How Long Does Levitra Take To Work?

Levitra is a common erectile dysfunction medication used by men to help them get and maintain an erection. For most men, the important question is ‘How long does Levitra take to work?’

Here we’ll explore how quickly Levitra gets to work, when you need to take it, and how long you can use it.

How long does Levitra take to work?

For most men, Levitra starts working within 30 to 60 minutes, but this can vary from individual to individual, and you may notice some variation each time you take it. And, of course, Levitra can be affected by factors like your metabolism, the food you’ve eaten, and if you are sexually aroused - Levitra won’t work on its own.

Some men have found that the active ingredient in Levitra, vardenafil, can work in as little as 10 minutes.

Evidence shows that Levitra is strongest 30 minutes to 2 hours after you have taken it, so this will likely be the best time to plan sexual activity.

(Source: FDA, 2007)

How long does Levitra last?

If you are sexually stimulated, Levitra can help you get an erection that lasts anywhere from 25 minutes up to 5 hours.

Levitra is not intended to work immediately. It should be taken before you are going to have sex, to help you get an erection, and help you maintain it when you are sexually aroused. Because Levitra has a half-life of around 5 hours, it can remain effective in your system for this long. How long it works for you, will depend on your circumstances.

How to increase the effectiveness of Levitra

How effective Levitra is for you can depend on several factors, including:

• Your lifestyle
• Any medications you take
• Alcohol intake
• Diet

There are several things you can do to maximise the benefit of Levitra, such as:

• Avoid heavy or high-fat meals when taking Levitra: Fatty foods can delay the absorption of Levitra, delaying the time it takes for you to get an erection. Levitra can be taken on an empty stomach or with a light meal to help you get the maximum benefit.
• Avoid alcohol: Although consuming small amounts of alcohol while using Levitra is unlikely to cause significant problems, drinking large amounts may increase the risk of side effects or make erectile problems worse.
• Avoid grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice can affect the effectiveness of Levitra, so it is best avoided.
• Ensure sexual arousal: Levitra doesn’t work on its own, you need to be sexually stimulated for it to work.
• Tell your clinician if you have other health conditions: Some pre-existing conditions can make Levitra less effective. It is important to let your clinician know if you have any underlying health conditions, so they can determine the correct dose for you and decide if Levitra is safe for you to take.
• Tell your clinician about any medicines you take: This includes, prescribed, over-the-counter, or herbal medicines because they may interfere with the effectiveness of Levitra.

How long can you use Levitra for?

Levitra shouldn’t be taken more than once per day. How long you should take it will depend on how often you intend to have sex and will likely be determined by your clinician.

If you experience erectile dysfunction and intend to have sex more regularly or a few times a week, Cialis may be more suitable for you. That’s because Cialis remains effective for up to 36 hours.

What to do if your Levitra dose is ineffective

If your Levitra dose isn’t working, check the following:

• The use-by date on the box and pill strip
• You are storing the medication correctly
• You are taking it correctly
• You are sexually stimulated

If you have checked all of these things and still feel that your Levitra dosage isn’t working for you, speak to your clinician about alternative treatments or doses that might be more beneficial.

Prescription Doctor offers a range of erectile dysfunction solutions:

• Over-the-counter ED medicines
  • Aronix
• Prescription tablets
  • Cialis
  • Cialis Together
  • Perrigo sildenafil
  • Sildenafil (generic Viagra)
  • Spedra
  • Viagra
• Erectile dysfunction gel
  • Eroxon
• Erectile dysfunction cream
  • Vitaros

Summary

Levitra is an effective erectile dysfunction medicine that gets to work within 30 to 60 minutes. Its effects last up to 5 hours, but it is likely to be most effective 1 to 2 hours after taking a Levitra pill. There are certain things you can do to help gain the maximum benefits from Levitra, but if you feel it isn’t working as it should for you, you should discuss further options with your clinician.

Reviewed By

Mohamed Imran Lakhi

MPharm - Lead Pharmacist

Imran Lakhi is the superintendent pharmacist and founder at Prescription Doctor. He has been at the core of our team.

Reviewed on: 08/11/2023