What is the most important information I should know about levitra?
Do not take levitra if you are also using a nitrate drug for chest pain or heart problems. This includes nitroglycerin (Nitrostat, Nitrolingual, Nitro-Dur, Nitro-Bid, and others), isosorbide dinitrate (Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate), and isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur, ISMO, Monoket). Nitrates are also found in some recreational drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). Taking levitra with a nitrate medicine can cause a serious decrease in blood pressure, leading to fainting, stroke, or heart attack. If you become dizzy or nauseated, or have pain, numbness, or tingling in your chest, arms, neck, or jaw during sexual activity, stop and call your doctor right away. You could be having a serious side effect of levitra. Do not take levitra more than once a day. Allow 24 hours to pass between doses. Contact your doctor or seek emergency medical attention if your erection is painful or lasts longer than 4 hours. A prolonged erection (priapism) can damage the penis. A small number of patients have had a sudden loss of eyesight after taking levitra. This type of vision loss is caused by decreased blood flow to the optic nerve of the eye. It is not clear whether levitra is the actual cause of such vision loss. Sudden vision loss with levitra use has occurred most often in people with heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or certain pre-existing eye problems, and in those who smoke or are over 50 years old.
Stop using levitra and get emergency medical help if you have sudden vision loss.
What is levitra?
levitra relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body.
levitra is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence).
levitra may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
Before taking levitra, tell your doctor if you have:
heart disease or heart rhythm problems;
a recent history (in the past 6 months) of a heart attack, angina (chest pain), or congestive heart failure;
a history of stroke or blood clots;
a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome";
high or low blood pressure;
liver disease;
kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);
a blood cell disorder such as sickle cell anemia, multiple myeloma, or leukemia;
a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia;
a stomach ulcer;
retinitis pigmentosa (an inherited condition of the eye);
a physical deformity of the penis (such as Peyronie's disease); or
if you have been told you should not have sexual intercourse for health reasons.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use levitra or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category B: Although levitra is not for use in women, this medication is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use levitra without telling your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Although levitra is not for use in women, it is not known if levitra passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. You may need a lower dose of this medication if you are older than 65. Follow your doctor's instructions.
