Vardenafil, like other PDE5 inhibitors, is used to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED) by improving blood flow to the penis, which can help a man achieve and maintain an erection when sexually aroused. Vardenafil does not cure ED but can effectively manage its symptoms, allowing men with ED to engage in sexual activity.
There are several medications that contain vardenafil as their active ingredient, such as Levitra, Vilitra, Valif, Filitra, Snovitra, and Zhewitra. Below, you can find important information regarding interactions associated with these medications.
Interactions of Vardenafil with Other Medications.
Nitrates and Vardenafil:
Nitrates are vital for chest pain and heart problems, but when mixed with vardenafil, it can result in perilously low blood pressure.
Some common nitrates that interact with vardenafil include:
- Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid),
- Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO),
- Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, Dilatrate-SR).
Alpha-Blockers and Vardenafil:
Alpha-blockers are instrumental in addressing high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia. However, when combined with vardenafil, they elevate the risk of low blood pressure, dizziness, and fainting.
Common alpha-blockers known to interact unfavorably with vardenafil include:
- Tamsulosin (Flomax),
- Doxazosin (Cardura),
- Alfuzosin (Uroxatral),
- Terazosin (Hytrin),
- Prazosin (Minipress).
Other Medications:
For your well-being, it’s crucial to keep your healthcare provider informed about all medications, including supplements and over-the-counter drugs. Some of them may have interactions with vardenafil that should be monitored.
Certainly, here is the list of medications with major interactions with vardenafil, including their brand names (if available) and their respective drug classes:
- – Moxifloxacin (Avelox) – Antibiotic (Fluoroquinolone)
- – Telaprevir (Incivek) – Protease Inhibitor for HCV
- – Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) – Antimalarial and Immunomodulator
- – Tadalafil (Cialis) – Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor for Erectile Dysfunction
- – Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Pacritinib (No known brand name) – JAK2 Inhibitor
- – Arsenic trioxide (Trisenox) – Antineoplastic Agent
- – Disopyramide (Norpace) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Riociguat (Adempas) – Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Stimulator
- – Amisulpride (Solian) – Antipsychotic
- – Grepafloxacin (No known brand name) – Antibiotic (Fluoroquinolone)
- – Efavirenz (Sustiva) – Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor for HIV
- – Siponimod (Mayzent) – S1P Receptor Modulator
- – Cisapride (Propulsid) – Gastrointestinal Prokinetic Agent
- – Haloperidol (Haldol) – Typical Antipsychotic
- – Pimozide (Orap) – Typical Antipsychotic
- – Ozanimod (Zeposia) – Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Modulator
- – Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat) – Nitrate Vasodilator
- – Indinavir (Crixivan) – Protease Inhibitor for HIV
- – Adagrasib (No known brand name) – Antineoplastic Agent
- – Cabozantinib (Cometriq, Cabometyx) – Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
- – Erythromycin (E-Mycin, Ery-Tab) – Antibiotic (Macrolide)
- – Halofantrine (No known brand name) – Antimalarial Agent
- – Sildenafil (Viagra) – Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor for Erectile Dysfunction
- – Ponesimod (Ponvory) – S1P Receptor Modulator
- – Anagrelide (Agrylin) – Platelet Reducing Agent
- – Citalopram (Celexa) – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Antidepressant
- – Bedaquiline (Sirturo) – Antituberculosis Agent
- – Nitroprusside (Nitropress) – Nitrate Vasodilator
- – Gatifloxacin (No known brand name) – Antibiotic (Fluoroquinolone)
- – Fingolimod (Gilenya) – Immunomodulator for Multiple Sclerosis
- – Ceritinib (Zykadia) – Kinase Inhibitor
- – Sotalol (Betapace) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Iloperidone (Fanapt) – Atypical Antipsychotic
- – Panobinostat (Farydak) – Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor
- – Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) – Nitrate Vasodilator
- – Amyl nitrite (No known brand name) – Vasodilator
- – Crizotinib (Xalkori) – Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
- – Isosorbide (Isordil) – Nitrate Vasodilator
- – Ribociclib (Kisqali) – Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor
- – Saquinavir (Invirase) – Protease Inhibitor for HIV
- – Pasireotide (Signifor) – Somatostatin Receptor Agonist
- – Dolasetron (Anzemet) – 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist (Anti-nausea)
- – Clozapine (Clozaril) – Atypical Antipsychotic
- – Ritonavir (Norvir) – Protease Inhibitor for HIV
- – Bepridil (No known brand name) – Calcium Channel Blocker
- – Clarithromycin (Biaxin) – Antibiotic (Macrolide)
- – Procainamide (Pronestyl) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Escitalopram (Lexapro) – Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) Antidepressant
- – Mesoridazine (Serentil) – Typical Antipsychotic
- – Osimertinib (Tagrisso) – Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
- – Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur) – Nitrate Vasodilator
- – Mifepristone (Mifeprex) – Antiprogestin for Medical Abortion
- – Ketoconazole (Nizoral) – Antifungal (Azole)
- – Chloroquine (Aralen) – Antimalarial Agent
- – Avanafil (Stendra) – Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor for Erectile Dysfunction
- – Methadone (Dolophine, Methadose) – Opioid Analgesic and Maintenance Treatment for Opioid Dependence
- – Levomethadyl acetate (No known brand name) – Opioid Analgesic
- – Mobocertinib (Exkivity) – Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
- – Selpercatinib (Retevmo) – Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
- – Quinidine (No known brand name) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Dronedarone (Multaq) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Levoketoconazole (Recorlev) – Cortisol Synthesis Inhibitor
- – Cobicistat (Tybost) – Pharmacokinetic Enhancer for HIV Medications
- – Ivosidenib (Tibsovo) – Antineoplastic Agent
- – Ibutilide (Corvert) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Dofetilide (Tikosyn) – Antiarrhythmic
- – Boceprevir (Victrelis) – Antiviral (HCV) Agent
- – Itraconazole (Sporanox) – Antifungal (Azole)
- – Fexinidazole (No known brand name) – Antiparasitic Agent
- – Lefamulin (Xenleta) – Antibiotic (Phenyl Ketolide)
- – Sparfloxacin (No known brand name) – Antibiotic (Fluoroquinolone)
- – Thioridazine
- – Nilotinib (Tasigna) – Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor
- – Droperidol (Inapsine) – Antiemetic and Antipsychotic
- – Ivabradine (Procoralan, Corlanor) – Heart Rate-Reducing Agent
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and interactions can vary depending on the specific formulation of vardenafil and the doses of the medications involved. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional or pharmacist for personalized advice regarding drug interactions. Visit this interaction page by drugs.com If you want detailed interaction information.
Grapefruit Juice, Alcohol:
Remarkably, grapefruit juice can interfere with vardenafil absorption, potentially affecting the consistency of its results.
Vardenafil is a medication that can lower blood pressure as one of its pharmacological effects. Alcohol, when consumed, can also lead to a temporary drop in blood pressure. When combined, these two substances can have a cumulative effect, causing a more significant reduction in blood pressure. This can result in symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, and other side effects related to low blood pressure.
Medical Conditions:
Openly discuss your medical history, especially conditions like heart disease, liver or kidney issues, with your healthcare provider. These underlying health concerns can significantly influence the effectiveness of vardenafil in addressing your needs.
- Hypotension: Interaction with certain medications or pre-existing low blood pressure may lead to a dangerous drop in blood pressure, causing dizziness, fainting, or other adverse effects.
- Cardiac Events: If used inappropriately with underlying heart issues, Vardenafil may exacerbate cardiovascular problems, potentially leading to severe cardiac events.
- QT Prolongation: Do not use it if you are taking certain heart medications or have conditions associated with QT prolongation.
- Priapism: Use with caution if you have sickle cell anemia, myeloma, or penile abnormalities. Seek medical attention if an erection lasts longer than 4 hours.
- Hearing and Vision Issues: In rare cases, Vardenafil can cause changes in hearing or vision. Stop use and seek medical attention if these side effects occur.
- Seizures: Individuals with a history of seizures may be at risk of experiencing an increase in seizure frequency or severity when taking Vardenafil.
- Liver Complications: In cases of severe liver disease, using Vardenafil may result in adverse effects on liver function. Monitoring and possible dose adjustments are essential.
- Renal Dysfunction: Adjust the dosage if you have severe kidney problems.
- Phenylketonuria: Note that some formulations may contain phenylalanine, which can be a concern for individuals with PKU.
What should a patient do if they experience a medication interaction or adverse effect?
If a patient makes a medication mistake and experiences an interaction or adverse effect, they should follow these steps:
- 1. Seek Immediate Medical Help: In cases of severe or life-threatening symptoms, dial 911 or head to the nearest ER.
- 2. Contact a Healthcare Expert: For less severe but concerning symptoms, get in touch with your healthcare provider, like your primary care doctor or a pharmacist, for guidance on handling the issue.
- 3. Share Medication Details: Be ready to disclose all your medications, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, supplements, and herbal remedies. This info is vital for the healthcare provider to assess the situation.
- 4. Adhere to Professional Guidance: Comply with the advice from your healthcare provider, which may involve discontinuing the problematic medication, adjusting the dose, or switching to an alternative drug.
- 5. Avoid Abruptly Quitting Medications: While discontinuing a medication may be necessary, never stop taking prescribed drugs without consulting your healthcare provider as this could have serious consequences.
- 6. Learn from the Error: Use this experience to educate yourself about your medications and the importance of sticking to your prescribed treatment plan. Share information about any allergies, intolerances, or past adverse reactions to medications with your healthcare provider to prevent future interactions.
- 7. Maintain an Updated Medication List: It’s crucial to keep an updated list of all your medications, including doses and frequencies. Share this list with all your healthcare providers.
- 8. Use Medication Management Tools: Some patients may find pill organizers, medication reminder apps, and blister packs helpful in reducing the likelihood of errors.
- 9. Communicate Actively: Always have open communication with your healthcare providers about health concerns, medication side effects, and any changes in your condition.
- 10. Self-Education: Take the initiative to educate yourself about your medications and potential interactions. Feel free to ask your healthcare providers questions about your treatment plan and conduct research from reliable sources.
Remember that healthcare professionals are available to assist, and addressing medication interactions or errors promptly is vital for your well-being. Don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance and support when facing such situations.
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this article is meant to serve as a source of knowledge, but it should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional for personalized recommendations and guidance.