Description
Varditra (Vardenafil) 20 mg
Varditra 20 mg is a brand name for vardenafil, a prescription phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction. The product name and strength are used here for identification; the verified medicine ingredient is vardenafil.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
Active ingredient: vardenafil.
Medicine class: phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor. This class of medicines helps improve blood flow in the penis during sexual stimulation.
Established Medical Uses
Vardenafil is established for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men. Regulatory labeling and clinical reviews support this use.
How It Works
Vardenafil inhibits PDE5, an enzyme that breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). By preserving cGMP, it supports relaxation of smooth muscle and increased blood flow in penile tissue during sexual stimulation, which can help produce and maintain an erection.
Important Safety Information
Vardenafil should not be used with nitrates because the combination can cause a marked drop in blood pressure. It also has important interactions with alpha-blockers, other antihypertensives, and strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin, and erythromycin.
Regulatory labeling also warns against use in men for whom sexual activity is not advisable because of cardiovascular status, and it notes lack of recommended use in certain higher-risk cardiac conditions, including recent serious cardiovascular events and severe cardiac disease.
Rare but serious class effects include prolonged erection and sudden vision changes.
Possible Side Effects
Commonly reported adverse effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, and dizziness.
Important less common reactions include hypotension, prolonged erection, priapism, and rare sudden loss of vision or hearing.
Scientific Evidence
Clinical trials and systematic reviews show that vardenafil improves erectile function scores and the likelihood of successful intercourse compared with placebo in men with erectile dysfunction, including some men with diabetes and other underlying conditions. Review data also describe a relatively rapid onset and short half-life consistent with its role as an on-demand PDE5 inhibitor.
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
- DailyMed / U.S. National Library of Medicine: Vardenafil tablets, prescribing information. View source
- Keating GM, Scott LJ et al. “Vardenafil: a review of its use in erectile dysfunction.” Drugs (2003). View PubMed article
