Levitra is by and large considered a safe and effective impotence treatment. However, not all men can take Levitra partly because of their health conditions and partly because of the medications they take. Certain conditions and medications make it dangerous for you to take any impotence treatment, even if it is as safe as Levitra. Do not take Levitra from an illicit source or borrow it from a friend, as you might never know but an underlying health condition that you have might make it dangerous for you to take Levitra.Find out below why certain conditions and medications make it dangerous for you to take Levitra.
Levitra and certain conditions
Certain conditions make it impossible for you to take Levitra. You should not take Levitra if you have cardiovascular disease or significant heart disease risk factors. Levitra increases the chance of heart, brain and blood pressure problems in some cases leading to heart attack, stroke or sudden death. If you have a history of heart problem or witness any during sexual activity, consult a doctor immediately. Levitra is a Category B drug, which means that it has not been studied in pregnant or lactating women and hence, they should not take Levitra. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients of Levitra including its active ingredient vardenafil, you should not take Levitra.
Levitra and possible interactions with certain drugs
Levitra can possibly interact with certain medicines. Find out below why it is unsafe to take certain medications with Levitra:
- Alpha Blockers
During clinical studies of Levitra, it was found that when men who took alpha-blockers for the treatment of high blood pressure or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the blood pressure fell to dangerously low levels, followed by symptoms such as light-headedness, dizziness, or fainting when standing up from either a sitting or lying position. Sometimes some doctors recommend lower dose of Levitra if you take alpha-blockers, however this depends on the seriousness of your health problem.
Alfuzosin
Doxazosin
Prazosin
Tamsulosin
Terazosin
- Nitrates
Medications that are used for angina or chest pain, can cause hypotension (dangerously low blood pressure), if taken with Levitra. If you use nitrates for recreational purposes, more famously known as poppers, you should not take Levitra.
Isosorbide dinitrate
Isosorbide mononitrate
Nitroglycerin
- Arrhythmia Medicine
This medication is prescribed to people who have an abnormal heart rhythm. If you take Levitra with arrhythmia medicine, you stand a risk for a dangerous condition known as QT prolongation.
Amiodarone
Quinidine
Procainamide
Sotalol
- Certain antibiotics or antifungal drugs
These drugs are known to increase the level of Levitra in the blood, thereby causing overdose like effects. You experience more side effects of Levitra, which would normally arise only if you take higher dose of Levitra. If you have to take these drugs or some reason, your doctor may prescribe the lowest possible dose of Levitra, so that you don’t experience any side effects.
Clarithromycin
Erythromycin
Isoniazid
Itraconazole
Ketoconazole
Miconazole
Telithromycin
- Protease inhibitors
Protease inhibitors are meant for HIV infection. They can also increase the level of Levitra in blood, so a doctor may prescribe lower dose for impotence treatment.
Amprenavir
Atazanavir
Fosamprenavir
Indinavir
Nelfinavir
Ritonavir
Saquinavir
- Grapefruit Juice
Though grapefruit juice is not a medicine, it is not advisable to take it with Levitra. It is possible that grapefruit or grapefruit juice can increase the level of Levitra, thereby increasing probability and intensity of side effects.
Other Levitra information
As Levitra comes in low doses as compared to other impotence treatment drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, most people experience no side effects. Men who experience side effects on taking other two drugs, experience no unpleasant effects and hence Levitra is considered the safest impotence treatment. However, it is important to keep in mind that even if it is safe for majority of men, it might not be so in your case because of your prevailing health condition.