Vardenafil Interactions with other Drugs and Non-Drug items
It so happens that some pharmaceutical drugs often interact in a way that they not only harm each other’s efficiency but also cause adverse reactions or side effects to the patient’s body in which they are administered. Hence it is important to know about such interactions for the medicines that you consume, be it for any medical condition.Â
Here, we will talk about the interactions that Vardenafil may have with other medicinal and non-medicinal items. But to start with, let us first understand what a drug interaction is all about.Â
What is a drug interaction?
A drug interaction is a reaction between two or more drugs, between a drug and a food, or with a drink or beverage, or even with a supplement. It is the change in the way a pharmaceutical drug works in a body when taken with some specific other drugs, natural and herbal items, or foods, while with certain medical conditions.Â
Drug interactions happen when a drug’s mechanism of action is somehow influenced by the presence of substances, which can be some specific food items, beverages, or even other pharmaceutical drugs. The reason being these other items influence the molecules of the drug in a way that produces harmful side effects. A drug-drug interaction can often delay, lower, or hinder the proper absorption of either drug, and at times of both drugs, and even cause some serious side effects.
What is Vardenafil?
Vardenafil is quite a popular phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 inhibitor) i,e vasodilatation pharmaceutical drug. It acts by inhibiting cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). In the simplest of terms, this medication opens up the blood vessels and allows smoother blood circulation.Â
What are Vardenafil interactions?Â
There are certain medications that are capable of affecting the molecules of Vardenafil if taken together; which again, causes serious side effects to the patient. Vardenafil interacts with medications that lower blood pressure, like nitrates. It also interacts with alcohol and grapefruit juice.
Vardenafil Interactions with Other Pharmaceutical Drugs
Vardenafil can be found in quite a number of medications, like those for treating erectile dysfunction in men. Here, we will talk about the popular medications that we need to avoid taking with Sildenafil, in order to avoid severe side effects.Â
1. NitratesÂ
Vardenafil has contradicting relations with medications that are based on nitrates. In case a person who has already consumed a Vardenafil tablet, is in a life-threatening situation, that person can take a nitrate medication only at least 12 hours after the last dose of Vardenafil.Â
Medicines like isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket) and nitroglycerin (Nitrostat), just like Vardenafil, work by widening the blood vessels throughout the body. So taking both at a time can drastically lower your blood pressure, and harm someone beyond expectations.Â
2. Calcium channel blockersÂ
Studies have shown that taking a calcium channel blocker like amlodipine (Norvasc) with Vardenafil can significantly lower one’s blood pressure, beyond permissible limits. Other examples of blood pressure medications to be aware of are angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), and diuretics.Â
3. Alpha blockers
Alpha-blockers like tamsulosin (Flomax), alfuzosin (Uroxatral), and doxazosin (Cardura); work quite similarly to Vardenafil and nitrate medications, i,e by relaxing blood vessels. Hence combining a strong dose of an alpha-blocker with a Vardenafil tablet might go really wrong for some patients.Â
4. Other Drugs
- Certain pulmonary hypertension drugs, such as riociguat (Adempas)
- Protease inhibitors, a class of HIV medications
- Antifungal drugs, such as ketoconazole and itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox)
- Antibacterial drugs, such as clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Vardenafil Interactions with Alcohol
If a patient is taking Vardenafil to address his symptoms of erectile dysfunction, alchohol can simply counteract its effects, and even worsen the ED status. Combining these two can put someone at a very low blood pressure. Also, alchohol can worsen the usual side effects of taking Vardenafil.Â
Vardenafil Interactions with Food
Grapefruit juice can affect liver proteins, similar to the medications listed above. But the effects tend to vary from person to person and are less predictable. Usually, drinking a lot of grapefruit juice and that too with medications like Vardenafil can cause certain side effects like very low blood pressure and headaches.
High-fat content foods should also be strictly avoided, as they slow down the mechanism of Varenafil.Â
When to consult a doctor?Â
One should always consult an authorized doctor or medical practitioner before consuming this medication, as it may react differently for different people.Â
All the decisions of dosage powers, dosage forms, dosage frequency, etc; should be followed as per the recommendations of a healthcare expert or pharmacist.Â
Also, it might inflict certain side effects on some, hence they should go for an immediate consultation to deal with the issues in the most appropriate way. Â
Do not stop the medication or take up a new medicine in between, without prior consultation from your doctor.Â