There are many precautions and warnings to be aware of when taking Levitra. For example, numerous other medications can potentially interact with this drug. Also, Levitra does not provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV. A few other Levitra precautions and warnings include people who should not take Levitra (including those who are taking a nitrate, such as nitroglycerin, for angina), the safety of taking the medicine if you have cardiovascular disease or significant heart disease risk factors, and the risk of a prolonged and sometimes painful erection (lasting longer than four hours) in some people taking the drug.
What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider?
Prior to taking Levitra® (vardenafil HCL), you should tell your healthcare provider if you have:
- Heart disease
- Liver disease or liver failure
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Kidney disease that requires dialysis
- A history of a heart attack, stroke, or life-threatening arrhythmia within the past six months
- Retinitis pigmentosa, which is a rare eye problem
- A history of severe vision loss, including a condition called NAION
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Stomach ulcers
- Bleeding problems
- Sickle cell anemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Leukemia
- A history of priapism, which is a painful erection lasting longer than six hours
- Any condition that causes a penis deformation, such as angulation, Peyronie’s disease, or cavernosal fibrosis
- Any allergies
- A rare heart condition known as prolongation of the QT interval (long QT syndrome); also tell your doctor if anyone in your family has this condition.
It is also important to tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, antacids, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some Levitra Precautions and Warnings
Some precautions and warnings about this drug include the following:
- There are certain other medications that Levitra can interact with (see Levitra Drug Interactions).
- If you have cardiovascular disease or significant heart disease risk factors, there is an increased chance of serious side effects when taking Levitra. In rare cases, problems with the heart, brain, and blood vessels are seen in people taking this drug. These problems can lead to dangerous side effects such as heart attack, stroke, or sudden death. If you experience any symptoms during sexual activity, you should stop any further activity and talk with your healthcare provider (see Levitra Side Effects).
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In people taking Levitra or other PDE5 inhibitors, there have been rare cases of a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). This condition can lead to sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes. If you experience any loss of vision while taking Levitra, contact your healthcare provider immediately (see Levitra and Blindness).
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The FDA considers Levitra a pregnancy Category B medicine, meaning that while the drug has not been studied in pregnant women, it showed no negative effects on unborn babies in previous animal studies. However, Levitra is not licensed for use in female patients.
- In rare cases, people can experience a prolonged erection that can sometimes be painful. If you experience an erection for longer than four hours while taking Levitra, contact your healthcare provider immediately.
- There have been reports of a sudden decrease or loss of hearing in men taking Levitra. If you develop hearing problems, stop taking Levitra and contact your healthcare provider right away.
Levitra does not provide any protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV.
Who Should Not Take Levitra?
You should not take Levitra if:
- You are allergic to Levitra or any component of vardenafil HCL. Your healthcare provider or pharmacist has a list of the inactive ingredients.
- You are taking a nitrate, such as nitroglycerin, for angina.
There are a number of situations in which Levitra should not be taken, as well as a number of precautions and warnings related to this drug. It is possible that not all of the warnings were discussed in this article. Therefore, you should talk with your healthcare provider about the Levitra precautions and warnings that may apply to you.
Source: http://erectile-dysfunction.emedtv.com/levitra/levitra-precautions-and-warnings-p3.html
