Vardenafil (INN) is a PDE5 inhibitor used in the treatment of erectile
dysfunction. It can assist men with this disorder in achieving and
maintaining an erection during sexual activity. It is commonly marketed
under the trade name Levitra (Bayer AG).
Vardenafil
was co-marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and (GSK) under the trade
name bye Levitra. As of 2005, the co-promotion rights of GSK on Levitra
have been "transferred back" to Bayer in many markets outside
of the United States. In Italy, Bayer markets the product as by Levitra
and GSK markets the product as Vivanza. Due to European Union trade
rules, parallel imports may result in the Vivanza branded packs being
seen alongside Levitra packs in pharmacies in other EU member states.
Sildenafil
citrate, sold under the names by Viagra, Revatio and generically under
various other names, is a drug used to treat male erectile dysfunction
(impotence) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), developed by
the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Viagra
pills are blue and diamond-shaped with the words "Pfizer"
on one side, and "VGR xx" (where xx stands for "25",
"50" or "100", the dose of that pill in milligrams)
on the other. Its primary competitors on the market are tadalafil
(Cialis),
and vardenafil
(Levitra)..
As with
all prescription drugs, proper dosage is at the discretion of a licensed
medical doctor. The dose of sildenafil is 25 mg to 100 mg taken once
per day between 30 minutes and 4 hours prior to sexual intercourse.It
is usually recommended to start with a dosage of 50 mg and then lower
or raise the dosage as appropriate.
The drug
is sold in three dosages (25, 50, and 100 mg), all three costing about
US$10 per pill. Name-brand Viagra sildenafil is not scored and a fairly
hard coating makes it more difficult to accurately cut the pills in
half, even with a pill cutter.