Vardenafil review
A close cousin of sildenafil, now mostly a second choice
Our overall score
Written by J. Porter, MPH
Medically reviewed by R. Okafor, PharmD
Last reviewed
The short version
Vardenafil behaves much like sildenafil — similar onset, a slightly longer window, similar side effects. Brand-name Levitra has largely disappeared from US pharmacy shelves, but generic vardenafil remains available and is a reasonable option if sildenafil has not worked well for you.
Best for: People for whom sildenafil was ineffective or poorly tolerated, and who don't want tadalafil's long duration.
What works
- A genuine alternative if sildenafil under-delivers
- Slightly longer effective window than sildenafil
- Available as an orally disintegrating tablet for people who dislike swallowing pills
What to watch
- Brand-name Levitra has largely been withdrawn from the US market
- Generic costs more than sildenafil for no clear advantage in most cases
- Carries a QT-prolongation caution the others largely do not
- Fatty meals interfere with absorption
Get emergency help for these
- An erection lasting more than 4 hours — this can cause permanent damage
- Sudden loss of vision or hearing
- Chest pain during or after sex — tell responders you took a PDE5 inhibitor
At a glance
- Generic name
- Vardenafil
- Brand name
- Levitra
- Drug class
- PDE5 inhibitor
- FDA approved
- 2003
- Typical doses
- 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg (plus a 10 mg orally disintegrating tablet)
- Usual starting dose
- 10 mg as needed
- Onset
- 30–60 minutes
- Duration
- 4–8 hours
- Half-life
- ~4–5 hours
- Effect of food
- A high-fat meal reduces and delays absorption
- Generic available
- Yes
- Typical cost
- Roughly $1–$8 per tablet for the generic with a discount cardChecked July 15, 2026. Prices vary widely by pharmacy — treat as a ballpark, not a quote.
Where vardenafil fits
Vardenafil arrived in 2003, the same year as tadalafil, and is chemically very close to sildenafil. In practice the two behave similarly: comparable onset, a similar side effect profile, and a window that is perhaps modestly longer.
It has become a second-line choice mostly for commercial reasons rather than clinical ones. Brand-name Levitra has been largely withdrawn from the US market, and generic vardenafil is stocked less widely and priced above generic sildenafil. If sildenafil works for you, there is usually no reason to switch. If it doesn't, vardenafil is a sensible next thing to try — individual response to PDE5 inhibitors varies more than the population averages suggest.
The orally disintegrating tablet
Vardenafil is also sold as a 10 mg orally disintegrating tablet (marketed as Staxyn) that dissolves on the tongue without water.
Dosing
- Usual start
- 10 mg about an hour before sex
- Range
- 5 mg to 20 mg, adjusted for response and tolerance
- Frequency
- No more than once in 24 hours
- Food
- Avoid heavy, fatty meals near the dose
- Age 65+
- A 5 mg starting dose is often recommended
Safety and interactions
Vardenafil carries one caution that sets it apart from the rest of the class: it can prolong the QT interval on an ECG. That matters if you have a known QT abnormality or take medications that lengthen it.
- Class IA antiarrhythmics (quinidine, procainamide) or class III (amiodarone, sotalol) — avoid the combination
- Congenital long QT syndrome — vardenafil is generally not recommended
- Riociguat (Adempas) — contraindicated
- Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors — significant dose reductions apply, and some combinations are not recommended at all
- Alpha blockers — stable dosing first, then start vardenafil low
Side effects
Headache, flushing, nasal congestion, and indigestion are the common ones, at rates broadly similar to sildenafil. Visual disturbances occur but are less frequent than with sildenafil. As with the whole class, an erection lasting more than four hours, or sudden vision or hearing loss, requires emergency care.
Common questions
Is Levitra still available?
Brand-name Levitra has largely been withdrawn from the US market, but generic vardenafil is still available by prescription. Stocking varies by pharmacy, so it may need to be ordered.
Is vardenafil stronger than sildenafil?
It is more potent on a milligram basis — 10 mg of vardenafil is roughly comparable to 50 mg of sildenafil — but that is a difference in dosing units, not in how well it works. Comparative trials show broadly similar effectiveness.
Why would I take vardenafil instead of sildenafil?
Mainly if sildenafil didn't work well or caused side effects you couldn't tolerate. Response to individual PDE5 inhibitors varies between people, so a drug in the same class can still perform differently for you.
Can I take vardenafil with food?
You can, but a high-fat meal reduces how much drug is absorbed and delays onset. A light meal is much less of a problem than a heavy one.
Sources
- 1.Levitra (vardenafil hydrochloride) prescribing information — U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- 2.Erectile Dysfunction: AUA Guideline — American Urological Association