Can I get it?
Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Vardenafil 5/10/20mg is authorised in the EU and can be prescribed after a medical review.
Vardenafil 5/10/20mgPrescription only
Online medical consultation for Vardenafil 5/10/20mg.
An EU-licensed doctor reviews your case and, if eligible, issues an electronic prescription valid at any EU pharmacy under Directive 2011/24/EU.
- Onset in about 25–60 minutes
- High selectivity, stable response
- An option when sildenafil wasn't tolerated
Start consultationStart consultation · €35
Full refund if a review is not approved · Medication, if prescribed, is dispensed and paid for separately at a pharmacy.
IN PLAIN TERMS
What Vardenafil 5/10/20mg is, and how to get treatment
Vardenafil is a prescription tablet for erectile dysfunction, authorised across the EU since 2003. It works the same way as sildenafil and tadalafil: it keeps the blood vessels in the penis relaxed so blood can flow in during sexual arousal. It is normally taken 25 to 60 minutes before sex, and it also comes as a tablet that dissolves on the tongue. Like the other tablets in this group, it must never be taken with nitrate heart medicines.
Vardenafil 5/10/20mg has been authorised for use in the EU since 6 March 2003, so a licensed doctor can prescribe it when it is clinically appropriate for you.
What can I take instead?
Our doctors review every Sexual health option and recommend what fits your history and goals.
See all Sexual health optionsWhat do the studies show?
Every trial behind Vardenafil 5/10/20mg is listed below with how many people took part and whether the results are peer-reviewed or a company announcement.
Jump to the studiesVERIFIED EVIDENCE
Vardenafil 5/10/20mg: evidence and regulatory guide.
WHAT IT IS
How it works
Vardenafil blocks the PDE5 enzyme that normally ends an erection, so the blood vessels in the penis stay relaxed and fill with blood when a man is sexually aroused.
- PDE5
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
EU-authorised medicine
Trial register3 registered trials
Every NCT identifier links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record. A readout is not the same as peer-reviewed publication.
| TRIAL / NCT | POPULATION | PARTICIPANTS | STATUS | READOUT / COMPLETION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First large-scale at-home randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial | Men with mild to severe erectile dysfunction of mixed causes (intent-to-treat 580) | 601 | Read out | 2001-08-01 |
| Hellstrom et al. randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicentre trial | Men with erectile dysfunction | — | Read out | 2002-11-01 |
| Orodispersible-tablet programme (two studies pooled) | Randomised erectile-dysfunction patients treated up to 12 weeks | 701 | Read out | — |
What the studies reported
Results are grouped by source and evidence grade so journal data and manufacturer announcements cannot be confused.
Peer-reviewed
Porst H, Rosen R, Padma-Nathan H, Goldstein I, Giuliano F, Ulbrich E, Bandel T. The efficacy and tolerability of vardenafil, a new, oral, selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, in patients with erectile dysfunction: the first at-home clinical trial. Int J Impot Res 2001;13(4):192-199. doi:10.1038/sj.ijir.3900713 (PMID 11494074)| DOSE OR GROUP | MEAN WEIGHT CHANGE | WEEKS |
|---|---|---|
| 5 / 10 / 20 mg | IIEF question 3 (vaginal penetration) change from baseline +1.2 / +1.3 / +1.5 vs +0.2 on placebo (p<0.001) | 12 |
| 5 / 10 / 20 mg | IIEF question 4 (maintenance of erection) change from baseline +1.4 / +1.5 / +1.7 vs +0.5 on placebo (p<0.001) | 12 |
| 5 / 10 / 20 mg | 71% to 75% of intercourse attempts successful | 12 |
| 20 mg | 80% reported improved erections vs 30% on placebo (Global Assessment Question) | 12 |
A single 12-week manufacturer-sponsored trial in a mixed erectile-dysfunction population; the IIEF question-level changes are small point movements on a 5-point scale, not percentages.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
- EMA EPAR — Levitra (vardenafil), EMEA/H/C/000475, marketing authorisation issued 06/03/2003
- EMA — Levitra EPAR product information (SmPC sections 4.2, 4.8, 5.1; fixed-dose SEP2 68/76/80% vs 49% placebo and SEP3 53/63/65% vs 29% placebo over three months)
- Int J Impot Res 2001 — First at-home clinical trial of vardenafil (PMID 11494074)
- J Androl 2002 — Vardenafil for treatment of men with erectile dysfunction: randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (PMID 12399521)
NAMED SAFETY SIGNALS
What has been reported with Vardenafil 5/10/20mg.
Headache
Listed as very common in the EU product information — affecting more than 1 in 10 men. Reported in 7% to 15% of men in the at-home pivotal trial.
Flushing
Listed as common in the EU product information. Reported in 10% to 11% of men in the at-home pivotal trial.
Dyspepsia (indigestion) and rhinitis
Dyspepsia and nasal congestion are listed as common in the EU product information. Dyspepsia or rhinitis was reported in up to 7% of men in the at-home pivotal trial.
Dizziness
Listed as common in the EU product information — between 1 in 100 and 1 in 10 men.
Visual disturbance
Visual disturbance, ocular hyperaemia and visual colour distortion are listed as uncommon — between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100 men.
Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION)
Reported with a frequency the EU product information records as not known. Vardenafil is contraindicated in men who have already lost vision in one eye from NAION.
Use with nitrates
Contraindicated with nitrate medicines and nitric-oxide donors, and in men with severe cardiovascular disease.
€35 one-offStart a medical consultation
FormOral tablet
FrequencyOn demand
ResultsActs in ~25–60 minutes
What you pay Hi-Doctor€35 one-off
IN 60 SECONDS
Vardenafil 5/10/20mg at a glance
- A PDE5-inhibitor tablet, film-coated or melt-in-the-mouth
- Adult men with erectile dysfunction; sexual stimulation is still required
- One tablet 25 to 60 minutes before sex, at most one dose in 24 hours
- Nitrates and poppers are contraindicated: blood pressure can fall dangerously
- Hi-Doctor consultation fee; the medicine is paid separately at a pharmacy
About
What is Vardenafil 5/10/20mg?
Also sold as Levitra.
Active ingredient: Vardenafil · Dosages: 5 / 10 / 20 mg on demand
Vardenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor with fast onset and high selectivity. Some people who had side effects with sildenafil tolerate it well — the doctor weighs which PDE5 fits your case best.
It's usually prescribed as 10 mg taken 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity, with doses adjustable to 5 or 20 mg based on response and tolerance. Light meals don't affect it significantly; very fatty meals can delay onset.
HOW IT WORKS
What Vardenafil 5/10/20mg does in your body
Vardenafil inhibits the PDE5 enzyme with high selectivity, improving penile blood flow in response to sexual stimulation — with an onset around 25 minutes and an effect lasting about 5 hours.
Arousal releases nitric oxide
Sexual stimulation makes nerves and blood vessel linings in the penis release nitric oxide. Nitric oxide switches on an enzyme called guanylate cyclase, which builds up a messenger chemical known as cyclic GMP inside the smooth muscle of the erectile tissue.
Cyclic GMP opens the blood flow
Cyclic GMP relaxes that smooth muscle, so the arteries widen and blood flows into the corpus cavernosum, the two spongy chambers that run along the penis. That inflow is what produces an erection. Your body then steadily breaks the cyclic GMP down again.
Vardenafil blocks the clean-up enzyme
Vardenafil blocks PDE5, the enzyme that breaks cyclic GMP down and the most abundant one in penile tissue. Cyclic GMP therefore lasts longer and the relaxation is stronger. Sexual stimulation is still required, because without it no nitric oxide is released in the first place.
How it helps
How it helps.
Fast, stable onset
Acts in about 25–60 minutes with a consistent response.
A tolerability option
Some people who didn't tolerate sildenafil do well on vardenafil.
Doctor-screened
Cardiovascular history — including arrhythmias — is reviewed before prescribing.
What to expect
How to take it.
On demand, before sexual activity. The doctor starts from the standard dose and adjusts based on your response.
- Take it 25–60 minutes before sexual activity
- Light meals are fine; very fatty meals delay onset
- Never combine with nitrates
- Message your doctor to adjust the dose if needed
Doses your doctor can prescribe
- Usual starting dose10 mg
- Adjustable range5 – 20 mg
Your schedule is personal
These are typical steps only. Your doctor adjusts the plan to how you respond and tolerate it — and you can message them at any point.
DAY TO DAY
Taking Vardenafil 5/10/20mg day to day
Take it before sex, not daily
Vardenafil is taken only when you plan to have sex, roughly 25 to 60 minutes beforehand. It is not a daily tablet. The most you should take is one dose in any 24 hours.
Arousal is still needed
The tablet does not create an erection by itself. Sexual stimulation is required, because your body has to release nitric oxide first before vardenafil has anything to act on. Without arousal, nothing happens.
Food is fine, fat delays it
Film-coated tablets can be taken with or without food. A high-fat meal, around 57% fat, slows absorption and pushes the peak blood level back by about an hour, so the onset can feel later than usual.
Skip grapefruit
Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice while you are taking vardenafil. Grapefruit weakly blocks the gut enzyme that clears the drug, which can push blood levels up. The EU product information advises avoiding the combination.
Orodispersible tablets: no drink
If you are prescribed the 10 mg orodispersible tablet, place it on your tongue with no liquid at all, then swallow once it has dissolved. Taken with water, absorption falls by 29%.
Do not swap 10 mg forms
The 10 mg orodispersible tablet is not bioequivalent to the 10 mg film-coated tablet, so the two are not interchangeable milligram for milligram. Only your prescriber should move you between them.
Give it a fair trial
If the first attempt disappoints, tell your prescriber rather than giving up. Dose, timing and enough stimulation all matter, and the dose can be raised to 20 mg or lowered to 5 mg.
List every medicine you take
Tell your prescriber about all your medicines, including nitrate sprays or tablets for angina, poppers, HIV treatments, antifungals and heart-rhythm drugs. Several of these combinations are unsafe and change what can be prescribed.
Safety first
Safety, in full.
Vardenafil 5/10/20mg is an effective medicine — and like any medicine it carries risks. Your doctor screens for all of this before prescribing. Here's the honest picture, not just reassurance.
Side effects, by how often they happen
Stop and get urgent medical help if
seek medical help immediately
these need urgent attention, whatever the frequency
- Sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes; stop the tablet straight away
- Sudden loss or reduction of hearing, with or without ringing in the ears
- A painful erection, or one that will not go down on its own
- Chest pain during or soon after sex; do not take nitrates for it
- Fainting, a seizure, or sudden weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking
- A blistering or peeling rash, or sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing
Very common
very common (≥1/10)
more than 1 in 10 people
- Headache, the most commonly reported effect with vardenafil
Common
common (≥1/100 to <1/10)
between 1 in 100 and 1 in 10 people
- Dizziness
- Flushing, a warm red feeling across the face and neck
- A blocked or stuffy nose
- Indigestion or upper stomach discomfort
Uncommon
uncommon (≥1/1,000 to <1/100)
between 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 100 people
- Disturbed sleep, drowsiness, or tingling and altered sensation in the skin
- Blurred vision, red eyes, altered colour vision, eye pain, sensitivity to light
- Ringing in the ears, or a spinning sensation
- Palpitations or a fast heartbeat
- Breathlessness, or blocked sinuses
- Acid reflux, gastritis, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, dry mouth
- Skin redness or a rash
- Swelling of the face, lips or throat from an allergic reaction
- Back pain, muscle aches, muscle tightness or cramp
- Raised liver enzymes or raised muscle enzymes on blood tests
- An erection that lasts longer than usual, or generally feeling unwell
Rare
rare (≥1/10,000 to <1/1,000)
between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 1,000 people
- Fainting, a seizure, memory loss, anxiety, or a mini-stroke
- Heart attack, angina, or an abnormal rhythm from the heart's lower chambers
- Blood pressure that drops too low, or that rises too high
- Conjunctivitis, watering eyes, or raised pressure inside the eye
- Nosebleeds
- A skin reaction triggered by sunlight
- Priapism, a painful erection that will not go down
- Chest pain
- An allergic reaction
- Raised gamma-glutamyl transferase on liver blood tests
Prescribed for adult men with erectile dysfunction.
- Standard starting dose 10 mg, taken 25–60 minutes before sexual activity, no more than once per day.
- Available as film-coated tablets and as orodispersible 10 mg tablets that dissolve on the tongue.
- Sexual stimulation is required for the medicine to work.
WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE IT, AND WHO NEEDS EXTRA CARE
- You take nitrates or nitric oxide donors in any form, including amyl nitrite poppers
- You take riociguat or another guanylate cyclase stimulator
- You already take another PDE5 inhibitor or other erectile dysfunction treatment
- You take an HIV protease inhibitor such as ritonavir or indinavir
- You are over 75 years old and take oral ketoconazole or itraconazole
- You have congenital long QT syndrome, or take quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone or sotalol
- You have lost sight in one eye from NAION, or have an inherited retinal disorder
- You have severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh C), or kidney failure needing dialysis
- You had a stroke or heart attack in the past 6 months, or have unstable angina
- You have severe heart failure, or blood pressure below 90/50 mmHg
When to seek urgent care
For severe, sudden or unexpected symptoms, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department. Then let your doctor know through your account chat.
Medicines and substances that interact
| MEDICINE OR SUBSTANCE | WHAT CAN HAPPEN | WHAT THE DOCTOR DOES |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrates and nitric oxide donors (GTN spray, isosorbide, poppers) | Can cause a sudden, unpredictable and dangerous fall in blood pressure | Absolute contraindication, so the prescriber will not issue vardenafil at all |
| Riociguat and other guanylate cyclase stimulators | Adds to the blood-pressure-lowering effect and can cause symptomatic hypotension | Contraindicated, so the prescriber considers a different option entirely |
| Other PDE5 inhibitors or other erectile dysfunction treatments | Combinations have not been studied, and add to the blood-pressure and priapism risk | Not recommended, so the prescriber keeps you on one treatment only |
| Class IA and III heart-rhythm drugs (quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone, sotalol) | Vardenafil itself lengthened the QTc interval by about 8 msec at 10 mg | Best avoided under the EU label; the prescriber reviews QT risk first |
| HIV protease inhibitors (ritonavir, indinavir) | Ritonavir raised vardenafil exposure 49-fold and indinavir raised it 16-fold | Contraindicated, so the prescriber will not combine them |
| Oral ketoconazole and itraconazole | Ketoconazole 200 mg raised vardenafil exposure roughly 10-fold | Should be avoided, and is contraindicated in men over 75 years |
| Erythromycin and clarithromycin | Erythromycin raised vardenafil exposure about 4-fold | The prescriber caps the vardenafil dose at 5 mg |
| Alpha-blockers (tamsulosin, alfuzosin, terazosin, doxazosin) | Both widen blood vessels, so blood pressure can drop and cause fainting | Start at 5 mg only once stable on the alpha-blocker, separating doses |
Have a doctor review your caseThis is exactly what the doctor screens for before prescribing anything.
Read the full Vardenafil 5/10/20mg safety summaryEVIDENCE
What the clinical trials found
Across the fixed-dose phase 3 trials summarised in the EU product information for vardenafil, more sexual attempts ended in successful penetration and a maintained erection on vardenafil than on placebo.
Broad group of men with erectile dysfunction · Three months
Fixed-dose trials; 49% on placebo.
Source: Levitra (vardenafil): EU Summary of Product Characteristics, film-coated and orodispersible tabletsBroad group of men with erectile dysfunction · Three months
Same fixed-dose trials. 53% on 5 mg, 65% on 20 mg, and 29% on placebo.
Source: Levitra (vardenafil): EU Summary of Product Characteristics, film-coated and orodispersible tabletsMen with erectile dysfunction and diabetes · Three months
36% on placebo. Maintaining the erection was 49% versus 23%.
Source: Levitra (vardenafil): EU Summary of Product Characteristics, film-coated and orodispersible tabletsMen with erectile dysfunction after prostatectomy · Three months
22% on placebo. Maintaining the erection was 37% versus 10%.
Source: Levitra (vardenafil): EU Summary of Product Characteristics, film-coated and orodispersible tablets701 randomised men with erectile dysfunction · Up to 12 weeks
Two trials of the orodispersible tablet; 44% of attempts on placebo.
Source: Levitra (vardenafil): EU Summary of Product Characteristics, film-coated and orodispersible tabletsThese figures are averages across large groups of men, not a promise about any one person. A sizeable share of attempts on placebo also succeeded in the same trials, which is why the gap between vardenafil and placebo matters more than the headline percentage on its own. Your own response depends on the cause of the erectile dysfunction, your other health conditions, the dose and the timing, so it may sit above or below these numbers.
ALTERNATIVES
Vardenafil vs the other EU-licensed ED tablets
| MEDICINE | HOW IT IS TAKEN | HOW OFTEN | TYPICAL DOSE RANGE | EU-AUTHORISED INDICATION | KEY EVIDENCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sildenafil | Tablet by mouth | As needed, up to once a day | 25–100 mg | EU-authorised for erectile dysfunction in adult men; sexual stimulation required | Dose-response study: 84% improved erections on 100 mg vs 25% placebo |
| Tadalafil | Tablet by mouth | As needed, or 5 mg once daily | 5–20 mg | EU-authorised for erectile dysfunction; 5 mg daily also licensed for LUTS | 12-week study: 81% improved erections on 20 mg vs 35% placebo |
| Avanafil | Tablet by mouth | As needed, up to once a day | 50–200 mg | EU-authorised for erectile dysfunction in adult men; sexual stimulation required | 59% of attempts led to intercourse on 200 mg vs 28% placebo |
Not sure which one fits your case? The doctor reviews your history and tells you.
Start consultation · €35ACCESS AND COST
Getting Vardenafil 5/10/20mg, and what it costs
Vardenafil is a prescription-only medicine across the EU, so no pharmacy can legally supply it without a prescription from a doctor. Where we could source the national rule, health systems generally do not cover it for erectile dysfunction, so the patient pays.
What you pay Hi-Doctor
€35 one-off
Answer a few questions and a licensed EU doctor reviews your case in less than 2 hours on average. Refunded in full if it's not right for you.
What the pharmacy charges
Hi-Doctor does not sell, stock or dispense medicines and does not set their price. The medicine is paid for separately at the pharmacy, and the amount depends on the country, the pack size, whether a generic is available and whether your health system covers it. The official national database linked in the table publishes the current authorised price.
| COUNTRY | HOW IT IS SUPPLIED | COVERED BY THE HEALTH SYSTEM? | OFFICIAL SOURCE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | Prescription-only | Not sourced — check nationally | AEMPS CIMA |
Show the other countries
| Germany | Prescription-only | Excluded from statutory insurance | PharmNet.Bund AMIce |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | Prescription-only (liste I) | Not reimbursed | Base de données publique des médicaments |
| Italy | Prescription-only | Restricted — see national criteria | AIFA Medicinali |
| Netherlands | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed | CBG-MEB Geneesmiddeleninformatiebank |
| Portugal | Prescription-only | Not reimbursed | INFARMED Infomed |
| Belgium | Prescription-only | Not sourced — check nationally | FAGG-AFMPS medicines database |
| Ireland | Prescription-only | Not sourced — check nationally | HPRA Find a Medicine |
| Austria | Prescription-only | Not sourced — check nationally | BASG Medikamente Info Austria |
| Poland | Prescription-only | Not sourced — check nationally | Rejestr Produktów Leczniczych |
PRICING
You only pay if treatment is approved.
€35 for one sexual-health consultation. Paid once, with no recurring charge.
Sexual health
ONE-OFF
€35 one-off
One consultation, one doctor, one decision.
Nothing stored publicly, ever
Start consultation
Full refund if a review is not approved
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- Consultation reviewed by an EU-licensed doctor
- Electronic prescription if approved
- Full refund if not approved
Full refund if a review is not approved
If a review is not approved, we refund the €35 consultation fee in full.
Note: The medication, if the doctor prescribes it, is paid separately at the pharmacy at the price it sets. Hi-Doctor does not sell medications.
HOW THE DOCTOR DECIDES
A licensed doctor reviews your case, not an algorithm
An EU-licensed doctor reads your questionnaire and answers in less than 2 hours on average.
If the doctor decides it is not safe to prescribe, the consultation fee is refunded in full.
Follow-up happens in the private chat inside your account, under GDPR. No WhatsApp, no SMS.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about Vardenafil 5/10/20mg.
OTHER SEXUAL HEALTH TREATMENTS
Explore related treatments.
SOURCES
Where this information comes from
- 01
Levitra (vardenafil): EU Summary of Product Characteristics, film-coated and orodispersible tablets — European Medicines Agency, 2024
- 02
Levitra: EPAR medicine overview — European Medicines Agency, 2003
- 03
EAU Guidelines on Sexual and Reproductive Health, limited update April 2024 — European Association of Urology, 2024
- 04
Vardenafil Waymade 10 mg Film-coated Tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic medicines compendium (emc), 2024
- 05
Vardenafil Mylan 10 mg film-coated tablets: Summary of Product Characteristics — electronic medicines compendium (emc), 2024
- 06
Public Assessment Report: Vardenafil 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg film-coated tablets (PA2315/073) — Health Products Regulatory Authority, Ireland, 2020
- 07
Vardenafil tablet filmomhuld: Dutch reimbursement and supply status — Medicijnkosten.nl, Zorginstituut Nederland, 2026
- 08
Lista de medicamentos genéricos: vardenafil, Portuguese authorised packs — INFARMED, Portugal, 2026
- 09
Nota 75: farmaci per la disfunzione erettile, NHS reimbursement criteria — Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco, 2017
- 10
CIMA: fichas técnicas de vardenafilo comprimidos recubiertos con película EFG — AEMPS, Spain, 2026
- 11
Vardenafil, human medicines with a currently valid German authorisation: 114 entries, Levitra 10 mg film-coated tablets and its generics, all prescription-only — BfArM AMIce, public part, via PharmNet.Bund, Germany, 2026
- 12
§ 34 SGB V: medicines excluded from statutory health insurance, including erectile dysfunction — Bundesministerium der Justiz, gesetze-im-internet.de, 2026
- 13
Base de données publique des médicaments: vardenafil, non-reimbursable status — ANSM, France, 2026
- 14
vardenafil 10 mg tablet (or.): Belgian product listing — BCFI/CBIP, Belgium, 2026
- 15
Arzneispezialitätenregister: Vardenafil Sandoz Filmtabletten — BASG, Austria, 2026
- 16
Rejestr Produktów Leczniczych: Vardenafil Holsten 5, 10 and 20 mg — eZdrowie, Poland, 2026
Reviewed by Hi-Doctor's medical team · Last reviewed 2026-07-27 · Next review due 2027-07-27
This page is educational information about a medicine, not a recommendation to take it and not a substitute for a medical consultation. Only a licensed doctor who has reviewed your history can decide whether a treatment is appropriate for you.
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