From the Guidelines
Vardenafil is an effective medication for treating erectile dysfunction, with a strong recommendation for its use as a first-line therapy, as stated by the American College of Physicians 1.
Key Points to Consider
- The medication works by inhibiting PDE5 enzymes, allowing increased blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.
- The standard starting dose is 10mg taken as needed before sexual activity, with possible adjustment to 5mg or 20mg based on response and side effects.
- Vardenafil has an effectiveness rate of approximately 65-80% in most men with erectile dysfunction, including those with diabetes, hypertension, or post-prostatectomy issues.
- For optimal results, take vardenafil on an empty stomach or after a light meal, as high-fat meals can delay absorption.
- The medication requires sexual stimulation to work and won't cause spontaneous erections.
- Common side effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, and indigestion.
- Vardenafil should not be taken with nitrate medications or alpha-blockers without careful medical supervision due to potential dangerous blood pressure drops, as advised by the American Urological Association 1.
Important Considerations
- The choice of a specific PDE-5 inhibitor, such as vardenafil, should be based on individual preferences, including ease of use, cost of medication, and adverse effects profile, as recommended by the American College of Physicians 1.
- Higher doses of vardenafil are associated with a greater risk for adverse effects, but also with improved erectile function, as noted in the clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians 1.
- The evidence is insufficient to compare the efficacy and adverse effects of different PDE-5 inhibitors, including vardenafil, due to the limited number of head-to-head trials available, as stated in the guideline from the American College of Physicians 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
LEVITRA is indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The effectiveness of vardenafil is established for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, as directly stated in the drug label 2.
From the Research
Vardenafil Effectiveness
- Vardenafil is characterized by a rapid onset of action, increased duration of erection, high rates of first-dose success, and reliable efficacy that can be maintained with continued use 3.
- The medication has demonstrated a favorable efficacy and safety profile in men with erectile dysfunction (ED), including those with associated underlying conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia 3, 4.
- Vardenafil improved erectile function in men with mild to severe ED of varying aetiology, as well as in men with ED associated with diabetes mellitus or ED after radical prostatectomy 4.
Efficacy Comparison with Other PDE-5 Inhibitors
- Vardenafil, sildenafil, and tadalafil have all been shown to be similarly effective in the treatment of men with ED of varying etiologies, with similar adverse effects profiles, and improving quality-of-life by similar amounts 5.
- Tadalafil has a longer half-life than sildenafil or vardenafil, and a longer duration of action than sildenafil and vardenafil 5.
Safety and Tolerability
- Vardenafil is generally well-tolerated in men with ED, with treatment-emergent adverse events being of mild to moderate intensity and transient in nature 4, 6.
- The most commonly reported adverse events include headache, flushing, rhinitis, dyspepsia, and sinusitis 4, 6.
- Vardenafil can be used in a broad population of men, irrespective of age, with no significant differences in efficacy or safety observed across different age groups 6.