Basic Vardenafil Information

• International Nonproprietary Name (INN): Vardenafil
• Brand names available in United Kingdom: Levitra, generics
• ATC Code: G04BE09
• Forms & dosages: 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg film-coated tablets, orally disintegrating tablets
• Manufacturers in United Kingdom: Bayer plc
• Registration status in United Kingdom: MHRA-authorised, prescription only
• OTC / Rx classification: Prescription only (Rx)

Everyday Use & Best Practices

Vardenafil can be a useful part of your sexual health regimen, offering flexibility around the timing of intake. Taking it approximately one hour before sexual activity allows for spontaneity without strict timing. Do keep in mind that personal lifestyle factors like daily routines, work commitments, and social activities may influence when to take vardenafil. Some find morning doses more convenient, while others prefer evening. Try to schedule your vardenafil intake according to what works best for you and your partner, ensuring a comfortable experience.

Taking With or Without Meals (UK Diet Habits)

Food can play a role in how well vardenafil works. While it can be taken with or without food, heavy or fatty meals may delay its absorption, making it less effective. In the UK, traditional mealtimes often include breakfast, lunch, and dinner at regular intervals, which should be considered. If consuming a large meal, it's wise to take vardenafil on an empty stomach or after a light meal for optimal absorption. Achieving the best results might require balancing your diet with your vardenafil intake.

Safety Priorities

When considering vardenafil, safety is paramount. This medication, primarily used for erectile dysfunction, carries specific precautions. Understanding who should avoid it and which activities to limit after consumption helps mitigate risks.

Who Should Avoid It (MHRA Warnings)

Vardenafil is not suitable for everyone. Patients with certain conditions should steer clear for their safety. Absolute contraindications include:

• Concurrent use of nitrates, which can lead to severe hypotension.
• Known hypersensitivity to vardenafil or its excipients.
• Severe hepatic insufficiency.
• Recent stroke or myocardial infarction.
• Severe hypotension or severe cardiac failure.

Relative contraindications, requiring careful monitoring, consist of:

• Alpha-blocker therapy — monitoring essential due to hypotension risk.
• History of priapism or conditions that predispose to it.
• Renal impairment — dose adjustments may be necessary.
• Peyronie’s disease or similar anatomical penis deformities.
• Retinitis pigmentosa — a hereditary eye condition.
• Decompensated heart failure.

Consulting a healthcare professional before starting vardenafil is crucial. Tailoring to individual health profiles ensures safety and efficacy.

Activities to Limit (Driving, Work Safety)

After taking vardenafil, it’s wise to approach certain activities with caution. The effects may impair reaction times and judgment, especially in the initial hours post-intake.

Driving may pose risks; individuals should wait until they can ascertain their ability to focus and react appropriately. Operating heavy machinery or engaging in tasks requiring extreme concentration should be avoided until the effects of the medication subside.

Being aware of these limitations encourages a safer environment, reducing the chances of accidents or injuries.

Dosage & Adjustments

General Regimen (NHS Guidance)

When it comes to tackling erectile dysfunction, vardenafil serves as a crucial treatment option. The standard dosage typically starts at 10 mg, taken about 60 minutes before engagement in sexual activity. Depending on individual response and tolerability, adjustments can be made to a lower dose of 5 mg or a higher 20 mg dose, maximise effectiveness.

This medication is available in two primary forms: film-coated tablets and orally disintegrating tablets. While both types contain the same active ingredient, the orally disintegrating tablets (available in 10 mg) provide higher systemic exposure and are not directly interchangeable with the film-coated versions (available in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg). Many patients prefer one form over the other; hence, the choice may depend on specific preferences and convenience.

Special Cases (Elderly, Comorbidities)

For specific groups, adjusting dosages can be crucial. The elderly population often doesn't require a standard initial dose adjustment; however, they should be monitored closely due to increased sensitivity to potential side effects.

Patients with liver or kidney conditions need a more tailored approach:

• Liver Impairment: Those with mild to moderate liver issues should start at 5 mg, while severe hepatic impairment is a contraindication.
• Kidney Impairment: For mild to moderate renal impairment, an unchanged dose is typically safe. But for severe cases, caution is advised, and an initial dose of 5 mg is recommended.

Adjusting the dosage for these special populations ensures safer use and better efficacy of vardenafil.