Vardenafil and Solifenacin: Can They Be Taken Together?

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Key takeaways

• No major direct interaction is commonly reported between vardenafil and solifenacin.
• Both medicines can cause dizziness, so stand up slowly and avoid heavy alcohol.
• Your prescriber checks your full medical history and all medicines before approving treatment.
• Never take vardenafil with nitrates, nicorandil, riociguat, or poppers.
• Seek urgent help for an erection lasting over four hours or sudden vision or hearing loss.

What Is Vardenafil and How Does It Work?

Vardenafil is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). It belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors, which also includes sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis). Vardenafil is sold under the brand name Levitra, though generic versions are now widely available [5].

Vardenafil works by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis, allowing more blood to flow in when you are sexually aroused. It does not cause an erection on its own—you still need sexual stimulation for it to work. The medicine is usually taken about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity, and the effect can last for several hours [5].

The usual starting dose is 10mg, taken as needed. Your prescriber may adjust this to 5mg if you experience side effects, or increase it to 20mg if the lower dose is not effective enough. You should not take vardenafil more than once in 24 hours [5].

Common Side Effects of Vardenafil

Like all medicines, vardenafil can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. The most common side effects include headache, flushing (redness of the face), nasal congestion, indigestion, and dizziness. These are usually mild and short-lived. If you experience chest pain during sex, sudden loss of vision or hearing, or an erection lasting more than four hours, you should seek urgent medical help [5].

What Is Solifenacin and Why Is It Prescribed?

Solifenacin is a prescription medicine used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder, such as a sudden urgent need to pass urine, needing to pass urine frequently, or leaking urine because you cannot get to the toilet in time. It is sold under the brand name Vesicare, among others. Solifenacin belongs to a group of medicines called antimuscarinics (or anticholinergics).

Solifenacin works by relaxing the muscles in the bladder wall, which helps to reduce the sudden urge to urinate and allows the bladder to hold more urine. The usual dose is 5mg once daily, which may be increased to 10mg if needed. It can take a few weeks for the full benefit to be felt, so it is important to keep taking it even if you do not notice an immediate improvement.

Common side effects of solifenacin include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, indigestion, and feeling tired. Because it can cause blurred vision and dizziness, you should be cautious when driving or operating machinery until you know how it affects you.

At a glance

Vardenafil and Solifenacin: Is There an Interaction?

No major direct interaction between vardenafil and solifenacin is commonly reported in standard drug interaction databases. This means that, in general, the two medicines can be taken together without one significantly affecting how the other works. However, this does not mean the combination is automatically suitable for everyone.

Both medicines can cause side effects that might overlap or add together. For example, both vardenafil and solifenacin can cause dizziness. If you take them together, you might be more likely to feel dizzy or light-headed, especially when standing up quickly. Solifenacin can also cause blurred vision, which is a less common side effect of vardenafil, so you should be aware of this possibility.

Your prescriber will review your full medical history and all your current medicines during the consultation to make sure the combination is safe for you. It is essential to declare every medicine you take, including over-the-counter products, herbal remedies, and supplements, so that your prescriber can check for any potential problems.

Why Your Prescriber Needs to Check

Even when no major interaction is expected, your prescriber must consider your overall health. For example, if you have heart problems, low blood pressure, or kidney or liver disease, the combination might need extra caution. Solifenacin is processed by the liver, and vardenafil is also broken down by liver enzymes, so if your liver function is reduced, the levels of both medicines in your body could be higher than expected. Your prescriber will take all these factors into account before approving treatment [5][12].

What Your Prescriber Will Check Before Approving Vardenafil and Solifenacin

When you request vardenafil through an online consultation at Cured Pharmacy, a UK-registered prescriber will review your answers carefully. They will check whether you have any conditions that make vardenafil unsuitable, such as recent heart attack or stroke, severe heart failure, very low blood pressure, or a history of sudden vision loss (non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, or NAION) [5].

Your prescriber will also check all your current medicines. Vardenafil must never be taken with nitrates (such as GTN spray or isosorbide mononitrate), nicorandil, riociguat, or recreational drugs called 'poppers' (amyl or alkyl nitrites), because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure [5]. If you take alpha-blockers for prostate symptoms or high blood pressure (such as tamsulosin or doxazosin), you may still be able to use vardenafil, but you must be stable on the alpha-blocker and start on the lowest dose of vardenafil.

If you are taking solifenacin, your prescriber will note this and check whether you have any other conditions or medicines that might interact. For example, if you also take medicines that are potent inhibitors of the liver enzyme CYP3A4 (such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, or clarithromycin), both vardenafil and solifenacin levels can be raised, and dose adjustments or alternative treatments may be needed [5][12].

Practical Advice for Taking Vardenafil and Solifenacin Together

If your prescriber approves the combination, there are some practical steps you can take to use both medicines safely. Take each medicine exactly as prescribed, at the times recommended. Solifenacin is usually taken once daily at the same time each day, with or without food. Vardenafil is taken as needed, about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity, and should not be taken more than once in 24 hours [5].

Be aware of side effects that might add together. Both medicines can cause dizziness, so stand up slowly from sitting or lying down, especially in the first few days of treatment or if your dose is changed. Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol, as this can make dizziness worse and can also worsen erectile dysfunction. Grapefruit juice can raise the levels of vardenafil in your blood, so it is best to avoid it while taking this medicine [5].

If you develop new symptoms—such as severe dizziness, fainting, blurred vision that does not clear, difficulty passing urine, or any chest pain—contact your GP or pharmacist for advice. Do not stop taking either medicine suddenly without speaking to a healthcare professional first, as this could affect your symptoms or underlying condition.

When to Seek Urgent Help

Seek urgent medical help (call 999 or go to A&E) if you experience an erection lasting more than four hours (priapism), sudden loss of vision or hearing, severe chest pain during sex, or signs of a severe allergic reaction such as swelling of the face, lips, or throat with difficulty breathing. These are rare but serious side effects that need immediate attention [5].

Other Medicines for Erectile Dysfunction Available at Cured Pharmacy

If vardenafil is not suitable for you, or if you would like to explore other options, Cured Pharmacy offers a range of licensed ED treatments. All are PDE5 inhibitors and work in a similar way to vardenafil, but they differ in how quickly they start to work and how long the effect lasts.

Sildenafil (generic Viagra) is usually taken about one hour before sex and lasts for around four to six hours. It is available from £0.45 per tablet (£0.36 with first-order code Ednew). Tadalafil (generic Cialis) can be taken on-demand (at least 30 minutes before sex, with effects lasting up to 36 hours) or as a lower daily dose; prices start at £7.95 (£6.36 with code Ednew). Avanafil (Spedra) is the fastest-acting option, working in as little as 15 to 30 minutes, and is available from £20.95 (£16.76 with code Ednew) [3][4][6].

All prescription ED medicines at Cured Pharmacy are supplied only after an online consultation reviewed by a UK-registered prescriber. The consultation asks about your medical history, current medicines, and any symptoms, so that the prescriber can choose the safest and most effective treatment for you. If you have not yet seen your GP about erectile dysfunction, it is a good idea to do so, as ED can sometimes be an early sign of conditions such as heart disease or diabetes [1][2].

When to get urgent help

• An erection lasting more than four hours (priapism)
• Sudden loss of vision or hearing
• Severe chest pain during or after sex
• Severe dizziness, fainting, or signs of very low blood pressure
• Swelling of the face, lips, or throat with difficulty breathing (severe allergic reaction)

Call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency, or contact NHS 111 for urgent advice.

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