What it is used for
- Erectile dysfunction in adult men
- Erectile problems linked to conditions such as diabetes or after prostate surgery, as a doctor decides
How it is used
- Tablets are swallowed with water before sexual activity, only as prescribed by your doctor; your doctor decides the dose
- Orodispersible tablets are placed on the tongue to dissolve without water; they are not a direct swap for standard tablets
- Do not take it more often than your doctor told you; a heavy, fatty meal may delay its effect
Possible side effects
- Headache or flushing
- Blocked nose or indigestion
- Dizziness
- Rarely, sudden loss of vision or hearing; stop it and get help straight away
Who should not use it
- Taking nitrate medicines such as glyceryl trinitrate or isosorbide, or riociguat
- Severe heart disease where sex is not advised, a recent heart attack or stroke, or very low blood pressure
- Severe liver disease or kidney failure needing dialysis
- Previous loss of sight in one eye due to poor blood flow to the optic nerve
Before and while using it
- Get medical help urgently for a painful or very long-lasting erection
- If you get chest pain during sex, stop and get help, and tell the doctors you have taken vardenafil
- Tell your doctor if you have heart rhythm problems, a deformed penis, sickle cell disease, leukaemia, a bleeding disorder or a stomach ulcer
- Do not buy it from unreliable sources, as products may be fake
Medicine interactions
- Nitrates: dangerous fall in blood pressure; never take them together
- Alpha-blockers such as doxazosin and tamsulosin, and other blood pressure medicines, can cause low blood pressure
- Ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, clarithromycin and grapefruit juice raise its level
- Medicines that affect heart rhythm need care
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- It is not intended for women
How to store it
- Store at room temperature away from heat and moisture, out of the sight and reach of children.
Get medical help straight away if
- Your face, lips or tongue swell, or you find it hard to breathe.
- You get a severe rash, blistering or peeling skin.
- A side effect worries you or doesn’t go away: contact your doctor or pharmacist.
Questions about this medicine?
Talk to a doctor by video, or send your question by text.
Source: Standard international medicine references
This guide is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without asking them, and always read the leaflet in the pack.