Approximately 95% of vardenafil and its major circulating metabolite are bound to plasma proteins. This binding is reversible.
This medication can cause serious health problems, especially in people with certain heart conditions. It should not be used in people with very serious heart disease or who have had a stroke or heart attack.
Erectile dysfunction (ED)
Erectile dysfunction can affect a man’s ability to participate fully in sexual relationships. It can also create strain between a man and his partner. The embarrassment many men feel about their condition can make them reluctant to seek treatment. This can delay diagnosis and lead to more serious health problems.
Vardenafil works by inhibiting the enzyme phosphodiesterase type-5, which breaks down cGMP in penile tissue. This drug increases cGMP levels, leading to an erection. The results of a 12-week clinical trial showed that vardenafil improved the symptoms of ED in men with organic (non-psychogenic) or psychogenic ED when taken 8 hours before sexual intercourse.
Neurologic (nerve) causes of ED include diabetes, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, and nerve damage from pelvic surgery. Hormonal problems can also cause ED, including low testosterone and abnormal prolactin hormones, which are associated with some cancer drugs.
Heart disease
Taking Vardenafil with certain other medications can affect how well they work, increase your risk of side effects, or cause serious harm. Tell your doctor about all your medications, including vitamins and herbs.
Sexual activity puts extra strain on your heart, so if you have heart disease or other heart problems you may not want to take this medication. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about heart disease and sex.
Rarely, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors such as vardenafil can cause a sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes (NAION). Seek emergency medical attention if this occurs. Vardenafil passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. If you are breastfeeding or plan to, do not take this medication. It's also important to avoid consuming grapefruit juice while on this medication.
High blood pressure
If you have high blood pressure, Vardenafil can help treat it. This medication is a vasodilator, meaning it opens up your blood vessels and can cause your blood pressure to go down temporarily. This can be dangerous if you have very low blood pressure, so you should use this medication with caution.
It's important to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medications you take -- including dietary supplements and herbal medicines. Some of these can interact with vardenafil and cause side effects, such as headache or flushing.
Also, be sure to let your healthcare provider know if you have phenylketonuria (an inherited condition that requires you to follow a low-protein diet). This medication is sweetened with aspartame, which contains phenylalanine.
Liver disease
Vardenafil, a PDE-5 inhibitor, can limit the progression of liver disease caused by cholestasis. The drug can help prevent the buildup of fatty deposits in the liver and reduce inflammation. It can also improve blood flow through the liver, which helps it function normally.
The research team tested the hepatoprotective effects of Vardenafil in mice with concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury. They found that hepatic specimens from the LCA group had high levels of serum transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and LDH as well as bilirubin, while histopathological results showed cholestatic lesions.
The study showed that Vardenafil limited the development of cholestatic liver damage in Con A-treated mice by activating Nrf2 signaling and suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation, which may be due to its hepatoprotective effects in hepatocytes. This effect may be due to its ability to increase the hepatocytes' uptake of bile acids.
Other conditions
Vardenafil can interact with some medications, causing serious side effects. It should not be taken with nitrate drugs, such as riociguat (Adempas) and the recreational drug butyl nitrate (poppers). It also may affect your blood pressure, increasing your risk for an attack or stroke. It is more likely that you will develop vision problems if you have heart disease or diabetes, smoke, have high cholesterol, are over 50, or have a condition that causes narrowing of the arteries in your eyes ("crowded disk").
Use vardenafil exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on the prescription label and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take it with a full glass of water. Vardenafil comes as a tablet and as a rapidly disintegrating tablet to take by mouth.