Talk to your doctor to determine if an ED drug is appropriate for you. Medically accurate: SingleCare’s Medical Review Board analyzes all of our content to confirm it’s in line with current medical advice.
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Because these medications do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STD), patients should use protective measures, such as condoms. Although both drugs are indicated in men, they are sometimes used off-label in women. However, there is no data on either drug in pregnant women. Therefore, Levitra or Viagra should not be used in pregnant women. Levitra (vardenafil) is a prescription medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED).
The brand-name product is a Bayer product, and it is also available in generic by several manufacturers. Viagra (sildenafil) is an FDA-approved prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. The brand-name product is a Pfizer product, and it is also available in generic by several manufacturers. You may have also heard of Revatio being used for ED in place of Viagra. Revatio is another drug that contains sildenafil, the same ingredient in Viagra. LEVITRA- vardenafil hydrochloride tablet, film coated APHENA PHARMA SOLUTIONS - TENNESSEE, INC. LEVITRA® is an oral therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Vardenafil HCl is designated chemically as piperazine, 1-[[3-(1,4-dihydro-5-methyl-4-oxo-7-propylimidazo[5,1-f ][1,2,4]triazin-2-yl)-4-ethoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-4-ethyl-, monohydrochloride and has the following structural formula: Vardenafil HCl is a nearly colorless, solid substance with a molecular weight of 579.1 g/mol and a solubility of 0.11 mg/mL in water. LEVITRA is formulated as orange, round, film-coated tablets with “BAYER” cross debossed on one side and “2.5”, “5”, “10”, and “20” on the other side corresponding to 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg of vardenafil, respectively. Penile erection is a hemodynamic process initiated by the relaxation of smooth muscle in the corpus cavernosum and its associated arterioles.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levitra Generic | 20mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 376.33€ 358.41€ | |
| Levitra Soft Tabs | 20mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 521.78€ 496.93€ | |
| Levitra Professional | 20mg | 120 + 4 Pills | 348.44€ 331.85€ | |
| Levitra Professional | 20mg | 20 Pills | 101.00€ 96.19€ | |
| Levitra Generic | 60mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 291.82€ 277.92€ | |
| Levitra Original | 20mg | 92 + 4 Pills | 406.22€ 386.88€ | |
| Levitra Soft Tabs | 20mg | 10 Pills | 52.27€ 49.78€ | |
| Levitra Soft Tabs | 20mg | 20 Pills | 74.68€ 71.12€ | |
| Levitra Generic | 10mg | 10 Pills | 28.93€ 27.55€ | |
| Levitra Original | 20mg | 14 + 2 Pills | 102.27€ 97.40€ | |
| Levitra Professional | 20mg | 180 + 4 Pills | 502.31€ 478.39€ | |
| Levitra Generic | 60mg | 20 Pills | 81.30€ 77.43€ |
During sexual stimulation, nitric oxide is released from nerve endings and endothelial cells in the corpus cavernosum. Nitric oxide activates the enzyme guanylate cyclase resulting in increased synthesis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in the smooth muscle cells of the corpus cavernosum. The cGMP in turn triggers smooth muscle relaxation, allowing increased blood flow into the penis, resulting in erection.
Use with caution in patients with anatomical deformations of the penis. Rarely, prolonged erection (over 4 hours) or priapism (painful erection over 6 hours) may occur. If an erection lasts longer than 4 hours, seek immediate medical care. Failing to treat this immediately could result in permanent damage. Stop taking Levitra or Viagra and seek immediate medical care if you have a sudden loss of vision in one or both eye(s).
Although rare, this could be a sign of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which is a rare condition and a cause of decreased vision, which could lead to permanent vision loss. Stop taking Levitra or Viagra and seek immediate medical care if you have a sudden loss of hearing. Dosage adjustment is required for patients with moderate liver issues. Levitra or Viagra should not be used in patients with severe liver problems. Patients on dialysis should not use Levitra or Viagra. The tissue concentration of cGMP is regulated by both the rates of synthesis and degradation via phosphodiesterases (PDEs).
| Study / Evidence | Findings | Sample Size | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical Trial 2022 | Improved arousal scores | 150 women | Modest benefit observed |
| Meta-Analysis | Mixed results, some effectiveness | 5 studies | More research needed |
| Anecdotal Reports | Some women report increased desire | N/A | Effect varies individually |
The most abundant PDE in the human corpus cavernosum is the cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5); therefore, the inhibition of PDE5 enhances erectile function by increasing the amount of cGMP.
In a study comparing drugs for ED, Levitra was described as more potent than Viagra; however, both drugs were shown to be similarly effective in the treatment of ED. The only advantage Levitra had was that it did not alter color perception, which may occur with Viagra on rare occasions. Another study found both drugs to be well-tolerated, with Levitra being nominally better than Viagra. The most effective drug for you can only be determined by your healthcare provider, who will take into account your medical history and condition(s), as well as other medications you are taking that could interact with Levitra or Viagra. Sign up for Levitra price alerts and find out when the price changes!
Insurance coverage varies widely for Levitra and Viagra. Many insurance companies do not cover these drugs, or may have a quantity limit (for example, four tablets per month). A standard prescription of 10, 10 mg vardenafil (generic Levitra) tablets cost about $450 to over $500 without insurance. You can use a SingleCare coupon to get a prescription filled for as low as $365. A standard prescription of 10, 50 mg sildenafil (generic Viagra) tablets is comparable to Levitra but a SingleCare discount card can reduce the price to $150-$300 depending on which pharmacy you use. Because sexual stimulation is required to initiate the local release of nitric oxide, the inhibition of PDE5 has no effect in the absence of sexual stimulation. In vitro studies have shown that vardenafil is a selective inhibitor of PDE5.
The most common side effects of Levitra and Viagra are headache, flushing, stuffy nose, and indigestion. Consult your ED healthcare provider for medical advice. *Side effect percentages of Viagra vary by dosage Source: DailyMed (Levitra), DailyMed (Viagra) Levitra and Viagra should never be used with nitrates, such as nitroglycerin. The combination is contraindicated (should not be used) because it could result in dangerously low blood pressure. Alpha blockers, such as alfuzosin, terazosin, or tamsulosin, can cause the same effect of low blood pressure when taken with Levitra or Viagra.
Any antihypertensives (medications to lower blood pressure) in combination with Levitra or Viagra can also interact, causing low blood pressure. Levitra or Viagra can also interact with azole antifungals, protease inhibitors, and macrolide antibiotics. Other drug interactions may occur; consult your healthcare professional for a full list of drug interactions. Levitra or Viagra should not be given with any nitrate medication (such as nitroglycerin), because the combination can lead to a dangerous decrease in blood pressure. If a patient has certain heart/blood pressure problems, the medication may be unsafe. The inhibitory effect of vardenafil is more selective on PDE5 than for other known phosphodiesterases (>15-fold relative to PDE6, >130-fold relative to PDE1, >300-fold relative to PDE11, and >1,000-fold relative to PDE2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, and 10).
Revatio is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and works by dilating the blood vessels in the lungs. Although Revatio is used for PAH, it is often prescribed off-label for ED. Sometimes, if insurance does not cover brand or generic Viagra, a doctor may prescribe Revatio, which is usually covered by insurance. Both drugs are in the same category of medications and work in the same way. However, some patients prefer one over the other.
Ask your doctor if one of these drugs is right for you. Both drugs are very similar in terms of efficacy, side effects, and drug interactions. Talk to your doctor to help you determine if Levitra or Viagra levitra for ed may be better for you. Levitra and Viagra are not indicated for use in women but sometimes used off-label for female sexual arousal disorder. However, because there is no data about the use of these medications in pregnancy; Levitra or Viagra should not be used in pregnant women. The pharmacokinetics of vardenafil are approximately dose proportional over the recommended dose range. Vardenafil is eliminated predominantly by hepatic metabolism, mainly by CYP3A4 and to a minor extent, CYP2C isoforms. Concomitant use with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, indinavir, ketoconazole, as well as moderate CYP3A inhibitors such as erythromycin results in significant increases of plasma levels of vardenafil (see PRECAUTIONS, WARNINGS and DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION). Mean vardenafil plasma concentrations measured after the administration of a single oral dose of 20 mg to healthy male volunteers are depicted in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Plasma Vardenafil Concentration (Mean ± SD) Curve for a Single 20 mg LEVITRA Dose Vardenafil is rapidly absorbed with absolute bioavailability of approximately 15%.
Maximum observed plasma concentrations after a single 20 mg dose in healthy volunteers are usually reached between 30 minutes and 2 hours (median 60 minutes) after oral dosing in the fasted state.
Alcohol can reduce the chance of getting an erection, so it is advisable not to take Levitra or Viagra with alcohol. The highest dose of Levitra is 20 mg, and the highest dose of Viagra is 100 mg. That being said, Levitra tends to be more potent than Viagra, and may require a lower dose. Your doctor can help you determine the dose that is right for you. The side effects of Levitra and Viagra are similar, and seem to occur at similar rates, although more side effects may occur at higher doses.
Taking two ED medications together is not recommended. If you are taking an ED medication that is not working, talk to your doctor about trying a different one, and/or consider lifestyle factors. Cialis lasts up to about 18 hours, while Viagra lasts up to about 6 hours. Both drugs seem to be similarly effective, but the effects of Cialis lasts longer. All of the ED drugs have been shown to be effective in clinical studies. Two food-effect studies were conducted which showed that high-fat meals caused a reduction in Cmax by 18%-50%.