Levitra Patient Leaflet

Precise Information for Levitra User
This genuine information is compiled to impart for the knowledge of Levitra User. Follow these points closely if you happen to use Levitra.

LEVITRA® TABLETS

(Vardenafil hydrochloride tri-hydrate)

WHAT IS IN THIS LEAFLET?
This leaflet answers some common questions about LEVITRA.This leaflet does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking Levitra against the benefits they expect it will have for you.As Levitra is a prescription medicine, it should only be used under medical supervision.If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

LEVITRA USAGE
Levitra is an Erectile Dysfunction treatment also known as impotence in men. Erectile dysfunction is the inability to obtain and or maintain a hard erect penis for sexual motion.

MAIN INGREDIENTS
Levitra tablets contain the active ingredient Vardenafil (present as Vardenafil hydrochloride tri-hydrate) which belongs to a group of medicines called Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. These work by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis when you are sexually aroused. This allows blood to flow into the penis, allowing you to get an erection in the natural way.

Remember this:-

• Levitra will only work if you are sexually excited. It will not increase your sex drive.
• Levitra is not approved for use in women.
• Levitra tablets are non-addictive.

Before You Take Levitra

Make sure that you do not take Levitra in the following conditions unless recommended by the doctor: -

1.Because sexual activity may place a strain on your heart, your doctor will need to check whether you are fit enough to use Levitra.

2.Do not take Levitra if you are being treated for angina (chest pain) or other heart conditions with certain medicines called nitrates.Nitrate medicines include glyceryl tri-nitrate (also called nitroglycerine). These medicines can be sold under tradenames:

• Anginine tablets
• Glytrin Spray
• Minitran patches
• Nitrocor patches
• Nitro-Dur patches
• Nitroderm TTS patches
• Nitrolingual pump spray
• Rectogesic ointment
• Transiderm-Nitro patches

Other nitrate medicines include sodium nitroprusside, isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate. Isosorbide mononitrate tablets can be sold under tradenames:

• Corangin
• Duride
• Imdur Durules
• Imtrate SR
• ISMO 20
• Isomonit
• Monodur
• Isosorbide dinitrate tablets can be sold under tradenames:
• Coronex
• Isordil
• Sorbidin

There may be other tradenames, which are not listed here.Do not take Levitra if you are using the unapproved drug amyl nitrite. Amyl nitrite is also known as 'poppers', 'amyl' or 'rush'.

3.Do not take Levitra if you are taking an alpha-blocker (a particular type of medicine used to treat an enlarged prostate or high blood pressure). Examples of alpha-blockers are terazosin, tamsulosin, and prazosin.

4. You should not use Levitra together with other treatments for erectile dysfunction.

5. Do not take Levitra if you have an allergy to Vardenafil or other Phosphodiesterase Type 5 inhibitors, or any of the ingredients in Levitra tablets mentioned at this site. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction may include skin rash, itching, or difficulty breathing.

6. Do not give Levitra to children, growing adolescents or women.

7. Do not take your Levitra tablets after the expiry date printed on the pack. The Expiry date is marked on the strip of tablets as well as on the label of the carton.

8. Do not take your tablets if the packaging is torn or shows sign of tampering.

So before you start to take LEVITRA

Tell your doctor if you:

• have any allergies to Vardenafil or any other ingredients in Levitra tablets, or to any other medicines that you have used in the past, or to any other substances such as food, preservatives or dyes
• have any heart or blood vessel problems
• have ever suffered a heart attack or stroke
• have any kidney or liver problems
• have leukemia (cancer of the blood cells)
• have multiple myeloma (a cancer of the bone marrow)
• have any disease or deformity of your penis
• have low blood pressure
• have sickle cell anaemia
• have stomach ulcers
• have a serious eye condition called retinitis pigmentosa
• are receiving any other treatment for impotence

HOW TO TAKE LEVITRA

The Dosage!
Your doctor or pharmacist will be able tell you how much and how often you should take Levitra. Follow the directions given to you by your doctor or pharmacist carefully. They may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.

Levitra dose ranges from 2.5 mg to 20 mg. Your doctor will determine the correct dose for you depending on your condition and response.

Do not take more than one dose of Levitra within a single day.

When to take it
Take your dose of Levitra about 25 to 60 minutes before you wish to have sex. Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew it.

Sexual stimulation is required for a natural response to treatment with Levitra.

Levitra can be taken with or without food.

The medicine may be taken anywhere between 15 minutes to up to 5 hours before sexual activity. The amount of time Levitra takes to start working varies from person to person, but it normally takes between 25 to 60 minutes.

If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist or write to us.

If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.

Overdose of Levitra
When such case is detected immediately call your doctor, or the Local Poison Control Centre. Or go to the accident and emergency department of your nearest hospital, if you think you or anyone else may have taken too much Levitra. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

You may need urgent medical attention.

LEVITRA DO'S & DONT'S

Things you must do
Tell all the doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking LEVITRA.

If you are about to start taking any new medicines, especially nitrates, tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking LEVITRA. Refer our "Before You Take Levitra" section above for a list of common nitrate medications list.

If LEVITRA does not help you get an erection, or if your erection does not last long enough to complete sexual intercourse, tell your doctor. In these cases, your doctor may need to adjust your dose.

Things you must not do
Do not use the unregistered drug amyl nitrite (sometimes called 'poppers', 'amyl' or 'rush') while you are taking LEVITRA.

If you get an angina attack whilst taking LEVITRA, do not take nitrate medicines to relieve the pain. Tell your doctor immediately. And make sure that your doctor knows you are taking LEVITRA.

Do not take more than one dose of LEVITRA a day. If LEVITRA does not help you get an erection, or if your erection does not last long enough to complete sexual intercourse, tell your doctor.

Do not give your LEVITRA tablets to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.

What to be careful of
Drinking alcohol can temporarily damage the capability to get an erection. To reduce this impairment do not drink large amounts of alcohol before sexual activity.

Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how LEVITRA affects you. LEVITRA tablets may cause dizziness or faintness in some patients. The ability to drive and/or operate machinery may be impaired. If you drink alcohol, dizziness or faintness may be worse.

SIDE EFFECTS

•  Headaches

•  Flushing

•  Stuffy or runny nose

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.

AFTER USING LEVITRA

Storage
Keep your tablets in the compact pack until it is time to take them. If you take the tablets out of the box or the blister pack they may not keep well for long.

Keep Levitra tablets at some cool dry place where the temperature stays below 30°C. Temperature between below 30ºC is meant ideal for its storage. Do not store it or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Heat and damp can destroy some medicines.

Keep your tablets where children cannot reach them. A locked cupboard at a raised distance above the ground is ideal to store the medicine.

Disposal of the Drug
If your doctor tells you to stop taking LEVITRA tablets or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.