Description
Vilitra (Vardenafil) 20 mg
Vilitra 20 mg is presented as a vardenafil tablet. Vardenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor used for erectile dysfunction. The description below is based on verified information for vardenafil, the active ingredient supported by regulatory and scientific sources.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
The verified active ingredient is vardenafil. It belongs to the PDE5 inhibitor class, a group of medicines that act on the vascular response involved in erection.
Established Medical Uses
Vardenafil is established for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men. Regulatory labeling describes it as a medicine intended to improve erectile function rather than as a general sexual stimulant. Clinical studies have evaluated its benefit in men with erectile dysfunction of varying causes, including some men with diabetes and men after prostate surgery.
How It Works
Vardenafil helps preserve the effect of nitric oxide in penile tissue by inhibiting PDE5, an enzyme that breaks down cyclic GMP. This supports relaxation of smooth muscle and increased blood flow in response to sexual stimulation. It does not itself create an erection without sexual stimulation.
Important Safety Information
Vardenafil is not suitable for use with nitrates, because the combination can cause a marked fall in blood pressure. It also requires caution with alpha-blockers and other medicines that can lower blood pressure. Important prescribing information also notes interactions with some medicines that affect vardenafil metabolism, including certain antibiotics and antifungals. Vardenafil should not be used in people for whom sexual activity itself is medically inadvisable.
Possible Side Effects
Commonly reported adverse effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion or rhinitis, and dyspepsia. Other recognized effects include dizziness and sinus symptoms. Serious but less common reactions can include prolonged erection, sudden hearing or vision changes, and symptomatic low blood pressure, especially with interacting medicines.
Scientific Evidence
Clinical trials and reviews indexed in PubMed report that vardenafil improves erectile function scores and intercourse success measures compared with placebo in men with erectile dysfunction. Review evidence also describes generally good tolerability at therapeutic doses, with adverse effects similar to those seen with other PDE5 inhibitors.
Medical Information Notice
This page is an educational summary based on sources available at the time of review and 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 tablet, film coated. View source
- Gillian M Keating et al. “Vardenafil: a review of its use in erectile dysfunction.” Drugs (2003). View PubMed article
