Vardenafil (Generic Levitra): Label Dosing and Half-Life
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Vardenafil: half-life, strengths and approval status

Tablet strengths · Approval status · Half-life ~4 to 5 hours

Short answer: Vardenafil has a half-life of about 4 to 5 hours. Levels peak about 1 hour (30 minutes to 2 hours) after a dose. People vary, so treat these as estimates.

What is vardenafil?

Vardenafil is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, in the same class as sildenafil and tadalafil, used to treat erectile dysfunction. It was first sold as Levitra; FDA now lists that brand as discontinued, and generic vardenafil tablets are sold. It is taken as needed about an hour before sex.

Also known as: Levitra, Staxyn.

Tablet strengths

Generic vardenafil tablets come in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg and 20 mg strengths.

Approval status and how it is used

The FDA vardenafil label approves it for erectile dysfunction. For most men the label dose is 10 mg taken by mouth as needed about 60 minutes before sex, with or without food, adjusted to 5 mg or up to 20 mg, and no more than once a day. Sexual stimulation is needed for it to work. The label suggests starting at 5 mg at age 65 and over, with a stable alpha-blocker, or with moderate liver impairment (maximum 10 mg). Drugs that block the CYP3A4 enzyme cap the dose: no more than 2.5 mg in 72 hours with ritonavir or cobicistat, and 2.5 or 5 mg in 24 hours with several others.

It must not be taken with nitrates or riociguat. An erection lasting over 4 hours needs urgent care. The label also warns of sudden vision loss (NAION) and sudden hearing loss, and says men with congenital QT prolongation or on class IA or III antiarrhythmic drugs should avoid it. In placebo-controlled trials, headache was reported by 15% on vardenafil versus 4% on placebo, and flushing by 11% versus 1%.

Vardenafil half-life and time to peak

  • Half-lifeabout 4 to 5 hours
  • Time to peak (Tmax)about 1 hour (30 minutes to 2 hours)

The FDA vardenafil label says peak levels after a 20 mg dose on an empty stomach usually come 30 minutes to 2 hours after the dose (median 60 minutes), and that vardenafil and its main active metabolite have a terminal half-life of about 4 to 5 hours. High-fat meals lowered the peak by 18% to 50%. Absolute bioavailability is about 15%.

Numbers shown are taken from the source above. Half-life varies from person to person.

How to track vardenafil in Dose Track

  1. Add vardenafil as a custom compound. Start typing its name and Dose Track fills in the details from its research library for you to check, and it sits next to everything else you take.
  2. Log each tablet when you take it, including split or fractional tablets, so your history shows exactly what you took and when.
  3. Set reminders on your own schedule, whether that is daily, weekly or every few days.
  4. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

How Dose Track handles peptides · Reconstitution calculator · Half-life calculator

SildenafilViagra, Revatio · half-life about 4 hours TadalafilCialis, Adcirca · half-life about 17.5 hours PT-141 (Bremelanotide)Bremelanotide, Vyleesi · half-life about 2.7 hours

Frequently asked questions

What is the half-life of vardenafil?+
The FDA vardenafil label says peak levels after a 20 mg dose on an empty stomach usually come 30 minutes to 2 hours after the dose (median 60 minutes), and that vardenafil and its main active metabolite have a terminal half-life of about 4 to 5 hours. High-fat meals lowered the peak by 18% to 50%. Absolute bioavailability is about 15%.
Is Levitra still sold?+
Drugs@FDA lists the Levitra and Staxyn brands as discontinued, with a determination that they were not withdrawn for safety or effectiveness reasons. Generic vardenafil tablets are sold.
How is vardenafil different from sildenafil and tadalafil?+
All three are PDE5 inhibitors. By their FDA labels, vardenafil (half-life about 4 to 5 hours) and sildenafil (about 4 hours) are taken about an hour before sex, while tadalafil lasts much longer (about 17.5 hours) and can also be taken daily.
Can I track vardenafil in Dose Track?+
Yes. Vardenafil is in Dose Track's research library, so when you add it as a custom compound its details are filled in for you to check. You can then log each tablet next to your other compounds, set reminders on your own schedule, and see your history next to your lab results. Your log is stored on your phone and no account is needed. Data only leaves it for features you choose, like AI answers and lab reading.

Sources

  1. Vardenafil hydrochloride tablets (Lannett) prescribing information, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12.3. DailyMed, July 2026.
  2. Drugs@FDA. Levitra (vardenafil), NDA 021400: marketing status.

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