Levitra vs. Vardenafil

See how Levitra and Vardenafil compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Levitra and vardenafil are the same medication, since Levitra is the discontinued brand name for the drug vardenafil.

  • Both come in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets taken as needed, with no daily titration required.

  • Generic vardenafil typically costs less than brand-labeled Levitra and is also available as an orally disintegrating tablet.

Levitra vs. Vardenafil Drug Summary

Levitra

Levitra is the original brand name for vardenafil, a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor approved in 2003 to treat erectile dysfunction. It is taken as an oral tablet only when needed, not on a daily schedule. The branded product has been discontinued in the US, so prescriptions are now filled with generic vardenafil.

Vardenafil

Vardenafil is the generic form of the PDE5 inhibitor first sold under the brand name Levitra, approved in 2003 for erectile dysfunction. It comes as a standard tablet or as an orally disintegrating tablet, both taken as needed rather than daily. It is now the only widely available version of this medication in the US.

Levitra vs. Vardenafil Side Effects

Levitra

Most common
Headache (up to 15%)
Flushing (up to 11%)
Dyspepsia (up to 4%)
Rhinitis (up to 9%)

Vardenafil

Most common
Headache (up to 16%)
Flushing (up to 11%)
Dyspepsia (up to 4%)
Nasal congestion (up to 9%)

Levitra vs. Vardenafil Dosage

Levitra

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 5 mg once daily as needed At the start
Maximum dose 20 mg once daily as needed If needed
Dose changes 2 increases As tolerated

Vardenafil

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 5 mg as needed At the start
Maximum dose 20 mg as needed If needed
Dose changes 2 increases As tolerated

Levitra vs. Vardenafil Indications

Levitra

Levitra was FDA-approved in 2003 to treat erectile dysfunction in adult men. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. It is not approved for use in women or children.

  • Treats erectile dysfunction in adult men

  • Taken by mouth as needed before sex

  • Not approved for women or children

  • Works by increasing blood flow to the penis

Vardenafil

Vardenafil, the generic version of Levitra, is FDA-approved to treat erectile dysfunction in adult men. It works the same way, by improving blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. It is not approved for women, children, or pulmonary arterial hypertension.

  • Treats erectile dysfunction in adult men

  • Taken by mouth as needed before sex

  • Not approved for women or children

  • Also not approved for pulmonary hypertension

Levitra vs. Vardenafil Pros and Cons

Levitra

Levitra and generic vardenafil are clinically identical, since Levitra is simply the original brand name for the same active ingredient. Choosing between them mostly comes down to cost and tablet form, since the branded version is largely unavailable and pricier. Insurance coverage often favors the generic.

Pros

  • Long clinical track record dating to 2003

  • Same proven efficacy as generic vardenafil

  • Familiar brand name some patients trust

Cons

  • Branded product discontinued in the US, so it's hard to find

  • Typically costs more, roughly $500 to $1,600 per month without insurance

  • Only available as a standard film-coated tablet

Vardenafil

Generic vardenafil is the same medication once sold as Levitra, now available at a lower cost since the brand name was discontinued. It also comes as an orally disintegrating tablet, an option Levitra never offered widely. Insurance and pharmacies now stock generic vardenafil as the standard option.

Pros

  • Lower typical cost, roughly $390 to $450 per month without insurance

  • Available as an orally disintegrating tablet for easier dosing

  • Widely stocked at pharmacies as the standard version

Cons

  • Orally disintegrating and standard tablets are not interchangeable

  • Contains phenylalanine, a concern for patients with PKU

  • Generic branding may feel less familiar to some patients

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