Medicines can help you feel better. But if medicines are taken incorrectly, they can actually make you feel worse or do harm. To use prescription medicines and medicines you can buy over the counter (without a prescription) correctly and effectively requires some effort on your part.
When it comes to taking medications the way we are supposed to, many of us don’t score very high. According to the World Health Organization, on average half of prescription medications are not taken as prescribed.
When the body ingests medicines, it does it all at once. That is the reason why there are specific timings on when medications should be taken. The time of the day and the state of the body upon taking the medication greatly affects its potency.
We need to take note that commercially-sold medications are intended to make you feel better and improve your condition. However, despite the aid it brings to our health, it also has negative effects when taken incorrectly.
What Levitra?
Levitra is a brand of vardenafil, a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction (impotence; inability to get or keep an erection) in men. Levitra belongs to a class of drugs called Phosphodiesterase-5 Enzyme Inhibitors.
It is not known if Levitra is safe and effective in children.
How does it work?
Levitra, like Viagra and Cialis, is what’s called a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor.
These types of medications work by blocking your body’s production of an enzyme called PDE5 that’s part of the reason ED happens.
Here’s how Levitra is intended to help with ED:
• Typically, an erection starts to happen (physically speaking) when nerves in your penis are stimulated by touch. Then nitric oxide is released, generating substances that help your smooth muscles begin to relax and allow blood to flow into the corpora cavernosa. These are the two shaft-like pieces of spongy cylindrical tissue that run along the top of your penis. This extra blood flow is ultimately what causes your penis to grow and harden.
• With ED, your nerves don’t properly relay the signals between your penis and brain that allow nitric oxide to be released and your muscles to relax. As a result, blood can’t flow into your penis and give you an erection. This also happens because overactive PDE5 enzymes quickly break down the substances that nitric oxide releases to help you get an erection, making it difficult for the smooth muscles in your penis to relax.
• Levitra blocks PDE5 from breaking down the substances produced by nitric oxide that allow the smooth muscles in your penis to relax. Blood can then flow more easily into the penis tissues and give you an erection.
How should I take Levitra?
Levitra comes as a tablet and a rapidly disintegrating (dissolves in the mouth and is swallowed without water) tablet to take by mouth. It is usually taken as needed, with or without food, 60 minutes before sexual activity. Levitra 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 Levitra 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 Levitra exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
If you are taking the rapidly disintegrating tablet, check the blister pack before you take your first dose. Do not use any of the medication from the pack if any of the blisters are torn, broken, or do not contain tablets. Follow the package directions to remove the tablet from the blister package. Do not try to push the tablet through the foil. After you remove the tablet from the blister package, immediately place it on your tongue and close your mouth. The tablet will quickly dissolve. Do not take the rapidly disintegrating tablet with water or other liquids.
Your doctor will probably start you on an average dose of Levitra tablets and increase or decrease your dose depending on your response to the medication. If you are taking the rapidly disintegrating tablets, your doctor will not be able to adjust your dose because the rapidly disintegrating tablets are only available in one strength. If you need a higher or lower dose, your doctor may prescribe regular tablets instead. Tell your doctor if Levitra is not working well or if you are experiencing side effects.
Levitra rapidly disintegrating tablets cannot be substituted for Levitra tablets. Be sure that you receive only the type of Levitra that was prescribed by your doctor. Ask your pharmacist if you have any questions about the type of Levitra you were given.
How To Make Levitra More Effective
There are several measures you can adopt to make Levitra more effective and improve your sexual life and experience. Here are a few tips to enhance the effects of Levitra for ED:
Let your doctor confirm Levitra is right for you
The fact that Levitra worked well for a friend does not mean it will also work well for you. If you are taking certain medications or suffering from some medical condition, Levitra might be the right medication for you.
Tell your doctor about any health problems you have and other medications that you take. It will help your doctor reach a decision on whether Levitra is best for you. Your healthcare providers need to have the whole picture of what you’re taking so they can create a plan for the most effective treatment and identify possible interactions.
Watch your diet while on Levitra
The type of food you eat can affect how Levitra works. You can take Levitra with or without food, but a high-fat meal may delay its effects. Sometimes, eating a big meal right after you take Levitra may not always be the best idea.
Drinking alcohol, for example, could change how well your kidneys process medication. Even eating healthy can sometimes create a dangerous interaction between Levitra and the food and or beverages you consume. It is important to learn about Levitra food interactions.
Be Patient
Many people expect magic while taking Levitra. For most ED drugs, including Levitra you need to wait a while before you can expect them to start working. Levitra takes about 30 minutes to work, and the effects last for about 4 hours after you take the pill.
But for the drugs to work, you need to be sexually aroused. So don’t rush things. Take some time to get into the mood. Use all of your senses to get turned on.
Stick to the dose
The maximum daily dose for Levitra is 20 mg per day. You shouldn’t take Levitra more than once per day. If you’re over age 65 years, your doctor may recommend a starting dose of 5 mg. Check with your doctor to see if you need to increase your dose. Take your medication as directed.
If you take too much Levitra (more than the prescribed amount) call your doctor or local Poison Control Center right away or seek emergency medical attention.
Conclusion
Beyond getting Levitra to work more effectively, an important practical coping technique for erectile dysfunction is remembering that neither your sexual pleasure nor your partner’s, is dependent on your being able to get an erection. A strong erection is good but it is possible to have a fulfilling and satisfying sex life that does not require an erection firm enough for penetration.
