Generic Levitra (Vardenafil) 2024: Cost, Side Effects, and More

Key Takeaways 

• Vardenafil is a drug in the same group as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED).
• Vardenafil tends to cost more than sildenafil and tadalafil, around $15–$19 per pill without insurance. 
• Urology experts say that erectile dysfunction can be a sign or symptom of other underlying conditions, so it’s important to get a full medical workup with your doctor to support your overall health.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common, and yet, many men* may not seek treatment due to social stigmas and embarrassment. Starting a conversation about sexual health with your doctor may seem daunting, but rest assured, sexual health is a normal and important part of your overall health. The Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA) has shown that evaluating sexual health can protect  your overall health.  ED treatment through telehealth can be one way to get care virtually.

Scott Miller, urologist and medical director of Wellstar Urology in Atlanta, Georgia, said, “For patients who enjoy otherwise good health and patients with well-managed medical conditions, telehealth is appropriate for diagnosis and treatment of ED.”

In this article, we summarize what you should know about vardenafil, Levitra’s active ingredient, and compare where to get it online. Read more about our experience researching vardenafil on online ED treatment platforms.

*For brevity, we refer to all people assigned male at birth as men throughout this guide.

Special considerations of erectile dysfunction medication for older adults

Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra may be ineffective or dangerous based on your health history and current medications.

Some of the most common chronic conditions affecting older adults—including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes—can damage penile blood vessels and nerves, leading to new or worsening ED that doesn’t respond to Viagra or Cialis. Fortunately, several other ED treatments are available, including penile injections, intraurethral suppositories, vacuum erection devices, and a discreet penile prosthesis. 

ED can also appear as one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, anxiety, and other chronic health concerns. Given the strong association between ED and these conditions, telehealth services without a physical exam may overlook serious conditions. Visit your doctor in person to ensure underlying conditions are diagnosed and treated alongside ED. 

Who shouldn’t take Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra

Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra shouldn’t be taken with some of the medications that are used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, or lower urinary tract symptoms. Levitra should also be avoided in men taking protease inhibitors—a specific class of medications used to treat HIV. 

Combining nitrates or alpha-blockers with ED pills may cause a severe, life-threatening drop in blood pressure, which can be associated with feeling dizzy, fainting, falling, and even death. 

This is not a complete list of medications that should not be taken with medications like Levitra. Talk to your provider about everything you take—including recreational drugs—when discussing potential ED treatments. 

Cialis, Viagra, or Levitra use should be overseen by a physician for people with low resting blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, inherited disorders of the eye or retina, recent heart attack or stroke, or uncontrolled heart disease. Cialis, Viagra, or Levitra may worsen abdominal pain in men with stomach ulcers. 

Experts we asked all pointed out that medical workups for ED can be straightforward, though some things can get missed from an online assessment alone. ED can be a symptom of many health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease. In addition, a physical exam may also uncover causes of ED; for example, scar tissue on the penis. 

Nannan Thirumavalavan, Assistant Professor of Urology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, said ED can be a canary in the coal mine to more serious conditions like circulation issues that can lead to heart attacks. “It’s an issue with blood flow and blood flow to the penis is not that different from blood flow to the heart. So you’re going to get a more global assessment [in-person], and there are many times where we pick up more serious conditions from the [patient] who comes in for ED.”

Generic Levitra information

What is vardenafil?

Vardenafil is the active ingredient in the brand-name medications Levitra and Staxyn. The generic version of these brand-name medications is called vardenafil. It’s prescribed as one of the first-line treatments for ED, including ED caused by neurological, psychological, or circulation issues. 

The brand-name drug Levitra has been discontinued, so only its generic form, vardenafil, is still available. 

Vardenafil is part of a class of medications called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors like sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and avanafil (Stendra). Like sildenafil, vardenafil is taken one hour before sexual activity on an empty stomach. It has a slightly longer duration of action, but tadalafil is still the longest-acting PDE5 inhibitor out of the three medications. Besides ED, sildenafil and tadalafil are also prescribed for other health concerns, such as pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Some ED medications are also offered as compounded medications. You should consult with your doctor before taking any compounded medicines.

Table 1, Compare PDE5 inhibitor medications

Source: U.S. Pharmacist

Generic Levitra cost

The cost of generic Levitra (vardenafil) is typically higher than the cost of generic Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). According to Drugs.com, the typical cost per pill of the highest-dose vardenafil is between $15.11–$19.26, whereas the typical cost for the highest-dose sildenafil is between $4.83–$16.06. As for tadalafil, its costs can vary between $0.30–$21.74, depending on the dose and quantity. 

The cost of vardenafil can vary depending on factors, such as your insurance coverage, where you get your prescription filled, whether the drug is a tablet or a disintegrating tablet or a chewable mint, whether you need delivery, and the dosage and quantity of your prescription.

Table 2, Compare the cost without insurance of vardenafil on online ED treatment platforms

PDE5 inhibitors: How do they work?

PDE5 inhibitors help someone achieve an erection by encouraging blood flow to the penis. They inhibit an enzyme called PDE5, which encourages the muscles of blood vessels to narrow, which decreases the amount of blood going to the penis. With PDE5 inhibitors, the blood vessels allow more blood flow to the penis in response to sexual stimulation, and an erection is achieved or prolonged. 

Vardenafil side effects

Vardenafil comes with similar side effects and warnings to other PDE5 inhibitor drugs. People taking vardenafil may experience the following common side effects:

• Flushing
• Headache
• Nasal congestion
• Heartburn
• Changes in vision
• Dizziness
• Back pain

People on nitrate drugs (e.g., nitroglycerin), alpha-blockers (e.g., doxazosin), and other blood pressure medications should consult with their doctors to see if vardenafil is safe to take with their other medications. 

Vardenafil may not be the first choice for people with certain heart conditions, as there is some research on its possible effects on heart rhythm. Based on available knowledge, the FDA ruled that vardenafil was not found to significantly impact heart rhythm, but more data is needed to be sure. People with heart conditions should consult their doctor to see if vardenafil is right for them. 

How we research and evaluate erectile dysfunction platforms

Based on our expert consultations, research, and testing, we determined the following factors to be essential for our readers when signing up for an erectile dysfunction medication platform:

• Costs for medications and consultations
• Ability to conduct live calls (video or phone) with prescriber
• Users must complete a health questionnaire when signing up
• Name-brand and generic prescriptions available
• Ability to message prescriber through the platform
• Ability to get an ED diagnosis through the platform
• Shipping options and costs
• Customer service

We had all of our reviews medically reviewed by an expert in the field to ensure the information is appropriate for NCOA readers’ needs. Read more on our ED methodology.

Bottom line

Vardenafil is the non-brand name version of the drug Levitra, which works the same as tadalafil and sildenafil. The cost of vardenafil varies and starts at $2.33 per pill from the online pharmacies we researched. 

Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.

Sources

1. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction. July 2017. Found on the internet at  https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts#common
2. Luo C, et al. Association Between Sexual Frequency and All-Cause Mortality in Young and Middle-Aged Patients With Hypertension: A Cohort Study of Patient Data From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2014. The Journal of Sexual Medicine. July 2023. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37295940/ 
3. Defeudis G, et al. Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes: A Melting Pot of Circumstances and Treatments. Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews. February 2022. Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34514697/4
4. McMahon CN, et al. Treating Erectile Dysfunction When PDE5 Inhibitors Fail. BMJ. March 11, 2006. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1397768/
5. Capogrosso P, et al. Erectile Dysfunction in Young Patients is a Proxy of Overall Men’s Health Status. Current Opinion in Urology. 2016. Found on the internet at https://journals.lww.com/co-urology/abstract/2016/03000/erectile_dysfunction_in_young_patients_is_a_proxy.5.aspx
6. Khera M, et al. Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA)/American Urological Association (AUA) Telemedicine and Men’s Health White Paper. Journal of Sexual Medicine. March 2024.  Found on the internet at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38430132/ 
7. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction. July 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes
8. Dhaliwal A, et al. PDE5 Inhibitors. StatPearls [Internet]. April 10, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549843/
9. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Determination That Levitra (Vardenafil Hydrochloride) Oral Tablets, 5 Milligrams, 10 Milligrams, and 20 Milligrams, Were Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness. May 3, 2023. Found on the internet at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/05/03/2023-09365/determination-that-levitra-vardenafil-hydrochloride-oral-tablets-5-milligrams-10-milligrams-and-20  
10. American Lung Association. Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH). Found on the internet at https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-arterial-hypertension
11. Mayo Clinic. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). March 1, 2024. Found on the internet at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/benign-prostatic-hyperplasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20370087
12. Murphy M, et al. Oral PDE5 Inhibitors for Erectile Dysfunction. U.S. Pharmacist. June 15, 2018. Found on the internet at https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/oral-pde5-inhibitors-for-erectile-dysfunction 
13. American Urological Association. Erectile Dysfunction: AUA Guideline (2018). 2018. Found on the internet at https://www.auanet.org/guidelines-and-quality/guidelines/erectile-dysfunction-(ed)-guideline 
14. O’Riordan M. Vardenafil and Alfuzosin QT Prolongation Not Clinically Significant. Medscape. May 30, 2003. Found on the internet at https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/785549

Vanessa Ling Author

Vanessa Ling is a health writer and licensed health care practitioner. As a naturopathic doctor, she advocates for life-long, whole-person health through simple, accessible, and evidence-based interventions.

Kevin Campbell Medical Reviewer

Dr. Kevin Campbell is a board certified urologist in Gainesville, Florida. He trained at the University of Florida with subspecialty training in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine.

Susan Stiles Reviewer

Susan Stiles, PhD, provides leadership in the design and development of consumer products that inspire, educate, and activate older adults. She’s been instrumental in bringing the Aging Mastery Program® to market and scaling it nationwide via strategic alliances and business partnerships. Stiles has 20+ years of experience in design thinking, multimedia, strategic communications, and management consulting.