Walmart is hands-down the largest retailer in the United States, and it consistently ranks in the top three largest retail pharmacies, alongside CVS and Walgreens. It’s well known for saving people money on prescription drugs. In this case, buying at Walmart might save you a couple of bucks or cost you a few more, depending on whether you order the brand-name or generic product.
Unfortunately, pricing data for Walmart was unavailable this month for Levitra. However, the average across retailers is $30.99. For those customers who prefer generics, Walmart’s price of $9.48 per pill for vardenafil 20 milligrams is lower than the Rite-Aid and the current national average but higher than the CVS price of $4.64. The vardenafil 20 milligram price for Costco is unavailable for September, but they price vardenafil 10 milligrams at $9.10.
Levitra (vardenafil): The Facts
Like its competitors Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil), vardenafil works by blocking the enzyme phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5). This increases blood flow to the penis and leads to harder, longer-lasting erections. Vardenafil has also shown some promise as a treatment for premature ejaculation, although research into why and how effective it may be is ongoing.
Levitra first came onto the market in 2003, approved for men 18 and older. The effects of vardenafil haven’t been studied on any other group, so it’s not recommended for anyone outside that group.
Bayer’s patent on Levitra expired in 2018, paving the way for generic drug manufacturers to make their own versions of the active ingredient, vardenafil. The active ingredients, dosages, and effects are the same in generic versions, but the inactive ingredients, flavorings, and other aspects of the pill are different.
Vardenafil is also available in a tablet that dissolves on the tongue, marketed under the name Staxyn and Levitra Soft. These are not interchangeable, and one shouldn’t be taken in place of the other.
It’s recommended to take vardenafil 25 to 60 minutes before you think you’ll be intimate, and it generally lasts between four and five hours. Vardenafil should only be taken once every 24 hours, and it can be taken with or without food. Remember, however, that these times are just averages. Everyone’s body chemistry and physical condition are different, and you may experience different results.
Vardenafil is chemically similar to sildenafil, with a few changes in chemistry. If you’re allergic to sildenafil, you likely will also be allergic to vardenafil, so get an allergy test before taking this medication.
Nausea is the most common side effect associated with vardenafil, with rarer side effects including:
- Abdominal and back pain
- Joint and muscle pain
- Skin reactions including rashes and itching
- Vision side effects including eye pain, abnormal vision, and light sensitivity
- Facial edema
- Hypotension
- Tachycardia
If you take vardenafil and experience an erection that lasts more than four hours, see a doctor immediately. The FDA has warned that PDE5 inhibitors, in rare cases, may impair hearing; if you experience hearing loss, seek out medical help immediately.
If you have heart disease or liver disease, talk to your doctor before taking any PDE5 inhibitor. Vardenafil also lengthens the QT interval, approximately the time it takes for the heart’s ventricles to contract and relax. In extremely rare cases, vardenafil may be involved in cardiac events, so caution is recommended if you have heart problems. If you have a family history of heart concerns, get checked out before taking vardenafil, and if you’re taking another medication that might affect the QT interval, discuss possible interactions with your doctor.
Vardenafil may also reduce blood flow to the optic nerve, which may lead to vision problems. If you have a vision issue, be careful with vardenafil and see a doctor right away if you experience vision loss.
Vardenafil should not be taken with nitrates, as it can combine with them to trigger a dangerous drop in blood pressure. If you’re taking medication to treat pulmonary hypertension or other forms of high blood pressure, only take a PDE5 inhibitor if a doctor has cleared you of any risk.
Be careful of using prepackaged herbal supplements in combination with vardenafil. The FDA has reported finding doses of various PDE5 inhibitors in herbal supplements, particularly imported products that don’t need to meet more rigorous safety checks. Mixing PDE5 inhibitors can be dangerous, particularly with other risk factors, and herbal supplements aren’t required to meet the same standards as pharmaceuticals.
Finding the Best Price — Somewhere Else?
Keeping track of prices among the biggest pharmacy retailers takes work and can be tiresome. In addition, leaving home to pick up a prescription from a brick-and-mortar pharmacy isn’t so simple. What used to be just an inconvenient errand can now put your safety at risk.
It’s a good idea for consumers to consider elements beyond simple pricing when it comes to deciding where to get their prescriptions filled.
Breaking Down What You Get for Your Prescription Dollars
How long does it take to get a prescription filled at a brick-and-mortar retail pharmacy? An hour, if we’re being generous? Plus another hour of driving between the pharmacy and your home? And if your doctor forgets to call the prescription in — forget it. All of it is wasted time that costs you money, even in the best-case scenario.
How much money?
Well, how much do you make per hour at your job? Multiply that by how much time you’ll spend filling your script and you’ll get the amount you would save by ordering from eDrugstore instead.
That’s because we aren’t just another online pharmacy. We’re also a full-service health facilitator that can connect you to a licensed physician to discuss your concerns about erectile dysfunction and write your prescription.
Whether you use our doctor or one of your own, your medication will be discreetly shipped right to your door for no extra cost.
Get your erectile dysfunction prescriptions filled fast without the hassle of multiple trips to the pharmacy and without ever leaving the safety of home. Let eDrugstore handle your prescription and take back your time today.
Elizabeth Nichols is an experienced and flexible author with extensive experience in both popular media and academic publishing. She specializes in health, medical and travel writing.
