How to Take Levitra

Taking a Film-Coated Tablet

Swallow a film-coated tablet with water. Place the tablet in your mouth, take a sip of water, then swallow the pill. Drink the rest of the full glass of water so the pill will dissolve in your stomach. Go for water instead of another beverage to ensure the tablet dissolves properly.

Take Levitra with or without food, but not with a heavy or fatty meal. While you can take Levitra with food, a high-fat or heavy meal will affect its absorption. If you eat a cheeseburger or steak right before taking Levitra, it might take longer to work. While it's safe to take after a meal, men report better results after taking Levitra on an empty stomach.

Wait at least an hour before sexual activity. Levitra can take effect in under an hour. However, most men report more satisfying results after waiting a little while to have sex. Hold off 1 to 2 hours after taking it, which is when Levitra's levels in your system peak.

Taking a Disintegrating Tablet

Handle a disintegrating tablet with dry hands. You have to take a few extra precautions if you’re taking an orodispersible, or disintegrating, tablet. First, your hands must be dry and you should limit the amount of time you spend handling the pill. Otherwise, it might start to dissolve in your hands instead of on your tongue.

Peel the foil back instead of pushing the pill through the foil. The tablet comes in foil-covered blister package. You could break the pill up if you try to pop it through the foil. Instead, peel the foil to remove the pill from the package. Take the pill out of the package when you’re ready to take it. Don’t store it outside of the package.

Place the tablet on your tongue, then swallow it with saliva. Leave it on your tongue and don’t crush or chew it. After a few seconds, the pill will dissolve. Swallow it only once it’s dissolved completely. Like a film-coated tablet, it'll take effect in 25 to 60 minutes. However, you might want to hold off at least an hour, which is when it reaches peak levels in your system.

Don’t drink anything when you take a disintegrating tablet. After taking the pill, wait at least 15 minutes before drinking any liquids. Taking a disintegrating tablet with a beverage could interfere with its absorption and decrease its effects. You can eat before taking a disintegrating pill. However, like a film-coated tablet, taking it after a heavy meal will delay its effects.

Using Levitra Safely

Discuss any history of medical issues with your doctor. Before you take Levitra, make sure your heart is healthy enough for sex. Talk to your doctor about any history of heart disease, irregular heartbeat, or other issues. In addition, don't take Levitra if you've recently had a heart attack or stroke, have liver problems, are on kidney dialysis, have or have had low blood pressure, or if you or anyone in your family has a history of degenerative eye or optic nerve conditions.

Tell your doctor if you take any medications, herbs, and supplements. Levitra can cause potentially harmful drug interactions. A harmful interaction can make necessary medications ineffective or cause unexpected side effects. Tell your doctor if you take nitrates, high blood pressure medications, blood thinners, or any other medications. They might advise against taking Levitra, adjust your dosages, or monitor you for negative side effects. You can't take Levitra with several medications for a range of conditions, including medications for angina, arrhythmia, antiretrovirals for HIV, or certain antifungal medications. Additionally, avoid grapefruit juice, which negatively interacts with Levitra. Label warnings only advise against drinking juice. However, even small amounts of juice can increase the risk of adverse side effects. Stay on the safe side and avoid eating the fruit, too.

Take Levitra once a day as needed 1 hour before sexual activity. Wait 24 hours after taking Levitra before you take another dose. While the maximum dose is 20 mg, you should only take the dose your doctor prescribed. Some people opt to take more medication than they're prescribed, but this can lead to serious health consequences. If your doctor prescribed 10 mg, don’t take 20 mg without consulting them. If you have medical issues or take medications, your doctor might recommend waiting longer than 24 hours before taking another dose of Levitra.

Consult your doctor about adjusting your dose. Your doctor will likely prescribe a 10 mg dose if you’re under 65, and 5 mg if you’re over 65. Let them know how Levitra affects you and if you’re satisfied with the results. They can lower or increase your dosage depending on your response to the medication.

Seek medical attention if an erection is painful or lasts more than 4 hours. Achieving erection when you’re stimulated isn’t the same as having a prolonged erection that won't stop. Call your doctor immediately if you experience pain or have a long-lasting erection without sexual stimulation. Priapism, or prolonged erection, can damage the penis.

Check with your doctor if you experience side effects. Tell your doctor about any side effects you experience, even if they’re minor. Common side effects include dizziness and headache. Seek medical attention if you experience severe or persistent symptoms, such as sudden vision loss or blurring, chest pain, confusion, fainting, swelling, or vomiting.

Follow up with your doctor every 3 months. When you start a new medication, you should see your doctor in 1 to 2 weeks to check for adverse effects and make sure that you understand how to correctly use the medication. After your checkup, see your doctor every 3 months to make sure that the medication still works for you. If you have any issues or additional concerns, contact your doctor before your scheduled checkup.

Call your doctor immediately if you've taken more Levitra than you should. Symptoms of overdose include back or muscle pain, vision changes, severe headache, and loss of consciousness. Contact your doctor immediately or seek medical attention if you believe you've overdosed on Levitra. It's best to have someone drive you to an emergency medical facility. Don't drive yourself if you experience vision changes, dizziness, or fainting.