What LEVITRA does. Levitra.com:"LEVITRA helps increase blood flow to the penis and may help men with ED get and keep an erection satisfactory for sexual activity. Once a man has completed sexual activity, blood flow to his penis should decrease and his erection should go away. LEVITRA has been clinically shown to improve erectile function even in men who had other health factors, like diabetes or prostate surgery. LEVITRA provided first time success and reliable improvement of erection quality for many men. Men reported having harder erections and improved overall sexual experiences."
http://www.levitra.com/

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Levitra, Vardenafil, Patient Teaching, Davis's Drug Guide:"Instruct patient to take vardenafil approximately 1 hr before sexual activity and not more than once per day. Inform patient that sexual stimulation is required for an erection to occur after taking vardenafil. Advise patient that vardenafil is not indicated for use in women. Caution patient not to take vardenafil concurrently with nitrates or alpha adrenergic blockers. Instruct patient to notify health care professional promptly if erection lasts longer than 4 hr, if they are not satisfied with their sexual performance or develop unwanted side effects. Advise patient to consult health care professional before taking other Rx or OTC medications or herbal supplements that may interact with vardenafil. Inform patient that vardenafil offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Counsel patient that protection against sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection should be considered."
http://www.drugguide.com/monograph_library/new_releases/vardenafil.htm

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Levitra, Pharmacology, Levitradata.com:"The haemodynamic process of erecting a penis is grounded in the relaxation of smooth muscle in the corpus cavernosum and its allied arterioles. Nitric oxide (NO) is released from the corpus cavernosum’s nerve ends during sexual arousal. This triggers the enxyme guanylate cyclase causing the corpus cavernosum’s cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels to increase. This is what causes relaxation in the smooth muscle and allows freer blood flow into the penis, causing an erect penis. The rate of degradation via cGCP hydrolyzing phosphodiesterases (PDEs) and the rate of synthesis via the guanylate cyclase are the two factors that actually regulates the cGMP level. The cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) is the main PDE in the corpus cavernosum of a human."
http://www.levitradata.com/levitra-doctor-information.htm

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Levitra, Vardenafil, How does this medication work? What will it do for me? Medbroadcast.com:"Vardenafil belongs to the class of medications called cyclic GMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors. These medications work by increasing smooth muscle relaxation and allowing blood to flow into the penis. Vardenafil is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (impotence). It helps a man achieve and keep an erection when he is sexually stimulated. Vardenafil does not increase sex drive. Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than the ones listed in this drug information article. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor."
Virtual Learning
18 Wynford Drive Toronto, ON M3C 3S2 CA
416-383-0010
http://www.medbroadcast.com/drug_info_details.asp?brand_name_id=1893&dowhat=accept_disclaimer

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Levitra, Vardenafil, Drug Class & Mechanism, MedicineNet, Inc.:"Vardenafil is an oral drug that is used to treat impotence (the inability to attain or maintain a penile erection.). It is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor that is similar to sildenafil (Viagra). Penile erection is caused by the engorgement of the penis with blood. This engorgement occurs when the blood vessels delivering blood to the penis increase in size and increase the delivery of blood to the penis. At the same time, the blood vessels carrying blood away from the penis decrease in size and decrease the removal of blood from the penis. Sexual stimulation that leads to the engorgement and erection causes the production and release of nitric oxide in the penis. Nitric oxide then activates the enzyme, guanylate cyclase to produce cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). The cGMP is primarily responsible for increasing and decreasing the size of the blood vessels carrying blood to and from the penis, respectively. Vardenafil prevents an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 from destroying cGMP so that cGMP persists longer. The longer cGMP persists, the more prolonged the engorgement of the penis. Vardenafil was approved by the FDA in August, 2003."
MedicineNet, Inc.
903 Calle Amanecer, Suite 300 San Clemente, CA 92673
Telephone: 949.940.6500 Fax: 949.940.1094, smartservice@medicinenet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/vardenafil/article.htm

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Vardenafil approved for erectile dysfunction, Pharmacist.com:"Limitations of new drug similar to those of sildenafil, including contraindications, adverse effects, drug interactions. FDA has approved vardenafil (Levitra), manufactured by Bayer and marketed by GlaxoSmithKline, for treatment of men with erectile dysfunction (ED). With a third phosphodiesterase inhibitor (tadalafil-Lilly) also close to approval, competition with sildenafil (Viagra-Pfizer) promises to be intense in the coming months. Vardenafil was studied in more than 2,000 men with ED. In two of the trials, ED was associated with diabetes mellitus or has resulted from radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. The drug's effectiveness was assessed using a sexual function questionnaire. In addition, patients were asked to report if they were able to achieve an erection adequate for intercourse and whether the erection was maintained to allow completion of intercourse. In all of the trials, vardenafil improved patients' ability to achieve and maintain a penile erection."
Pharmacist.com Drugs & Diseases
2215 Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC 20037
202-429-7581 202-628-0035 (fax)
http://www.pharmacist.com/articles/h_ts_0354.cfm

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Levitra (vardenafil, Bay 38-9456), PharmacyTimes.com:"According to the National Institutes of Health, erectile dysfunction (ED) affects approximately 15 million to 30 million American men.1 ED, also called impotence, is the inability to obtain and keep an erection during sexual intercourse. ED may be caused by disease (diabetes, alcoholism, vascular disease), surgical procedures, and medications. ED traditionally has been treated with psychotherapy, surgery, mechanical vacuum devices, and medications. In March 1998, the FDA approved the first oral medication, sildenafil, for the treatment of ED. Levitra, approved by the FDA in August 2003, is the second oral medication for the treatment of ED. Pharmacology Penile erection occurs by the relaxation of smooth muscle in the corpus cavernosum. Nitric oxide release at the corpus cavernosum activates cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which stimulates smooth muscle relaxation. Degradation of cGMP is regulated by phosphodiesterases. Levitra is a selective inhibitor of cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase type 5; thus it increases the amount of cGMP. Levitra has an onset of action of 1 hour and a duration of up to 1 hour."
http://www.pharmacytimes.com/article.cfm?ID=819

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Vardenafil, Levitra, Indications, RXlist.com:"For most patients, the recommended starting dose of LEVITRA is 10 mg, taken orally approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity. The dose may be increased to a maximum recommended dose of 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg based on efficacy and side effects. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day. LEVITRA can be taken with or without food. Sexual stimulation is required for response to treatment."
RxList LLC
500 3rd Street Suite 530
San Francisco, CA 94107
707-747-0985 fax: 708 575 8638, info@rxlist.com
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic3/levitra_ids.htm

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Vardenafil, Why is this medication prescribed? SafeMedication.com:"Vardenafil is used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence; inability to get or keep an erection) in men. Vardenafil is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. Vardenafil does not cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire. Vardenafil does not prevent pregnancy or the spread of sexually transmitted diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). "
American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
7272 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814
301–657-3000, E-Mail
http://www.safemedication.com/displaydrug.cfm?id=603035

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Levitra, Vardenafil, How should this medicine be used? Medline Plus:"Vardenafil comes as a tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken as needed, with or without food, 60 minutes before sexual activity. Vardenafil usually should not be taken more often than once every 24 hours. If you have certain health conditions or are taking certain medications, your doctor may tell you to take vardenafil less often. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take vardenafil exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor will probably start you on an average dose of vardenafil and increase or decrease your dose depending on your response to the medication. Tell your doctor if vardenafil is not working well or if you are experiencing side effects."
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Phone: (301) 496-6308 Fax: (301) 496-4450 email: publicinfo@nlm.nih.gov
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a603035.html

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