What is Staxyn?
Staxyn belongs to a group of drugs called phosphodiesterase inhibitors. Vardenafil relaxes the muscles in blood vessel walls and increases blood flow. Staxyn disintegrating tablets increase blood flow in the penis when sexual stimulation is occurring. The increased blood flow may cause an erection.
Staxyn tablets that dissolve in the mouth are used for men with erectile dysfunction. Staxyn is not a cure for erectile dysfunction or a way to increase sexual desire. This medicine is not intended to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases, such as HIV.
Warnings
Certain medicines may cause harmful or unwanted effects when taken with Staxyn. Inform your doctor of all other medications you are taking, including Adempas (Rico Gout).
Staxyn should not be taken if you also use nitrate drugs for heart or chest problems. These include nitroglycerin isosorbide, dinitrate mononitrate isosorbide, and recreational drugs like "poppers". Vardenafil can cause a serious drop in blood pressure when taken with nitrate medicines. If your erection lasts more than four hours or is painful, call your doctor. An extended erection can cause irreparable damage to the penis.
If you experience a sudden loss of vision, stop using Staxyn immediately and seek emergency medical attention. If you feel dizzy, nauseated, or have pain or tingling in your chest, arms, or neck during sexual activity, call your doctor immediately. It could be a serious side effect.
Before you take this drug
Staxyn should not be used if you have an allergy to vardenafil or are taking other medications to treat pulmonary arterial high blood pressure, such as Adepas (riociguat).
You should not take vardenafil if you also use a nitrate medication for chest pain, heart problems, or nitroglycerin. This includes isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide mononitrate. Some recreational drugs, such as amyl or nitrite (poppers), also contain nitrates. Vardenafil, taken with a nitrate medication, can cause a rapid and severe drop in blood pressure.
Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Staxyn will be safe for you:
- Heart rhythm disorders;
- A stroke or congestive cardiac failure.
- Long-QT syndrome
- High or low blood pressure
- Seizure (convulsions);
- A blood cell disorder, such as sickle cell, myeloma, or leukemia
- A bleeding disorder, such as hemophilia.
- A stomach ulcer
- Hearing or vision problems; vision loss;
- A condition affecting the eyes, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa
- A physical deformity (such as Peyronie’s disease);
- If you've been told that you shouldn't have sexual relations for health reasons,
- Liver disease, kidney disease (or dialysis)
Vardenafil may cause sudden loss of vision by decreasing blood flow to the retina. It has happened to a few people. Most of them had pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. The cause of the vision loss is unknown. Staxyn-disintegrating tablets can contain phenylalanine. If you suffer from phenylketonuria, talk to your doctor about using this form of Vardenafil.
Staxyn has not been approved for women, and its effects during pregnancy or breastfeeding are unknown.
How to take Staxyn?
Staxyn oral disintegrating tablets are not to be substituted for Levitra (vardenafil tablets). Utilize only the strength and form prescribed by your physician in order to prevent medication mistakes. Be sure to follow all instructions listed on your prescription label and read through any medication guides or instruction sheets that come with your medication. Read and understand everything on your label too - especially any warnings!. Staxyn is taken with or without food.
Only remove a Staxyn tablet orally disintegrating from its package when you're ready to take the medicine. Place the tablet in your mouth without chewing. As your tablet disintegrates, take several sips from it several times during its dissolution. The tablet should not be swallowed with liquid.
Staxyn should only be taken when necessary, approximately 60 minutes prior to sexual activity. The medication can be used to help get an erection during sexual stimulation. A pill will not produce an erection. If your erection lasts more than four hours or is painful, call your doctor. An extended erection can damage the penis.
Tell your doctors when you took Staxyn last if you are receiving medical treatment for heart problems. This medicine is not effective in preventing the spread of sexually transmissible diseases, such as HIV (human immunodeficiency). Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dosage for erectile dysfunction:
Initial dose: 10mg orally, once daily, as required, about 60 minutes prior to sexual activity. Increase the dose to 20 mg or reduce it to 5 mg, depending on effectiveness and tolerance.
Maximum dose: 20 mg once a day.
Patients receiving stable alpha-blocker therapy
Initial dosage: 5 mg once daily orally
Comments:
Sexual stimulation is necessary for the treatment to work.
When administering alpha-blockers and this drug simultaneously, a time interval should be taken into consideration.
Patients taking alpha blockers should not begin vardenafil treatment with the disintegrating tablet.
Use: Erectile dysfunction
Usual geriatric dose for erectile dysfunction:
Age 65 and older
Initial dose: 5mg orally, once daily, as required, about 60 minutes prior to sexual activity.
Comment: A response to treatment requires sexual stimulation.
Use: Erectile dysfunction
What happens if I miss the dose?
Staxyn can be used whenever needed. You are unlikely to have a schedule of dosages. Staxyn should only be taken once daily and not more frequently than that. Do not exceed this dose limit!
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Grapefruit and Seville oranges can interact with vardenafil, causing side effects. Avoid grapefruit marmalades and orange products. Alcohol can increase the side effects caused by vardenafil. You should not take any other medication to treat impotence unless you have been prescribed it by your doctor.
Side effects of Staxyn
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat, If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop using Staxyn immediately and seek emergency medical attention.
- Heart attack symptoms: chest pain, pressure or pain that spreads to your shoulder or jaw, nausea, and sweating.
- Vision changes or sudden vision loss;
- If the erection lasts more than 4 hours or is painful, it can cause damage to the penis.
Vardenafil may cause serious side effects. Staxyn should be stopped immediately, and you should consult your doctor if:
- Ringing in the ears or sudden loss of hearing
- Irregular heartbeat
- You may experience swelling of your ankles, feet, or hands.
- Shortness of breath
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Seizure (convulsions).
Staxyn may cause the following side effects:
- Flushing (sudden heat, redness, or tingly sensation);
- Stuffy nose, sinus pain;
- Headache, dizziness;
- Upset stomach;
- Backache.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Interaction with other drug
Staxyn should not be used with other similar medications, such as avanafil or Stendra (Stendra), Sildenafil and Viagra (Viagra), and Tadalafil Cialis (Cialis). Inform your doctor of all medications you are taking for erectile problems.
Tell your doctor about your other medications, including:
- An antibacterial, clarithromycin, and erythromycin.
- Antifungal medicine: itraconazole, ketoconazole;
- Drugs to treat high blood pressure or a prostate disorder: alfuzosin, doxazosin, prazosin, silodosin, terazosin, and tamsulosin;
- Heart rhythm medicine: amiodarone, dronedarone, procainamide, quinidine, sotalol, or
- HIV/AIDS medicines: atazanavir (indinavir), saquinavir (saquinavir), cobicistat, and others.
The list of drugs that interact with Vardenafil is not exhaustive. These include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.
