Erectile dysfunction medications like Levitra® have an excellent track record. They do what they’re supposed to do, side effects are generally mild, and they’re safe for most people to take. Even though these medications generally work well, there are some people who will find that their medication doesn’t perform as well as they might hope.
If your results with Levitra (vardenafil) leave something to be desired, there are a few things you can do to improve your outcome. These healthy habits can give a boost to any erectile dysfunction medication -- not just Levitra.
What is Levitra?
Levitra (brand name for vardenafil) is an erectile dysfunction medication that works by inhibiting an enzyme called PDE5, short for phosphodiesterase type 5. PDE5 is an enzyme that lives in the blood vessels and acts as a braking system of sorts against the kind of blood flow that causes an erection. By inhibiting this enzyme’s capabilities, achieving an erection is easier for men.
Levitra changes the way your blood vessels dilate and interacts with certain medications like nitroglycerin or nitrates. People with blood pressure issues or heart conditions shouldn’t take Levitra, though it's generally safe and effective for most men.
Can You Make Levitra More Effective?
If you feel as though your Levitra is underdelivering, there are a few things you can try to boost its effectiveness. Speaking to your doctor about your experience with Levitra and changing some other habits may give you a better outcome. Here's what to do:
Improving Your General Health
While Levitra can make it easier for your body to achieve an erection, it may not be able to fully supersede poor health or habits. Men who are overweight or obese may still experience difficulty achieving an erection even with the use of erectile dysfunction medication. The good news is that losing weight is achievable with smart dietary swaps and increasing general physical activity.
If you have a physical or mental health condition, you’ll also want to seek appropriate treatment and follow your doctor’s advice. Many conditions from unmanaged diabetes to depression can contribute to erectile dysfunction. While erectile dysfunction medication can help with the symptoms or side effects of these conditions, they're incapable of remedying the condition itself. And, for some medical conditions, treatment for that issue can help to resolve the ED symptoms.
Taking Your Medication at the Right Time
Each erectile dysfunction medication works within a different timeframe and window of opportunity. Some medications can take as long as two hours to work, some wear off within 6 hours, and others can produce meaningful effects for more than a day.
This requires you to strategize when you take your medication. If you’re planning a date with your spouse, you might benefit from taking your medication in the middle of your date. Giving it more time to work is likely to produce a better result. Just don’t wait too long. Taking your medication in the morning to plan for intimacy later the same night may not give you the results you want at the right time.
Asking Your Doctor To Up Your Dosage
Erectile dysfunction medications come in several different dosages. Your physician will prescribe the lowest dose that they believe will work best for you. Always start with that dose. If you believe you would benefit from a higher dose, though it never hurts to ask.
Levitra and generic vardenafil are available in doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg.
Speak to your doctor about potentially upping your dosage if your current dosage is producing lackluster results. After a consultation, your provider will be able to determine if an increase is the right option for you.
You should never double dose your medication if you feel as though your current dose isn’t working. This can lead to a condition called priapism. Priapism is an erection that will not go down for four or more hours. This erection diminishes blood supply to the penis and can cause permanent damage.
If you believe you’re experiencing priapism, go to the emergency room. Don’t wait it out.
What If Levitra Doesn’t Work For Me?
The commonly prescribed, popular erectile dysfunction medications all work the same way. They inhibit the enzyme PDE5, although they do so slightly differently. For many men, side effects and even effectiveness may differ among PDE5 inhibitors, but they’re all intended to produce the same result.
The most notably difference between Levitra and some other erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra® (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) is the time at which you take them and the amount of spontaneity they offer. Levitra requires dosing in the hours prior to sexual intimacy, much like Viagra. If your issue with Levitra is that it isn’t working well with your body and the natural flow of your love life, there are alternatives available.
Erectile Dysfunction Medication for Sexual Spontaneity
In order for Levitra to work effectively, its use needs to be timed well. Levitra's FDA-approved label recommends dosing 60 minutes prior to intimacy. Clearly, this can remove some of the spontaneity from your sex life.
You’ll need to know – approximately – when you expect to have sex in order to determine what time to take your pill. If you don’t plan properly, Levitra may not be effective when you need it. For most men, Levitra can help with ED for about 4-5 hours after taking it.
If your qualm with Levitra is the way it inhibits your ability to enjoy sex on a whim, there’s little you can do to work around that. You’ll need to switch to a different kind of erectile dysfunction medication that lends itself to spontaneity. Daily erectile dysfunction medication like low-dose Cialis (tadalafil) builds up in your system to allow for uninterrupted benefits at any time. While it isn't effective for all guys, tadalafil taken every day at 2.5 or 5 mg can provide spontaneity when compared to on-demand medications. Tadalafil on-demand is typically taken at 10 or 20 mg. People with very active sex lives may find that daily tadalafil best meets their needs.
Managing Undesirable Side Effects
The common erectile dysfunction medications tend to produce similar side effects, but men do respond differently to different medications. Although the risks of serious side effects with Levitra are relatively low in healthy men, it’s still possible to experience things like headache or nasal congestion with regular use of Levitra.
There is a possibility that other erectile dysfunction medications will produce the same side effects, but there’s also a chance that they won’t. If you’re experiencing a particular side effect enough that it's getting in the way of Levitra's effectiveness, speak with your physician about switching medications or changing doses to see if your experience with erectile dysfunction medication can be improved.
Are You Seeking Effective ED Treatment?
Levitra is a great option for many men, but it may not be the best option for you. If you think you might prefer a daily medication rather than on-demand, which may be able to give you more freedom to enjoy intimacy when the moment strikes, there are alternatives.
Rex MD's licensed physicians can help you get prescription ED medications from home, if appropriate. They can work with you to review your situation and find a medication that meets your needs. If prescribed, your medication is shipped in discreet packaging in just a few days. Tackling ED has never been more simple (or more private) than with Rex MD - get started today.
