What is Levitra?

Levitra was a pill that could help you get an erection and keep it long enough to have sex. You take it ‘on-demand,’ usually under an hour before you want to get intimate. After that, it stays active in the body for up to five hours. This should give you plenty of time to enjoy its benefits.

Levitra works by helping blood circulation to the penis.

When you get aroused, your brain starts a process called vasodilation. This is where the blood cells around your penis are signalled to relax and let more blood into the area. When more blood enters the area, your penis gets hard.

If you have ED, these blood vessels stay tight. This means that blood can’t enter the penis. This can result in no erections, erections that don’t last long or erections that are only semi-hard.

Vardenafil, the active ingredient in Levitra, helps to make sure that the blood cells around the penis do let blood in. This makes erections easier, longer-lasting and strong enough for sex.

As of 2024, Levitra is discontinued and no longer available. The exact reason for this is unknown, but the FDA has stated it’s not because of safety or efficacy reasons.[3] The generic version of it, Vardenafil, is still available.

What dosage of Levitra is best?

Levitra is no longer available in Canada, but there were three different doses of Levitra. Which one was best for you was down to a number of factors.

Levitra 5mg was the lowest dose. You might’ve started here if you had underlying health problems.

The Levitra 10 mg tablet was a good starting point for otherwise healthy men. If you started on this and get mild side effects, you might’ve been lowered to 5mg.

Levitra 20mg was for when you’d used the 10mg but it hadn’t provided the best results (for example if you’d got an erection but it hadn’t last long enough, or only got semi-hard).

Levitra or Vardenafil: what’s the difference?

Choosing between Levitra and Vardenafil is basically choosing between the brand-name and generic medications. Levitra was the original version of the medication that came in the Bayer packaging. Vardenafil is the generic medication of the same drug and can be made by different labs.

Brand-name and generic drugs have to be tested for bioequivalence before they’re given approval. This means that in lab conditions they’re essentially the same. So you shouldn’t really notice any difference in how they work or how well they work for you.

But it’s possible that on a personal level, you notice a difference between a brand and a generic. If that’s the case, then choose the medication that works best for you.

Price can also play a part. Brands are normally more expensive than generics. You can compare prices below if you’re stuck on a decision.

How to take Levitra

How to get the best out of Levitra:

• take it around one hour before you plan to have sex
• remember, you’ll need to be sexually stimulated for Levitra to work
• swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water
• don’t take more than one tablet in a 24 hour window
• read the patient leaflet before you start taking Levitra.

You shouldn’t take more than your prescribed dosage, as this can cause unwanted side effects. If you find your erections still aren’t as good as you’d have hoped for, let us know.

Once you’re subscribed, you can ask our experts questions any time you like. They’re here to help guide you through any bumps in the road.

How long does Levitra take to work?

You can expect Levitra to get to work in around 25-60 minutes. If you take your tablet with or after a heavy meal, it can take longer.

Your tablet can stay active in the body for up to five hours. If you find that it works but doesn’t last very long, let us know.

What is Levitra ODT?

Levitra ODT was a slightly different type of tablet to regular Levitra. An ODT (or oro-dispersible tablet) is a type of pill that simply melts on your tongue. This means that you don’t necessarily need to take it with water. So it can be helpful if you find taking tablets a bit of a struggle or if you’re looking to take the tablet before or during sex and be a little more discreet.

In Canada, another branded version of this medicine went by the name Staxyn, but it’s no longer available.