You should not take Levitra in any of the following situations unless you have first discussed the risks with your doctor. The doctor may want to adjust the dosage of Levitra you take or give you separate treatment for any of the other illnesses or conditions that you may have before you take Levitra.
- Is there any evidence of a cardiovascular disease including high or low blood pressure, arrhythmia or angina? Perhaps there is a family history of strokes or blood clots. Have you experienced any symptoms suggesting the possibility of a heart attack?
- Do you have any of the blood cell disorders including leukaemia and sickle cell anaemia, or conditions that may make you bleed without real control including stomach ulcers and the more serious haemophilia?
- Do you suffer from liver or kidney disease requiring you to be on dialysis?
- Do you have any physical symptoms including any change to the shape and size of your testicles or your penis? Do you have any localised pain in your groin or when you urinate?
- Do you have any night blindness, tunnel vision or other eye problems with a genetic origin?
- Have you ever been advised by a doctor not to have sexual intercourse?
You should be aware of the following problems:
1. Just as Levitra increases the flow of blood in some parts of the body, it can simultaneously decrease the flow of blood to the optic nerve. This has caused a sudden loss of vision in a small number of people taking Levitra. All those affected shared one or more of the following characteristics:
- tested high for cholesterol levels;
- suffered from Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes;
- had pre-existing hypertension;
- had pre-existing cardiovascular conditions;
- were diagnosed with one or more genetic eye conditions;
- were smokers; and/or
- were aged 50 years or more.
If you experience a sudden loss of vision after taking Levitra, treat this as a medical emergency and go to a hospital immediately.
2. Another very small number of patients have experienced sudden loss of hearing. Again, if this happens to you, treat it as a medical emergency.
3. Do not take Levitra if you are also taking any drug, whether medicinal or recreational, that contains a nitrate, e.g. for the treatment of angina or heart disease. Combining Levitra with a nitrate can cause a sudden loss of blood pressure. You may feel dizzy and faint. In very rare cases, it can cause a stroke or a heart attack. You must also be very cautious if you are taking other prescription medications including:
- different branded or generic drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It is natural that you worry about your ability to have sexual intercourse, but taking more than one medication at the same time is an overdose and can be dangerous. Further, unless your doctor specifically allows it, you should not use any of the drugs to treat impotence with a different set of symptoms and causes such as alprostadil.
- one of the macrolide antibiotics such as clarithromycin or erythromycin;
- one of the alpha blockers used to treat high blood pressure such as doxazosin and prazosin;
- one of the drugs used to treat arrhythmia such as amiodarone;
- one of the drugs used to treat fungal infections such as itraconazole;
- one of the mood stabilising drugs such as carbamazepine; and
- any combination of the drugs used to treat HIV infection.
This is not a complete list. There are other drugs that can affect the way in which Levitra works in your body. It is in your own interests to give your doctor a complete list of all the drugs, non-prescription medications, and health and herbal products that you are taking. Then, after starting to take Levitra, do not start to take any new medicine or products (even something as apparently innocent as vitamins) without first consulting your doctor.
4. Levitra is not designed to be taken by women, but some women do experiment. This is not unsafe. But, if you are pregnant, you should seek medical advice. At the time of writing, there is no evidence that Levitra will harm your unborn baby. There is also no evidence that Levitra will get into your breast milk and affect a baby boy. Nevertheless, research continues all the time and you should always ensure that you have the most up-to-date information.
Dosage and administration |
