What Is Levitra And How To Make It More Effective?

You might already be using erectile dysfunction (ED) medication such as Viagra or Cialis and are thinking of making the switch to Levitra.

Like those other medications, Levitra — which contains the active ingredient Vardenafil — is used to treat ED and help men achieve and maintain a harder, longer-lasting erection for sexual activity.

To help you decide whether Levitra is the right ED medication for you, we address the most common questions new users have, while looking at how to use the treatment most effectively.

What is Levitra?

Levitra is an erectile dysfunction treatment. It works by relaxing the muscles found in the walls of blood vessels in the penis, increasing blood flow, and helping men to achieve a sustained erection.

In this manner, it is very similar to Sildenafil — the active ingredient found in Viagra. However, on average, Levitra lasts for slightly longer.

You can find out more about Levitra versus Viagra here.

What is Levitra used for?

Levitra is a medical treatment that is prescribed to men with erectile dysfunction. Clinical studies have proven that Levitra has a first dosage success rate of above 80%, helping men achieve an erection for sexual activity.

Suffering from erectile dysfunction can have far-reaching effects on quality of life. In addition to affecting the ability to enjoy a healthy sex life, it also impacts on feelings of self-confidence and self-worth. For this reason, treating erectile dysfunction is important, and Levitra is an effective medication that you can use. 

How does Levitra work?

A substance called cGMP is responsible for relaxing smooth muscle tissues. It affects the walls of blood vessels throughout the body, including the penis. When these blood vessels dilate, they carry more blood to the penis and help men achieve a stronger erection

Sometimes, the body also produces an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). When cGMP combines with PDE5, it can seriously reduce blood flow and is a common cause of erectile dysfunction problems.

Levitra is an erectile dysfunction treatment that is classed as a PDE5 inhibitor. When swallowed as a tablet, Levitra stops PDE5 from breaking down cGMP as quickly or effectively. By doing so, the drug encourages the muscles in the penis to relax, increasing blood flow, and helping men to achieve an erection when aroused.

How to make Levitra more effective

Levitra comes in film-coated tablets containing 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg or 20mg. The most common dosage for first-time users of Levitra is 10mg.

The medication should be taken 30 minutes to one hour before you want to have sex. The effects usually last up to five hours. And it’s important to note that you can only take one tablet every 24 hours.

For the best results, you will need to be sexually stimulated when taking Levitra. Swallowing the tablet alone will not give you an instant erection. You and your partner should engage in foreplay to aid sexual arousal.

It’s fine to take Levitra with or without food. However, drinking alcohol before or after taking the medication is not advised. This is because alcohol reduces blood pressure and makes it harder to achieve an erection.

How long does Levitra take to work?

Levitra is an oral medication that is prescribed in different dosages. How long it takes to work will vary from person to person and will depend on the dosage. On average though, most people will start to feel the effects of Levitra after about 30 minutes.

As prescription medicine, you will need a consultation to find the most suitable dosage for your needs. If you find that your prescription is not achieving the desired results, it’s best to talk to a trained GP to find a better solution.

It’s not advisable to take more than one tablet every 24 hours to achieve the results that you want. Taking more Levitra than you are prescribed can increase the chances of experiencing side effects, including dizziness, nausea, and in more extreme cases, chest pains.

Does Levitra help premature ejaculation?

There are several main reasons that might cause a man to suffer from premature ejaculation problems. These include:

• Anatomical injuries
• Psychological problems
• Neurological conditions

Although Levitra is designed for erectile dysfunction problems, a systematic review and meta-analysis has shown evidence that PDE5 inhibitors, like Levitra, can be an effective treatment for premature ejaculation.

The main reason is that Levitra relaxes erectile tissue, allowing the penis to receive more blood and achieve longer-lasting erections. As a result, Levitra can help men to last longer, pace themselves better, and reduce the possibility of a premature erection.

Can women use Levitra?

Levitra is a medicine that treats ED symptoms for men aged 18 years and older. Levitra is not designed for use by women. Moreover, the effects of this medicine have not been widely tested on women, so taking it is not recommended.

Levitra dosage

The dosage of Levitra you are prescribed will depend on the severity of your ED symptoms, response to treatment, and whether you are taking any other medications. That said, Levitra comes in four dosages:

• 2.5mg
• 5mg
• 10mg
• 20mg

For the vast majority of first-time users, 10mg will be the prescribed amount. If you are over the age of 65 and/or are taking any other medication, you may be prescribed a starting dose of 5mg or less.

Read more about how much Levitra is suitable for you on our Levitra dosage page.

For more information on the possible downsides of taking Levitra, read our comprehensive Levitra side effects guide.

Who can take Levitra?

Levitra is a medicine that treats ED symptoms for men, including improving the hardness of an erection, getting an erection, and maintaining an erection for sexual activity. The treatment is not suitable:

• For women
• For men who do not have ED symptoms
• When other health problems might cause issues
• If Levitra causes an allergic reaction
• If there is a risk of problems caused by mixing with other medications

Using Levitra with other medicines

Overall, Levitra is safe to use, but it is not suitable for people with heart conditions. For example, if you have had a heart attack or suffer from angina, Levitra might cause undue stress that might worsen the condition.

Examples of medicine types that don’t mix well with Levitra include:

• Nitrates, medicines for angina (these can cause a fatal interaction)
• Medicine for the treatment of arrhythmias
• Medicines for HIV
• Anti-fungal medicines
• Macrolide antibiotics
• Alpha-blockers, a type of medicine used to treat high blood pressure and enlargement of the prostate

If you are in doubt about being able to take the Levitra safely, you can talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

When buying Levitra from The Independent Pharmacy, you can have a consultation without the need for a face-to-face discussion. You will need to fill out a short, 100% confidential questionnaire to make sure it’s safe for you to take the medication. The questionnaire will be checked by a qualified doctor and once approved, you will be able to order Levitra online.

If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, then you can buy Levitra from The Independent Pharmacy after completing a free consultation with one of our fully qualified GPs. For peace-of-mind and convenience, we offer next day delivery in plain and unmarked packaging for maximum discretion.

Sources

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2494903/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5503121/
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/
• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-76765/levitra-oral/details