Description
Levifil (Vardenafil) 20 mg
Levifil 20 mg is a branded product identified as containing vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction. The verified medicine information below is based on prescribing information for vardenafil and peer-reviewed literature on the active ingredient, not on promotional claims for this brand name.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
Vardenafil is an oral PDE5 inhibitor. Medicines in this class act on the nitric oxide–cGMP pathway involved in penile smooth muscle relaxation and blood flow during sexual stimulation. It is a prescription medicine in established regulatory labeling for erectile dysfunction.
Established Medical Uses
Regulatory prescribing information identifies vardenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Clinical studies and reviews have shown improved erectile function and intercourse success in men with erectile dysfunction, including some patients with diabetes and men after nerve-sparing prostatectomy.
How It Works
Vardenafil inhibits PDE5, the enzyme that breaks down cyclic GMP. By slowing this breakdown, it helps preserve the vasodilatory signal that supports increased blood flow to erectile tissue during sexual stimulation. It does not create an erection by itself.
Important Safety Information
Vardenafil is contraindicated with nitrates and guanylate cyclase stimulators because of the risk of marked blood pressure lowering. Important precautions also apply in people taking alpha-blockers or certain other blood-pressure-lowering medicines. Regulatory labeling warns against use in patients with congenital QT prolongation or those taking class IA or class III antiarrhythmics. Strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors can raise vardenafil exposure. Caution is also advised in people with significant cardiovascular disease, severe hepatic impairment, renal dialysis, prior NAION, or sudden hearing/vision changes.
Possible Side Effects
Common adverse effects reported in labeling include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, dyspepsia, dizziness, nausea, and back pain. Less common but clinically important reactions include priapism, sudden loss of vision, sudden hearing loss, and symptomatic hypotension, especially when combined with other vasodilating medicines.
Scientific Evidence
Peer-reviewed reviews and meta-analyses of randomized trials report that vardenafil improves erectile function scores, penetration success, and maintenance of erections compared with placebo in men with erectile dysfunction. The published evidence also supports a generally rapid onset of action and a side-effect profile typical of the PDE5 inhibitor class.
Medical Information Notice
This page is an educational summary based on sources available at the time of review. It does not replace the official patient leaflet, prescribing information, or assessment by a qualified healthcare professional.
Medical Sources
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration / DailyMed: Vardenafil tablets, prescribing information. View source
- Gillian M. Keating et al. “Vardenafil: a review of its use in erectile dysfunction.” Drugs (2003). View PubMed article
