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What
is Levitra? |
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| Levitra
(vardenafil HCl) is a PDE-5 inhibitor and is the newest
treatment option available for
30 million
men in Europe affected by erectile dysfunction (impotence). |
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| How
does Levitra work? |
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Levitra
acts in the same way as Viagra, by blocking an enzyme
called phosphodiesterase-5, or PDE-5. This
helps the smooth
muscles in the penis to relax, which effectively increases
blood flow.
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| Who
makes it? |
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| Levitra
is made by Bayer of Germany and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
plc of the UK. In November 2001,Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline
(GSK) signed a worldwide co-promotion and co-development
agreement to launch a new treatment for men seeking to
improve their erectile function. Sincethen, both companies
have been working together on the development of Levitra. |
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| With
these companies' strong histories in healthcare and pharmaceuticals,
the Bayer and
GSK co-promotion represents a powerful partnership committed
to improving men's health through
new treatment options. |
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What is the
normal recommended dosage? |
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| The
suggested dose is to start with 10mg of Levitra, and to
adjust the strength depending
on the results. However, the doctor may override your
selection if he/she feelsthat
based on your medical circumstances a different dose is
more
suitable.
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What
are the side effects of taking Levitra?
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| Whilst
the side effects may not effect everybody and may vary
from patient to patient, the
most commonly reported side effects are headaches, flushing,
rhinitis and
flu. |
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Has it been
approved in the UK? |
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| Levitra
was approved on March 7, 2003, by the European Commission
and it has now been approved
for the UK. This was based on the quality, safety and
efficacy data submitted.
These data included results from more than 3,750 men representing
a broad patientpopulation.
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What are
the differences between Viagra and Vardenafil (Levitra)?
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| Vardenafil
(Levitra) generally comes in smaller doses (5, 10, and
20mg), has fewer sideeffects,
and delivers a faster reaction time than Viagra. In clinical
research, patients taking
Vardenafil (Levitra) began experiencing results in 30
minutes or less. |
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How
long does the drug stay active within your body?
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| In
tests, Vardenafil (Levitra) stayed active and working
in the system for an average of 12 hours
in patients 65 years
or older, and 9 and a half hours in younger participants.
Clinical studies
have shown that Viagra has the ability to
reIndex in the system for up to 4 hours.
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| What
are the Side Effects of Levitra? |
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| Taking
Levitra can cause side effects, although not everybody
gets them. Most of the effects are mild or moderate. |
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Very common side effects
(These may affect 1 in 10 people or more) |
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Headaches
Flushing |
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Common side effects
(These may affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people) |
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Indigestion
Feeling
sick (nausea)
Dizziness
Blocked
or runny nose |
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Uncommon side effects
(These may affect less than 1 in 100 people) |
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Sensitivity of the eye to sunlight
High or
low blood pressure
Fainting
Stiffness
in muscles
Effects
on vision
Erectile
disturbances (such as spontaneous or painful erections) |
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| If
any of these affects you badly, or doesn't go away as
you carry on taking Levitra, tell your doctor. If you
notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet,
please tell your doctor. |
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Is it dangerous
to drink alcohol when taking Levitra?
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| In
clinical studies 20mg of Levitra was taken with a blood
alcohol level of .08 (legal limit in most states) and
showed no adverse reactions to heart rate or blood pressure.
While it is not dangerous to consume moderate amounts
of alcohol with Levitra, alcohol itself (with or without
Levitra) makes erections more difficult. To get the best
benefits and most enjoyable experiences you should limit
your alcohol consumption as much as possible. |
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Can women take
Levitra?
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| No.
Levitra is for men only. |
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Does Levitra increase
and mans sex drive and desire for sex?
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| No.
Levitra is not a hormone or aphrodisiac. It does nothing
to help a mans sex drive. It
only helps a man achieve an erection
who is already sexually stimulated and ready for sex. |
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| Who
cannot take LEVITRA? |
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| Patients
who are taking any medicines containing nitrates should
not take Levitra. These are commonly prescribed for the
relief of angina (chest pain). Levitra, in combination
with nitrates, can lower blood pressure significantly
leading to untoward effects. Patients should inform their
doctor if they are taking any of these medicines or should
ask if they are uncertain. |
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| Patients
with the following:
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Known hypersensitivity to any component of the drug Levitra; |
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Men with cardiac disease of a severity where sex is inadvisable; |
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Recent stroke, heart attack or low blood pressure; |
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Unstable angina or angina occurring during sexual intercourse; |
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Aged over 75 years and taking ritonavir, indinavir, ketoconazole
or itraconazole (oral form) |
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Levitra should not be taken with other erectile dysfunction
treatments. |
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| What
conditions may prevent a man using LEVITRA?
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Levitra
should be used with caution in patients with |
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An abnormally formed penis. |
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Diseases that might result in prolonged erections e.g.
Sickle cell anaemia, multiple myeloma, or leukaemia. |
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A history of postural hypotension. |
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Severe kidney or liver disease |
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| What
happens if I increase the dose? |
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| An
increase in dose should always occur under close medical
supervision. Clinical trials have shown
that increasing the dose beyond the maximum recommended
dose of 20mg simply increases
the side effects and not the efficacy. |
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| Can
I drive while taking LEVITRA? |
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| As
dizziness has been reported in clinical trials of Levitra,
patients should be aware of how they
react to the drug before they drive. |
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| Will
it work for everyone?
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| If
Levitra does not help you to get an erection, or your
erection does not last long enough
for you to complete your chosen
sexual activity you should tell your doctor, who will
be able
to advise you as to whether a dose increase is necessary
to reach the desired
effect. |
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