Description
Vilitra (Vardenafil) 40 mg
Vilitra 40 mg is a product name used for a tablet containing vardenafil, a prescription phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The brand name itself should be treated as a product identifier; the verified medicine information below is based on vardenafil.
Active Ingredient and Medicine Class
Vardenafil is an oral PDE5 inhibitor. This class of medicines is used to improve erectile function by enhancing the normal blood-flow response involved in an erection.
Established Medical Uses
Official prescribing information identifies vardenafil as indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Clinical reviews and trials have shown benefit in men with erectile dysfunction of varying causes, including some men with diabetes and other underlying conditions.
How It Works
Vardenafil inhibits PDE5, an enzyme that breaks down cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in penile tissue. By preserving cGMP, it helps smooth muscle relax and supports increased blood flow during sexual stimulation. It does not create an erection on its own.
Important Safety Information
Vardenafil must not be used with nitrates, because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Prescribing information also warns against use with riociguat. Caution is needed with alpha-blockers and other medicines that can lower blood pressure. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as certain azole antifungals and some HIV protease inhibitors can increase vardenafil exposure and raise the risk of adverse effects.
As with other PDE5 inhibitors, it may be unsuitable for patients in whom sexual activity is inadvisable because of cardiovascular status, and rare vision- or hearing-related serious reactions have been reported with this drug class.
Possible Side Effects
Common adverse effects reported with vardenafil include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, dyspepsia, dizziness, and other mild gastrointestinal or upper-respiratory symptoms. Important but uncommon serious reactions include symptomatic hypotension, priapism, sudden vision loss, and sudden hearing loss.
Scientific Evidence
Peer-reviewed reviews and meta-analyses have found that vardenafil improves erectile function and patient-reported sexual success compared with placebo in randomized trials. Evidence also supports clinical benefit across a range of erectile dysfunction populations, although individual response varies.
Medical Information Notice
This summary is for educational purposes only and is 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 tablet, film coated
- Gillian M. Keating et al.: Vardenafil: a review of its use in erectile dysfunction, Drugs, 2003
