From the Guidelines
It is generally safe to take fluoxetine with vardenafil, but caution is advised due to potential interactions, and the dosage of vardenafil may need to be adjusted to minimize the risk of side effects. When these medications are combined, there is a slightly increased risk of side effects such as dizziness, headache, and changes in blood pressure. Fluoxetine can inhibit certain liver enzymes that metabolize vardenafil, potentially leading to higher vardenafil levels in your bloodstream 1. This might increase the risk of side effects from vardenafil, including prolonged erection (priapism), which requires immediate medical attention.
Key Considerations
- The most frequently reported adverse events in men using PDE5i, such as vardenafil, are dyspepsia, headache, flushing, back pain, nasal congestion, myalgia, visual disturbance, and dizziness 1.
- Fluoxetine can interact with drugs metabolized by CYP2D6, and vardenafil is metabolized by this enzyme, which may lead to increased vardenafil levels in the bloodstream 1.
- The dosage of vardenafil may need to be titrated to provide optimal efficacy and minimize the risk of side effects 1.
Recommendations
- If you're prescribed both medications, your doctor may adjust the dosage of vardenafil to a lower amount to account for this interaction.
- Always inform all your healthcare providers about all medications you're taking, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
- If you experience unusual side effects while taking these medications together, such as severe dizziness, fainting, or chest pain, seek medical attention immediately.
From the Research
Drug Interactions with Vardenafil
- Vardenafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE5i) used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) 2, 3.
- The use of nitrates remains the only contraindication for all PDE5i, including vardenafil 2.
- Vardenafil is also not recommended in patients taking type 1A or type 3 antiarrhythmics 2.
- Precaution is suggested when using vardenafil with alpha-blockers agents or potent CYP3A inhibitors, such as azole antifungals, antiretroviral protease inhibitors, or macrolid antibiotics 2, 3.
Interaction with Fluoxetine
- There is no direct information available in the provided studies regarding the interaction between fluoxetine and vardenafil.
- However, fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and is not mentioned as a contraindication or precaution with vardenafil in the provided studies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- It is essential to consult a healthcare professional or a reliable drug interaction resource for specific guidance on using fluoxetine with vardenafil.