Levitra is a popular pill taken by men used to treat erectile dysfunction. As men age, the arteries in the penis can narrow and impair blood flow making an erection harder to get and maintain. Causes of erectile dysfunction include diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Erectile dysfunction is highly treatable through the use of drugs such as Levitra and Viagra. There are some differences between these two pills that may make one better for you.
How is Levitra different from Viagra?
Many people are aware of Viagra and it’s side effects due it being around for close to 20 years. These two medications share a fair amount of similarities. They have many of the same side effects and they are taken in a similar fashion as well. In fact, the main difference between these two drugs is that Levitra’s effectiveness is less impacted by meals and alcohol consumption than Viagra is. It is important that Viagra is taken on an empty stomach and alcohol should be avoided while taking Viagra. There is also evidence to suggest that Levitra works better with individuals with diabetes.
What are the side effects?
The common side effects of Levitra include headache, stuffy nose and indigestion. These aren’t serious and as the drug is used over time these side effects may go away or become less intense. More serious and rarer effects are an erection lasting more than 4 hours, sudden vision loss, chest pain, seizure and swelling of the hands and feet. In the event of these side effects, use of this drug should be discontinued and your doctor should be contacted immediately.
How do I take Levitra?
Levitra is most effective when it is taken on an empty stomach 30-60 minutes before sex. Sexual stimulation is still necessary for an erection to occur. Erection is not an automatic response to taking this drug. Typically, it is not necessary to take Levitra on a daily basis. It only needs to be taken before anticipated sexual activity. Levitra lasts approximately 4-6 hours in the blood stream and that should be kept in mind while taking medication that may interact with Levitra.
What are some precautions to take?
A doctor should be consulted if you are taking medication for any heart related problems, medication for blood pressure or any medication for HIV. It is absolutely important to avoid medication with nitrates while on Levitra since this can cause a dangerously huge drop in blood pressure. Levitra also interacts with grapefruit and it can magnify the drug’s effects and side effects. For this reason, it should be avoided while taking this drug.
Erectile dysfunction does not have to be an inhibitor to a healthy, long sex life because of the wide variety of medication now available on the market. If you have any further questions on Levitra, you can speak to your pharmacist or doctor. Erectile dysfunction can be treated though if you are experiencing persistent erectile dysfunction, it is best to consult a doctor. It may be caused by an underlying issue that you are unaware of.
I am self employed. General Practitioner in Melbourne, VIC. My special interest: male reproductive system.