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
Vardenafil
Levitra vs. Vardenafil Dosage
Levitra
Vardenafil
| 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 |
| 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
| 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
| 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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