Men suffering from a condition called erectile dysfunction, or impotence in common terms, are often moved by some psycho-social need to seek medical treatment. While the condition does not exactly pose a health risk, the psychological aspect of being unable to perform something that one is supposedly physiologically equipped for can cause problems. It is this need that spurred the development of various drug formulations as treatments for the condition of erectile dysfunction. With the controversial introduction of male impotence drug Viagra in 1998, discussions on erectile dysfunction, whether for academic or social reasons, has slowly gained acceptance. More and more products have been developed to treat the dysfunction including vacuum devices and other oral drugs such as Levitra and Cialis.

The normal course of action for physicians consulted for erectile dysfunction would be to go from the least invasive method towards the most invasive method. Common options presented to anyone seeking treatment for the condition include lifestyle changes, counselling, and medication. As far as medication goes, there are those that are natural and, well, those that are not from natural sources. Natural cures are known to be safer and with less harmful side effects. Drugs like Levitra have a long list of side-effects that they are mandated to disclose to the public. Levitra side effects range from minor inconveniences to major life threatening illnesses.

Levitra, or verdenafil hydrochloride, is a prescription drug that blocks the chemical phosphodiesterase5 which causes the penile muscles to constrict and makes penile erection impossible to achieve. The drug works by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide in relaxing penile muscles during sexual stimulation. Levitra intake should be limited to one pill per day, taken about an hour before sexual activity. Clinical studies show that Levitra side effects can manifest especially for those who have heart problems and diabetes. Drug interaction can also result in Levitra side effects.

Among the major Levitra side effects are blindness and cardiovascular diseases. Anyone using Levitra can suffer from vision impairment that can be temporary or permanent. Clinical results show incidences of blurred vision, color vision changes, eye pain, and glaucoma in fewer than 2 percent of all cases. In rare cases, permanent blindness presented itself as one of the Levitra side effects. A condition called non-arteretic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), included in the list of Levitra side effects, has been known to lead to sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes. People who are older than 50 years old and have illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and high cholesterol face higher risks of contracting this condition as a result of Levitra intake.

A number of patients claim to have experienced Levitra side effects concerning the heart, brain, and blood vessels. The use of Levitra has been known to increase the possibility of heart attacks, strokes, or sudden deaths. Other lesser serious, although not necessarily less alarming, side effects of using Levitra as treatment for erectile dysfunction are allergic reactions, arthritis, insomnia, chest pain, muscle pain, and hypertension.

Given these side effects, it would perhaps be best for anyone intending to take Levitra to have a more extensive consultation with his physician to cover all possibilities as well as other options available to him. Erectile dysfunction is a condition that can be treated in so many ways. It is not a dangerous condition, and it should not be made dangerous by taking the wrong medication.

Levitra is the market/brand name of the drug Vardenafil hydrochloride-a newer phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which is prescribed to treat male erectile dysfunction. It is available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg dosage round tablets which need to be taken 1-2 hours before sexual intercourse to attain and maintain penile erection in men. Commonly prescribed start-up dose is 10 mg. As compared to the traditional drug Viagra (Sildenafil), it has a longer half-life (therefore longer duration of action) and similar efficacy (effectiveness).

Levitra- Clinical trials to study effect on blood cholesterol levels: A double blind clinical trial study was conducted to observe all the clinical effects of Levitra when compared to a placebo. In this study, about 400 men participated that were suffering from erectile dysfunction and high levels of blood cholesterol. After the study was over, it was observed from the results that erectile dysfunction in these men showed significant improvement as compared to a placebo, while no significant effects were seen on their blood cholesterol levels.

In this study group, all the participants were taking cholesterol-controlling agents, more specifically statins for their dyslipidemia. The trial was conducted for 12 weeks with random selection of patients and physicians. It showed the success rate of penetration of Levitra was significantly higher than a placebo and resulted in sustained erection.

Clinically, there are many cases seen about the same scenario in which patients who suffer from hyperlipidemias also end up suffering from erectile dysfunction later on. Due to this particular finding, this study was conducted to see effects of drugs given for erectile dysfunction on patients with concurrent hyperlipidemias. It has been proved now that men who take Levitra while having high blood cholesterol levels, show positive response in terms of erectile dysfunction improvement.

Levitra-recent studies:
Recent studies done on Levitra show a very rare reporting of development of short-term amnesia or short-term memory loss in men taking this drug. In such patients, short bouts of decreased memory or frank amnesia (complete memory loss) have been reported that do not last longer than a day, and there are no associated symptoms seen. Due to extreme rarity of this finding, no warnings or precautions will be added to the labels. Instead, amnesia will be added to the rarely reported side effects from taking Levitra. However, FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and Bayer Pharmaceuticals (manufacturers of Levitra) have agreed to change the wordings on Levitra. Cialis and Viagra have yet not decided the same.

Yet another study has indicated its effects on heart in terms of a certain degree of cardiac protection. The results were published in the March issue of the Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. It has been reported that in patients suffering from myocardial infarction (Heart attacks), pretreatment with Levitra in clinically relevant doses produces a protective effect against heart attack injury. Following the results of this study, it has been stated that giving phosphodiesterase inhibitors (specifically PDE5 such as Levitra) for one day to patients who are at high risk of acute myocardial infarction or those undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery, might improve cardiac protection.
Levitra-Use in elderly: Elderly men with age 65 years or more tend to have higher plasma/blood concentration of Vardenafil when compared to younger men in the age group of 18 to 45 years. Therefore, the drug dosage for elderly is generally kept lower than adult males. In a Phase 3, (double blind) clinical trial conducted on more than 834 elderly men showed that the safety and efficacy of Vardenafil were not different in them when compared to young males. However, due to the finding of higher blood concentrations, a start up dose of 5 mg Levitra is generally prescribed in men more than 65 years of age.

Patients Subgroups with No Clinical Trials Done:
Following are the patient subgroups where still no clinical studies have been performed to state the safety of Levitra with the following diseases or disorders: 1. Patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) 2. Hypotensive patients ( resting systolic blood pressure of <90 mmHg) 3. Unstable angina 4. Recent stroke 5. Recent history of myocardial infarction (within last 6 months) 6. Life-threatening arrhythmias 7. End-stage renal failure (requiring dialysis) 8. Hereditary degenerative retinal diseases/disorders e.g. retinitis pigmentosa 9. Severe liver impairment/failure 10. Severe cardiac failure Its use in these patients is not recommended until further clinical information and data is not available. Studies on Carcinogenesis and Fertility Impairment:
In vitro studies of use of Levitra have shown that it is not carcinogenic when given for 24 months to experimental rats and mice. In vitro bacterial Ames assay has shown that the Maximum Recommended Human Dose (MRHD) of 20 mg is not mutagenic (mutation inducing). In addition, studies conducted on Chinese hamster V79 cells have proved this observation.
Studies conducted on healthy volunteers with a single dose of 20 mg Levitra have shown that there was no effect on either sperm motility or its morphology. This supports that use of Levitra does not affect fertility adversely.

Commonly known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is a sexual condition that affects most men at some point in their lives. There are a number of prescription and non-prescription treatments that can successfully resolve or improve this condition. One of the most effective and popular of these is Levitra – the impotence pill that entered the market in 2003. Read on to know more about male impotence and how Levitra has helped millions of men worldwide to cope with this condition.

About erectile dysfunction

Although the terms ‘impotence’ and ‘erectile dysfunction’ are used interchangeably, it is essential to distinguish between the two. The term ‘impotence’ is used to refer to a variety of male sexual conditions such as premature ejaculation, low libido, etc, whereas ‘erectile dysfunction’ is used to refer to the partial, total or inconsistent but recurrent inability to achieve or retain penile erection that is satisfactory for the purpose of sexual intercourse. There are three kinds of factors that are responsible for this common male sexual condition. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by physical factors such as penile damage or injury and some medical disorders, or it can be due to the side effects of certain medications. It can also be linked to psychological causes such as frustration, guilt, performance anxiety, stress in the workplace, relationship conflicts and unresolved issues about sexual orientation. Research has shown that excessive use of alcohol, smoking or drug abuse can also lead to erectile dysfunction.

About Levitra

Consisting of the active ingredient vardenafil, Levitra is an oral prescription drug used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men. Levitra does not cure this condition, so you will have to take it each time you intend to indulge in sexual activity. Levitra belongs to a category of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors. High levels of the chemical PDE5 block the flow of blood to your penis and prevent satisfactory erections. Levitra blocks the action of PDE5, relaxes the smooth muscles in your penis and eases penile blood flow for better erectile quality. Levitra has an added advantage over other PDE5 inhibitors because it targets PDE5 alone and does not affect or damage other isoenzymes. A smaller dose of Levitra is therefore as effective as a larger dose of Viagra. Levitra is available in tablet strengths of 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg.

Levitra precautions

It is essential to take the following precautions with Levitra in order to minimize or avoid its side effects:

Levitra is prescribed only for those above the age of 18 years.

It is prohibited for women and can only be bought with a doctor’s prescription.

Levitra is not recommended for people taking nitrate medications for chest pain or those who have been prescribed alpha blockers for treating high blood pressure or prostate trouble

Do not take Levitra if you use recreational drugs such as ‘amyl poppers.’

Avoid taking Levitra and other PDE5 inhibitors if you have been asked to refrain from sexual activity for health reasons.

Other impotence treatments

If you think you have erectile dysfunction, you need to consult your doctor who will determine an appropriate treatment for you, depending on the diagnosis. Any one of the following erectile dysfunction treatments or a combination of two or more can be effective:

Lifestyle changes such as taking regular exercise, having a healthy and nutritious diet, as well as making crucial behavioural decisions such as cutting back on binge eating or crash diets.

Prescription medications such as PDE5 inhibitors.

Psycho-sexual therapy and counselling

Vacuum pumps that also help in increasing penis size.