What is Vardenafil
Vardenafil belongs to the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors drug class, a class of drugs commonly indicated for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). It is a selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) type 5 inhibitor similar to sildenafil and tadalafil. This class of drugs does not inhibit prostaglandins as do some agents for treating ED (e.g., alprostadil).
Vardenafil and tadalafil are more selective for PDE5 than PDE6, which is present in the retina. This leads to less visual adverse effects such as those reported in sildenafil-treated patients.
The advantage of vardenafil may be that it achieves maximum plasma concentration sooner than sildenafil and tadalafil which may result in a faster onset of action.
In an analysis of 580 patients, erections improved in 80% of men, and the ability to complete sexual intercourse with ejaculation was increased. Efficacy in treating diabetics and radical prostectomy patients has also been demonstrated.
According to ED treatment guidelines, oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitor) are considered first-line therapy.
Vardenafil was approved by the FDA in August 2003 for erectile dysfunction. An orally disintegrating tablet was approved by the FDA in June 2010.
Brand Names
- Levitra
- Staxyn
Indications
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
For the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) including ED associated with diabetes or after radical prostatectomy
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- amnesia
- anaphylactoid reactions
- angina
- angioedema
- arthralgia
- asthenia
- back pain
- blurred vision
- chest pain (unspecified)
- conjunctivitis
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dysesthesia
- dyspepsia
- dysphagia
- dyspnea
- ejaculation dysfunction
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- epistaxis
- erythema
- esophagitis
- flushing
- gastritis
- gastroesophageal reflux
- headache
- hearing loss
- hyperemia
- hyperhidrosis
- hypertension
- hypertonia
- hypotension
- insomnia
- lacrimation
- laryngeal edema
- muscle cramps
- myalgia
- myocardial infarction
- nasal congestion
- nausea
- non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- ocular pain
- orthostatic hypotension
- palpitations
- paresthesias
- pharyngitis
- photophobia
- photosensitivity
- priapism
- pruritus
- QT prolongation
- rash
- rhinitis
- seizures
- sinus tachycardia
- sinusitis
- syncope
- tinnitus
- ventricular tachycardia
- vertigo
- visual impairment
- vomiting
- xerostomia
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- alcoholism
- angina
- aortic stenosis
- bradycardia
- breast-feeding
- cardiac arrhythmias
- cardiac disease
- children
- coagulopathy
- coronary artery disease
- diabetes mellitus
- females
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- geriatric
- hearing impairment
- heart failure
- hepatic disease
- hereditary fructose intolerance
- hiatal hernia
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- hypertension
- hypocalcemia
- hypokalemia
- hypomagnesemia
- hypotension
- idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
- infants
- leukemia
- long QT syndrome
- malnutrition
- multiple myeloma
- myocardial infarction
- neonates
- nitrate/nitrite therapy
- non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy
- penile structural abnormality
- peptic ulcer disease
- phenylketonuria
- polycythemia
- pregnancy
- priapism
- QT prolongation
- renal disease
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- retinitis pigmentosa
- sickle cell disease
- stroke
- thyroid disease
- tinnitus
- visual disturbance
Interactions
- Abarelix
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Alfuzosin
- Alpha-blockers
- Amiodarone
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
- Amyl Nitrite
- Anagrelide
- Apomorphine
- Aprepitant, Fosaprepitant
- Aripiprazole
- Arsenic Trioxide
- Artemether; Lumefantrine
- Asenapine
- Atazanavir
- Atazanavir; Cobicistat
- Atomoxetine
- Azithromycin
- Bedaquiline
- Bepridil
- Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Bismuth Subsalicylate; Metronidazole; Tetracycline
- Boceprevir
- Brompheniramine; Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Buprenorphine
- Buprenorphine; Naloxone
- Carbetapentane; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine
- Carbetapentane; Phenylephrine; Pyrilamine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Phenylephrine
- Ceritinib
- Chlophedianol; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Chloramphenicol
- Chloroquine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Dihydrocodeine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpromazine
- Ciprofloxacin
- Cisapride
- Citalopram
- Clarithromycin
- Class IA Antiarrhythmics
- Clofazimine
- Clozapine
- Cobicistat
- Codeine; Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Codeine; Promethazine
- Conivaptan
- Crizotinib
- Cyclosporine
- Danazol
- Darunavir
- Darunavir; Cobicistat
- Darunavir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Dasatinib
- Degarelix
- Delavirdine
- Deutetrabenazine
- Dextromethorphan; Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Dextromethorphan; Promethazine
- Dextromethorphan; Quinidine
- Diltiazem
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Diphenhydramine; Phenylephrine
- Disopyramide
- Dofetilide
- Dolasetron
- Dolutegravir; Rilpivirine
- Donepezil
- Donepezil; Memantine
- Doxazosin
- Dronedarone
- Droperidol
- Dutasteride; Tamsulosin
- Duvelisib
- Efavirenz
- Efavirenz; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir
- Efavirenz; Lamivudine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Eliglustat
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Alafenamide
- Elvitegravir; Cobicistat; Emtricitabine; Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate
- Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir alafenamide
- Emtricitabine; Rilpivirine; Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate
- Encorafenib
- Entrectinib
- Eribulin
- Erythromycin
- Erythromycin; Sulfisoxazole
- Escitalopram
- Ezogabine
- Fedratinib
- Fingolimod
- Flecainide
- Fluconazole
- Fluoxetine
- Fluoxetine; Olanzapine
- Fluphenazine
- Fluvoxamine
- Fosamprenavir
- Foscarnet
- Gemifloxacin
- Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin
- Gilteritinib
- Glasdegib
- Goserelin
- Granisetron
- grapefruit juice
- Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Halofantrine
- Halogenated Anesthetics
- Haloperidol
- Histrelin
- Hydralazine; Isosorbide Dinitrate, ISDN
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Hydroxyzine
- Ibutilide
- Idelalisib
- Iloperidone
- Imatinib
- Indinavir
- Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
- Isavuconazonium
- Isosorbide Dinitrate, ISDN
- Isosorbide Mononitrate
- Itraconazole
- Ivosidenib
- Ketoconazole
- Lapatinib
- Lefamulin
- Lenvatinib
- Letermovir
- Leuprolide
- Leuprolide; Norethindrone
- Levofloxacin
- Levomethadyl
- Lithium
- Lofexidine
- Lomefloxacin
- Long-acting beta-agonists
- Loperamide
- Loperamide; Simethicone
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Lorcaserin
- Macimorelin
- Maprotiline
- Mefloquine
- Meperidine; Promethazine
- Mesoridazine
- Methadone
- Metronidazole
- Midostaurin
- Mifepristone
- Mirtazapine
- Moxifloxacin
- Nefazodone
- Nelfinavir
- Netupitant, Fosnetupitant; Palonosetron
- Nicardipine
- Nifedipine
- Nilotinib
- Nitrates
- Nitroglycerin
- Nitroprusside
- Norfloxacin
- Octreotide
- Ofloxacin
- Olanzapine
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Ondansetron
- Osilodrostat
- Osimertinib
- Oxaliplatin
- Ozanimod
- Paliperidone
- Panobinostat
- Pasireotide
- Pazopanib
- Pentamidine
- Perphenazine
- Perphenazine; Amitriptyline
- Phenoxybenzamine
- Phentolamine
- Phenylephrine
- Phenylephrine; Promethazine
- Pimavanserin
- Pimozide
- Pitolisant
- Posaconazole
- Prazosin
- Primaquine
- Procainamide
- Prochlorperazine
- Promethazine
- Propafenone
- Quetiapine
- Quinidine
- Quinine
- Ranolazine
- Ribociclib
- Ribociclib; Letrozole
- Rilpivirine
- Riociguat
- Risperidone
- Ritonavir
- Romidepsin
- Sapropterin
- Saquinavir
- Selpercatinib
- Sertraline
- Short-acting beta-agonists
- Silodosin
- Siponimod
- Solifenacin
- Sorafenib
- Sotalol
- Sparfloxacin
- Sunitinib
- Tacrolimus
- Tadalafil
- Tamoxifen
- Tamsulosin
- Telaprevir
- Telavancin
- Telithromycin
- Terazosin
- Tetrabenazine
- Thiethylperazine
- Thioridazine
- Tipranavir
- Tolterodine
- Toremifene
- Trandolapril; Verapamil
- Trazodone
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Trifluoperazine
- Triptorelin
- Tucatinib
- Vandetanib
- Vemurafenib
- Venlafaxine
- Verapamil
- Vigabatrin
- Voriconazole
- Vorinostat
- Ziprasidone
