Vardenafil: Concept, History, Uses, Mechanism of Action
Vardenafil will maintain the erection for up to five hours. It will not cause an involuntary erection – it will only work if you become sexually aroused.
What Is Vardenafil?
Vardenafil is highly specific drug and is formulated to cause an erection only when you are sexually stimulated, much like Sildenafil (Viagra), although Vardenafil has some additional benefits.
In short, Vardenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor that will create a functional erection in a sexually aroused man, with an effective time of around five hours. When sexual arousal fades, your erection will fade, too. It is a medical solution for mainly older men who have experienced changes in the chemical process that take places in the penis. By temporarily eliminating the PDE in the penis, Vardenafil prevents the elimination of cGMP (by PDE5). The consequent buildup of cGMP in the penis relaxes artery walls and creates an erection. This is helpful to men who either cannot get an erection, or whose erection is too soft to complete the sexual act.
History of Vardenafil
Vardenafil is based on Sildenafil (Viagra) which is a well-known and popular drug for the treatment of ED in middle-aged men. Vardenafil was identified in 1994. Three pharmaceutical companies – GlaxoSmithKline, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, and Schering-Plough, jointly called the compound ‘Levitra’ in 2002, and the FDA approved it in 2003. Since 2005, changes in the rights to the brand name Levitra have caused Vardenafil also to be marketed under various names such as Vivanza, and an orally disintegrating (sublingual) form is sold as Staxyn and Levitra Soft.
The high cost of the name brand Vardenafil has prompted the appearance of a generic product, to lower the cost and make it generally available to more users. Therefore, generic Vardenafil, which is a replica of the original Vardenafil, is produced by Indian pharmaceutical companies at a much lower price. These generic medications are identical to the original drug, but are not limited by association with the original brand name as pharmaceutical companies from India need not abide by the patent that protect the original drug in the US. Generic Vardenafil is the ‘real thing’ and is completely safe and legal.
What Is Vardenafil Used For?
If you have ED due to a too-fast breakdown of a chemical called cGMP in your penis, Vardenafil will help you. It is a medical solution for both older and young men who undergo an altered chemical process in the blood veins of the penis when they are sexually aroused.
The short and easy definition: Vardenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor which will create an erection ‘on demand’ in a man who takes the correct dosage and then is sexually stimulated or aroused. Vardenafil will maintain the erection for up to five hours. It will not cause an involuntary erection – it will only work if you become sexually aroused during the time in which the compound is chemically active in your body. When sexual arousal fades, your erection will also fade in the normal way.
Vardenafil is an inhibitor of PDE5, the enzyme that breaks down cGMP in the spongy collection of veins in the penis (called the corpus cavernosum). After you take Vardenafil, more cGMP will collect in the venous complex in the penis. The cGMP will allow the artery walls to relax (a process called vasodilation) and blood flow to the corpus cavernosum will be increased, and then cause an erection.
Other Uses
Vardenafil has shown excellent effectiveness in the treatment of premature ejaculation, showing significant increases in the time from penetration to ejaculation, which is a remarkable added advantage for many users. This is different from similar drugs, which do not have this added effect.
Although some men regard it as a recreational drug, it should not be used by someone who does not suffer from Erectile Dysfunction. Vardenafil is a medication for men with ED (Erectile Dysfunction) and is not meant for use by women or to be taken by persons under 18 years of age.
Mechanism of Action
When you are sexually stimulated, your heart sends more blood to you penis to enable you to get an erection, and then the following chemical process plays out:
- cells in the artery release nitric oxide (NO);
- nO stimulates the enzyme GTP;
- GTP converts to cGMP;
- cGMP relaxes the artery wall muscles;
- increased blood flow to the corpus cavernosum;
- an erection follows.
The more cGMP, the more blood will collect in the penis, to produce a stronger erection.
However, another enzyme present in your penis (called PDE5) breaks down cGMP. This is a regular and expected action by your body, however, when this breakdown cycle repeats too fast, your erection can fail or be too soft to attempt penetrative sex. If you can eliminate the buildup of PDE5 in the penis temporarily, more cGMP will be available to relax the artery walls and create an erection. Vardenafil uses this method to suppress the PDE5 temporarily, and so it increases valuable cGMP. Vardenafil hydrochloride trihydrate is closely related in this function to sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis).
Vardenafil Effectiveness
Vardenafil is more effective than Sildenafil (Viagra) and Tadalafil (Cialis) and can help men who have a history of diabetes and high cholesterol for whom Sildenafil (Viagra) is not working. Dosages are somewhat smaller.
An added advantage is that even if you take the tab just after eating or have alcohol, it will still be effective as food does not influence absorption.
As there is no difference between the generic and the original brand name Vardenafil, you can fill your prescription and obtain your supply from anywhere in the world, as long as the manufacturer applies good quality control procedures. Be sure to obtain your medication from a reputable online supplier and always check the expiration date, as some unscrupulous internet operators may supply deficient products.
How to Use Vardenafil Pills
As you cannot obtain Vardenafil over the counter, you will require a prescription. A prescription for Vardenafil can be obtained from a reputable online pharmacy and supplier of generic Vardenafil.
Vardenafil is a tablet and is taken by mouth with a sip of water once per day, about 25 to 60 minutes before you expect to have sex. If you are sexually excited or stimulated after the drug has been absorbed it will cause a natural erection. The duration of action is 2-5 hours.
It is available as round, orange tablets and comes in several different dosages, ranging from 10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg, up to 60 mg dosages. The usual starting dose is 20 mg, which is equivalent to about 100 mg of sildenafil (Viagra).
Long term usage is regarded as safe as long as you do not exceed the dosage. Daily use is not encouraged.
Warnings of Vardenafil
There may be some side effects when you use Vardenafil OTC. It causes an increase in blood flow to the penis, therefore blood flow to the optic nerve may decrease. This could cause some blurred vision or even sudden vision loss in extreme cases, or you may have a blue tint to your vision (cyanopsia). You may also experience:
- nasal congestion;
- nausea;
- headaches;
- indigestion or heartburn;
- flushing.
In rare cases, users may experience an abnormally prolonged erection – a serious Levitra side effect which can damage the penis, or users may experience sudden onset hearing loss. You should seek medical attention in such cases.
Be safe, and discuss your medical condition with a doctor before you start using Vardenafil, especially if you suffer from these conditions:
- Cardiovascular disease – Vardenafil is closely related to drugs that control hypertension, and if you have high or low blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, CAD or have had a heart attack or stroke, it should be taken under medical supervision. Vardenafil causes lengthening of the QT interval, and if you take medication that affects the QT interval e.g. amiodarone, Vardenafil should be avoided.
- Liver disease or kidney disease.
- Blood cell disorders like leukemia, multiple myelomas or sickle cell anemia.
- Retinitis pigmentosa (genetic eye condition).
- Bleeding disorders.
- Ulcers, including stomach ulcers.
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