Carevitra 40 mg

When vardenafil is used at an appropriate dose, it can:

• Improve blood flow to the penis

• Support a firmer erection

• Help maintain an erection during sexual activity

• Improve the physical response to sexual stimulation

• Provide an oral treatment taken when needed

• Support erectile function without changing hormone levels

These benefits relate to vardenafil used within an appropriate dosing plan. A 40 mg tablet does not automatically provide greater benefits than a 20 mg dose and can increase exposure to the medicine.

Sexual stimulation causes nitric oxide to be released inside the penis. This increases a substance called cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP. The increased cGMP relaxes the blood vessels and allows more blood to enter the erectile tissues.

PDE5 is an enzyme that breaks down cGMP. Vardenafil temporarily blocks this enzyme, allowing cGMP to remain active for longer. This supports a firmer erection and helps maintain it during sexual activity.

Taking a higher amount does not remove the need for sexual stimulation. It also should not be assumed that a 40 mg dose will provide a better response than the standard maximum dose.

For most adult men, the recognised starting dose of vardenafil is 10 mg taken approximately 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. According to response and tolerability, the dose can be reduced to 5 mg or increased to a maximum of 20 mg. Vardenafil should not be taken more than once per day.

Therefore, Carevitra 40 mg should not be presented or used as a standard recommended dose for erectile dysfunction. Its strength is twice the established maximum recommended single dose.

If a product is labelled Carevitra 40 mg, the strength should be reviewed with a qualified healthcare professional before use. Do not take the complete tablet, divide it or increase the dose without clear instructions. A tablet should only be divided when the product is designed for splitting and an exact dose has been advised.

Common Side Effects: Vardenafil can cause headache, facial flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, dizziness, nausea and back pain. Because Carevitra contains 40 mg, exposure to vardenafil is higher than with standard doses, which can make dose-related effects more noticeable. Medical advice is needed if these symptoms are severe, continue for a long time or interfere with normal activities.

Serious Side Effects: Seek urgent medical help for chest pain, fainting, severe dizziness, an irregular or unusually fast heartbeat, sudden vision loss, sudden hearing loss, facial or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or an erection lasting longer than four hours. Do not take another dose until the symptoms have been medically assessed.

Carevitra 40 mg should be avoided by:

• People allergic to vardenafil

• People taking nitrate medicines

• People using recreational nitrites or “poppers”

• People taking riociguat

• People with very low blood pressure

• People with unstable angina or severe heart failure

• People recently affected by a heart attack or stroke

• People advised to avoid sexual activity

• People with severe liver disease

• People receiving kidney dialysis

• Women and people below 18 years of age

The 40 mg strength is also unsuitable when a lower vardenafil dose is required because of age, liver function or interacting medicines.

Tell the doctor or pharmacist about all medicines and supplements being used.

Important interactions include:

• Nitrate medicines

• Nicorandil

• Recreational nitrites or “poppers”

• Riociguat

• Alpha-blockers

• Blood pressure medicines

• HIV protease inhibitors

• Azole antifungal medicines

• Other PDE5 inhibitors

Nitrates and riociguat must not be combined with vardenafil because the combination can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure. Medicines such as ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin and clarithromycin can considerably increase vardenafil levels, making the 40 mg strength particularly unsuitable.

Do not combine Carevitra with sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil or another vardenafil product. Grapefruit products should also be avoided because they can interfere with the way vardenafil is processed.

• Keep the tablets in their original packaging.

• Store them in a cool and dry place.

• Protect the medicine from moisture and direct sunlight.

• Follow the temperature instructions printed on the pack.

• Keep the tablets away from children and pets.

• Do not use damaged or discoloured tablets.

• Do not use the medicine after its expiry date.

• Ask a pharmacist how to dispose of unused tablets safely.