Levitra (Vardenafil) Specs

Vardenafil (Generic Levitra) Specs

The Little Orange Pill: Vardenfil makes erections easier, harder and longer-lasting. It was the second approved treatment for ED to hit the market after the “Little Blue Pill,” Viagra (Sildenafil). In some ways, though, Vardenfil can outcompete its older brother. It was originally released under the brand name Levitra, but this has since been discontinued.

Used by millions of men, Vardenfil is taken as needed 60 minutes before you anticipate spending time in the bedroom. Its active ingredient stays active in your system for up to five hours, so there’s no need to rush things.

Go to

Medically reviewed by

Mr Craig Marsh

Clinical Reviewer

on Jan 21, 2025.

Meet Craig

Last updated on Sep 16, 2025.

Was this article useful?

What is Vardenafil?

Vardenfil is a licensed treatment for ED. It works by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis helping you get an erection.

Compared to alternative ED pills on the market such as Viagra, Vardenafil gets to work a little quicker, is more potent and can be better for older men or men with underlying health conditions.

How do Vardenafil pills work?

When you get sexually aroused, signals are sent to the blood vessels in your penis, which relax and dilate. As a result, more blood is sent into two shaft-like pieces of cylindrical tissue that run up your penis, and you get hard.

If you battle with ED, the blood vessels in the penis don’t dilate as much as they should. Possible causes are high blood pressure, poor circulation or nerves not properly relaying signals. The result can be difficulty getting an erection, an erection that doesn’t last or a “semi” and no further.

Vardenfil is a PDE5 inhibitor. PDE5 is the enzyme in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten. By reducing its activity, Vardenafil helps your blood vessels open up, improving blood flow. This means that when you get aroused, blood flows more easily into the penis and you get longer-lasting, firmer erections.

What are Vardenafil oro-dispersible tablets?

Regular Vardenafil is a film-coated tablet which is swallowed with water. Vardenafil ODTs are tablets which melt on your tongue and don’t need to be taken with water. Staxyn was the original oro-dispersible version of Vardenfil, however like Levitra, this has also been discontinued since.

Vardenafil ODT could be a better option for you if you struggle swallowing tablets or you want to take a tablet as discreetly as possible. They should be taken as needed 25 to 60 minutes before sex and are only available in a 10mg dose.

One tablet (10mg) is the maximum dose of Vardenafil ODT. If a 10mg dose isn’t strong enough for you and your prescriber decides you need a higher dosage, you’ll need to go with regular Vardenafil.

What was Levitra?

Levitra was first introduced onto the market by Bayer Pharmaceuticals in 2003. Back then, Bayer had a patent for the active ingredient in Levitra: vardenafil. Meaning, they owned all trading rights and no one else could produce an identical ED pill. The Levitra patent expiration date was the 31st of October 2018.

Today, with Bayer no longer exclusively owning vardenafil, other pharmaceutical companies can produce a generic version. Regulations ensure generic medicines contain the same active ingredient and have the same effect as their branded counterpart. As a result, Bayer decided to stop producing it in 2022. Stock was depleted by mid-2023, meaning brand-name Vardenfil is no longer on the market.

The medication’s name will also differ depending on where in the world it’s produced and by what company. For example, Vardenafil Cipla in India, Vardenafil Sandoz in Brazil, and so on.

Is Vardenafil the same as Levitra?

Yes. Vardenafil is generic Levitra, meaning the two medications have the same active ingredient but are produced by different labs.

How to take Vardenafil

Take one tablet whole with a glass of water. It should start to work in 25-60 minutes so long as you are sexually stimulated. Vardenafil should remain active in your system for up to five hours.

Make sure you read the Vardenafil directions on the leaflet provided and never take more than one tablet in any 24 hour period.

How long does it take Vardenafil to work?

Between 25 and 60 minutes. It’s a good idea to allow for the full 60 minutes, to make sure it’s had enough time to work. Once taken, it should stay active in your system for up to five hours.

The oro-dispersible version will work a little faster. In clinical trials testing vardenafil OD in real-life settings, 34.5% of men with ED were able to achieve an erection within 15 minutes and 26% within 30 minutes.

If you’ve taken it with or after a heavy meal, it may take longer than the 60-minute window to take effect. If you find that it works but doesn’t last very long, speak with your clinician, they may be able to suggest a change in how you’re taking it or a change in dose.

How long does Vardenafil last?

The Vardenafil half-life when taking a standard 10mg dose is four to five hours. This means that the effects of Vardenafil will last for up to five hours. During this time you should be able to get an erection if aroused.

When we say it will “last for up to five hours” we don’t mean that you’ll have a five-hour-long erection. This is not the case and should you get an erection that lasts more than four hours, you should go to the hospital.

On the flip side, if you take Vardenafil and get an erection but it doesn’t last very long, it may be that your dose is too low. Let your prescriber know and they may consider increasing your dose.

What if Vardenafil doesn’t work?

Normally, your doctor will recommend a starting dose of 10mg. If you start treatment with Vardenafil at a 10mg dose but find you aren’t able to get an erection or it isn’t working as well as you’d like, don’t worry.

It’s recommended that you try the prescribed dosage at least eight times before deciding how well it works for you. Once you have an idea of how your body is responding, talk to your doctor — it may be that you need an adjusted dose.

A higher dose of 20mg is available if you find you’re not achieving erections as you’d like to. A lower dose of 5mg is also available if you take certain medications or have pre-existing conditions that change the body’s ability to metabolize Vardenafil.

Can I drink alcohol before I take Vardenafil?

Yes. There’s no evidence to suggest that alcohol interacts with Vardenfil.

However, while a glass of wine is a perfect addition to a romantic evening and shouldn’t impact Vardenafil’s effectiveness, excessive alcohol intake will affect how well it works.

This is because a high alcohol intake can make it even harder to get a strong erection that lasts. As alcohol can significantly make ED symptoms worse, it’s a good idea to drink within sensible limits if you suffer from ED.

Can you take Vardenafil with food?

Taking Vardenafil with or without food is fine. Lighter meals are better as heavy or high-fat foods can slow down how fast the body absorbs Vardenafil. As a result, it will take longer to kick in and may be less effective.

If you’re taking Vardenafil with food and aren’t seeing the results you’d like, a good first step will be to wait two hours after eating before taking it. It’s possible you’re not getting the full effect.

The one dietary exception to remember is grapefruit juice, which can interact with Vardenafil , and so should be avoided.

How effective is Vardenafil?

A 2009 review of over a decade of research and more than 2000 men found that Vardenafil is effective, fast-acting and reliable. The review concluded that Vardenafil is “a first-line treatment for men with ED, including those with underlying conditions.”

In a study of over 300 men with ED who were given 10mg of vardenafil, 80% were able to get an erection which would last throughout sex compared to only 21% for the placebo group.

Most recently, a clinical trial in 2018 found that with just 10mg of vardenafil not only were all aspects of erectile function significantly improved but so too was the man’s ability to successfully have sex.

Is there a way to make Vardenafil more effective?

Always read the instruction leaflet carefully before beginning Vardenafil. Remember, for Vardenafil to work you need to be aroused. If you’re not, it simply won’t work.

Vardenafil and food can interact, in that big meals will slow how fast it’s absorbed, so lighter is better. Remember to be patient and give it the full 60 minutes to take effect and give yourself the best chance of achieving a full erection.

To make Vardenafil more effective it’s also a good idea to address underlying factors which can worsen ED. Stress, relationship concerns, diet, exercise and smoking can all impact the severity of symptoms.

What is Vardenafil used for besides ED?

Some treatments for ED are also prescribed for other conditions.

Viagra, under the name Revatio, may be prescribed for pulmonary hypertension. Cialis, on the other hand, can be prescribed for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Levitra however isn’t licensed for any other conditions and should only be used when treating ED.

Can you get Vardenafil for women?

No. Vardenafil is not suitable for use in women and is a male-only treatment.

Does Vardenafil work for performance anxiety?

Yes, Vardenafil can help with performance anxiety, but it’s an “indirect” effect. Meaning that it doesn’t change the chemicals in the brain which lead to anxiety but can help eliminate any worry as to whether or not you’re going to get it up.

Does Vardenafil help you last longer?

Some medications such as sildenafil (Viagra) may help premature ejaculation. There is some supporting evidence that vardenafil may also help.

For example, in a small 16-week double-blind study, men who took vardenafil reported significantly increased ejaculatory control and in another 20-patient study men given vardenafil had a 67% improvement in PE.

Whilst these results are promising there isn’t a large enough body of evidence yet to draw reliable answers.

Vardenafil or Sildenafil?

These two popular ED drugs both work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation, and they’re both taken in similar ways.

Sildenafil (Viagra) is slightly cheaper and has the added benefit of being one of the most well-recognized names in pharmaceuticals globally. Vardenafil doesn’t have Viagra’s PR clout but may be easier for men with pre-existing health conditions to tolerate.

Your prescriber, who’ll take into account your medical history, will be able to help you decide which ED treatment is best for you.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh, Clinical Reviewer on Jan 21, 2025. Next review due on Jan 21, 2028.