic stenosis or idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis may be sensitive to vasodilating agents including PDE5 inhibitors. Men who are counter-indicative to sexual activity due to cardio-vascular diseases are not prescribed the medications for erectile dysfunction.
Since Generic Levitra in therapeutic dosage of 10mg causes QT interval elongation, it shouldn’t be administered by patients suffering from congenital QT interval elongation and by those who take antiarrhythmics of class IA (quinidine, procainamide) or class III (amiodarone, sotalol).
Safety and effectiveness of vardenafil in combination with other medicines for erectile dysfunction were not examined. Therefore, their simultaneous intake is not recommended. Also, vardenafil safety was not studied and its intake is not recommended for the following group of patients with: severely impaired liver function, renal disease in terminal stage requiring haemodialysis, arterial hypotension, recently undergone apoplectic attack or myocardial infarction (within the last 6 months), unstable angina, and congenital degenerative diseases of amphiblestrodes, e.g. retinitis.
Combined therapy of vardenafil along with alpha-adrenergic blocking agents may be accompanied by arterial hypotension development with corresponding clinical presentation, since both medications have vasolidatory effect. Combined prescription of Generic Levitra and alpha-adrenergic blocking agents is admissible only in case of stable indicators of arterial blood pressure on the top of alpha-adrenergic blocking agents except for tamsulosin the intake of which may coincide in time with vardenafil intake. In case of the intake of adjusted dose of Levitra, alpha-adrenergic blocking agents therapy may be started in initial dosage. The gradual increase of alpha-adrenergic blocking agents by patients taking medications from PDE5 inhibitors group, may lead to further arterial blood pressure drop.
Levitra Generic dose should not surpass 5mg if combined with erythromycin, ketoconazole, itraconasole. The dosage of ketoconazole and itraconasole shouldn’t exceed 200mg. Combination with indinavir and ritonavir is counter-indicative.
Since vardenafil was not applied by patients having underlying risk of bleeding or suffering from aggravation of peptic ulcer, its administration is possible only in case if thorough estimation of benefit and risk of therapy.
Vardenafil doesn’t influence bleeding duration. This indicator is also not influenced in combination with acetylsalicylic acid. Vardenafil doesn’t enhance thrombocyte aggregation caused by various medications. In higher concentration vardenafil causes insignificant enhancement of anti-platelet action of sodium nitroferricyanide which is nitrogen oxide donor. Mutual influence of vardenafil and heparin on duration of bleeding is not tested.
Vardenafil impact on hypotensive effect of nitrates is not examined. Therefore, combined administration of Generic Levitra with nitrates is counter-indicative.
Interesting Facts
Original remedy Levitra was developed much later than the medicines of similar action, such as Viagra and Cialis. Its formula became more accomplished in comparison with them. The invented substance, vardenafil was designed for vasolidating of blood vessels. But the exposed possibilities to enhance erection lead to development of the medicine for erectile dysfunction. Vardenafil became an active component of Levitra. The company-manufacturer was Bayer AG (Germany). Levitra was distributed all around the world in the shortest terms possible. The reason for this was not only high popularity of similar products in modern world, but also its excellent characteristics and high-grade efficiency.
Possible Side-Effects
In total, medical experts note perfect tolerability of Generic Levitra by organism, but in rare cases a man may have the following side-effects:
- From the part of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system: headache, vertigo, drowsiness, anxiety, syncope.
- From the part of cardio-vascular system: blushing, feeling of heat, increase/drop of arterial blood pressure, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, postural hypotension, cardiac angina, myocardial ischemia.
- From the part of digestive apparatus: dyspepsia, nausea, liver function abnormality.
- From the part of respiratory apparatus: passive congestion of pituitary membrane (swollen mucosa, rhinitis, rhinorrhea), labored breathing, nasal hemorrhage, swelling of the larynx).
- From the part of visual organ: increase of tearing of eyes, visual distortion, ocular hypertension.
- Dermatological reactions: facial edema, photoallergy.
- From the part of musculoskeletal system: myodynia, backache, increased creatine phosphokinase-MB, high muscle tone.
- From the part of sexual system: prolonged erection or painful erection, priapism.
- Other: hypersensitivity.
Food and Drug Interactions
Combination with food
If the remedy is taken along with food rich in fat, the absorption rate may be much lower. Moreover, the maximum activity peak may come a little bit later. In this case, the efficiency of Generic Levitra decreases approximately by 20%. The combination of the drug along with common low-fat (less than 30% of fat) food does not affect the pharmacological characteristics of the drug.
Levitra with alcohol
Medical trials have shown that alcohol in quantity of 200gr has no interaction with Generic Levitra. And many positive reviews prove these studies. Nevertheless, large amounts of alcohol should be avoided. After large amount of alcohol intake vardenafil may slow down its action, since liver will first process ethanol and only then it continues its work with vardenafil. Thus, a Generic Levitra’s action may be delayed for several hours.
Drug interactions
Vardenafil is generally metabolized with participation of hepatic enzymes of cytochromes P-450, namely isoenzyme CYP3A4 and partial participation of isoenzymes CYP3A5 and CYP2C. The inhibitors of these enzymes may decrease clearance of vardenafil. The combined intake of Generic Levitra with ketoconazole, itraconasole indinavir, and ritonavir (strong CYP3A4 inhibitors) may cause increased concentration of vardenafil in blood plasma. Erythromycin causes increase of AUC of vardenafil four-fold and Cmax of vardenafil three-fold.
When healthy volunteers took Generic Levitra 24 hours before nitroglycerin, the latter didn’t enhance hypotensive effect, whereas the dose of 20mg of vardenafil taken 1-4 hours before nitrates intake, it enhances their hypotensive action. But in taken 24 hours before nitrates intake, hypotensive action doesn’t occur.
Since alpha-adrenergic blocking agents cause arterial blood pressure drop including postural hypotension and syncope, the question of their interaction with Generic Levitra was thoroughly studied. After addition of vardenafil to the therapy, arterial hypotension occurred among the considerable number of sound volunteers. These trials are of reduced clinical importance, since they were conducted with participation of healthy volunteers and after forced dose titration as well. Thus, the participants of the experiment did not manage to achieve arterial blood pressure stabilization on the top of alpha-adrenergic blocking agents intake. The combined prescription of Generic Levitra along with the latter ones is possible in case of stable indicators of arterial blood pressure in minimally recommended dose of 5mg. It shouldn’t be taken with alpha-adrenergic blocking agents except for tamsulosin the intake of which may coincide with vardenafil intake.
Generic Levitra doesn’t affect the duration of bleeding when is taken in the capacity of monotherapy and in combination with acetylsalicylic acid in small dose.
Safety Note
Pediatric use
Vardenafil is not to be used by children under 16 years of age.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Before Generic Levitra prescription, patients who drive and use machines should find out their individual reaction on the drug.
Pregnancy and lactation
Generic Levitra is not to be used by women.
For patients suffering from severe decreased kidney function
Generic Levitra should be taken with care by patients suffering from end-stage renal disease.
For patients suffering from mild or insignificantly pronounced decreased kidney function
Dosage regimen correction is not required.
For patients suffering from liver functioning abnormality
In severe cases of liver functioning abnormality, Generic Levitra should be taken with care.
For patients suffering from insignificantly pronounced liver function abnormality
Dosage regimen correction is not required.
For patients suffering from mild liver functioning abnormality
First dose should be 5mg per day. Then the dosage may be increased to 10mg and later to 20mg depending on efficiency and tolerability.
For aged patients
Dosage regimen correction is not required.
Dispensing requirements
Generic Levitra is available on prescription.
Overdose
There are cases of Generic Levitra misuse in quantity of 80mg per day and 40 mg per day during more than 4 weeks without development of any side-effects. Nevertheless, in case of the intake of the drug in dose of 40mg twice a day, the pronounced lower back pains without any toxic action on muscular and nerve system are observed.
The overdose should be treated by means of symptomatic and supporting treatment. Since vardenafil is connected with serum protein and just insignificant quantity is cleared by kidneys; the efficiency of hemodialysis is unlikely.
Off-Label Uses
Generic Levitra may be used for treatment or combined treatment of:
- prostate adenoma;
- Balanitis, balanoposthitis, phimosis;
- Pampinocele;
- Hydronephrosis.
Forms of Presentation
Variety of presentation forms of Generic Levitra gives a perfect opportunity to select the most appropriate variant in accordance with your wishes and preferences.
- Those who prefer old traditional way of treatment and is not in a hurry to obtain the desired effect may use a tableted form. The effect may occur within 30 minutes. 20mg is enough to obtain the optimal effect.
- In order to achieve a faster action, a patient may use capsules with liquid active substance. Liquid represents a form ready to be absorbed. The effect of capsules occurs in 10-15 minutes.
- If you wish to please yourself besides the fast action, you should select the jelly form or chewable pills. Both forms have several savory flavors, get absorbed in blood right in mouth cavity and take their action within 10-15 minutes. Moreover, they are very convenient to take. Jelly may be taken right from its bag or dissolved in non-alcoholic beverage except for grapefruit juice (they are incompatible). Chewable pills may be chewed and admired by their wonderful flavor.
- In case you want to have a stronger effect from Generic Levitra, you should resort to the tablets of double action. Double action is a result of the fact that the tablet is composed of two active substances: vardenafil and dapoxetine. They’ll make erection stronger and sexual intercourse more prolonged.
Storage Requirements
Keep out of reach of children. Keep in dry place not above 30°C. Expiration period lasts 3 years.
Full List of Ingredients
- Active substance: vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate;
- Auxiliary agents: crospovidone, stearate magnesium, cryptocrystalline cellulose, anhydrous colloidal silicon dioxide.
- Coating composition: macrogol, hypromellose, titania, ferric oxide red, ferric oxide red.
Disclaimer
The information offered here serves an educational purpose and is by no means a stand-in for the specialized guidance only a healthcare professional can provide. Should you find yourself with questions concerning a medical condition, it is crucial to reach out to your physician or an appropriately certified healthcare giver. Moreover, any reference to specific medications or treatments within this material does not constitute an official endorsement.