Vardenafil and Trospium: Can You Take Them Together?
Learn about this interaction and how UK prescribers ensure safe, effective treatment for both conditions.
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Vardenafil and Trospium: Understanding the Interaction
Published: 5 November 2026
Many men wonder whether vardenafil and trospium can be taken together safely. Vardenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor used to treat erectile dysfunction, while trospium is an antimuscarinic medicine prescribed for overactive bladder. No major interaction is commonly reported between these two medicines, but your prescriber will review your full medical history and all current medicines during consultation to ensure the combination is appropriate for you [5][12].
Key takeaways
- No major interaction is commonly reported between vardenafil and trospium—they usually can be taken together safely.
- Your prescriber reviews all your medicines and medical history during consultation to ensure the combination suits you.
- Both medicines can occasionally cause dizziness; report severe or persistent symptoms to your GP or pharmacist.
- Never stop trospium or any prescribed medicine without medical advice, even if starting ED treatment.
- Seek urgent help for an erection lasting over 4 hours, sudden vision or hearing loss, or chest pain during sex.
What is vardenafil and how does it work?
Vardenafil (generic Levitra) is a prescription medicine licensed in the UK to treat erectile dysfunction. It belongs to a group of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors, which work by relaxing blood vessels in the penis, allowing increased blood flow when you are sexually aroused [5]. Vardenafil does not cause an erection on its own—sexual stimulation is still needed for it to work.
The usual doses are 5mg, 10mg, or 20mg tablets, taken about 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. You should not take vardenafil more than once a day. The medicine can help you achieve and maintain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse when you are sexually stimulated [5]. Effects typically last for several hours, though this varies between individuals.
Vardenafil is only supplied after an online consultation reviewed by a UK-registered prescriber, who will check your medical history, current medicines, and whether the treatment is safe and suitable for you. At Cured Pharmacy, vardenafil is available from £16.95 (first order with code Ednew: £13.56).
What is trospium and why is it prescribed?
Trospium is an antimuscarinic (also called anticholinergic) medicine used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder, such as urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence [12]. It works by relaxing the bladder muscle, reducing the sudden urges to pass urine and helping you to hold more urine for longer periods.
Trospium is usually taken as a 20mg tablet twice a day, or as a modified-release 60mg capsule once daily. It should be taken on an empty stomach, at least one hour before food or two hours after eating, because food can reduce how much of the medicine your body absorbs [12].
Common side effects of trospium include dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and indigestion. These effects are related to how antimuscarinic medicines work throughout the body. Your GP or specialist will have prescribed trospium after considering your symptoms and medical history, and will review whether it continues to be the right treatment for you.
How common is overactive bladder in men with ED?
Both erectile dysfunction and overactive bladder become more common with age, and many men experience both conditions. They can share underlying causes such as reduced blood flow, nerve changes, or metabolic conditions like diabetes [1][2]. It is not unusual for a man to be prescribed treatment for both ED and bladder symptoms at the same time, which is why understanding potential interactions is important.
At a glance
Do vardenafil and trospium interact with each other?
No major interaction is commonly reported between vardenafil and trospium. They work through different mechanisms in the body: vardenafil acts on blood vessels in the penis, while trospium acts on bladder muscle receptors [5][12]. Neither medicine is known to significantly alter the levels or effects of the other in a way that would make the combination unsafe for most people.
However, both medicines can occasionally cause dizziness or changes in blood pressure as side effects. Trospium may cause a small increase in heart rate in some people, while vardenafil can cause a mild drop in blood pressure [5][12]. When taken together, these effects are usually not significant, but it is important that your prescriber knows about all your medicines so they can assess your individual situation.
Your prescriber will review your full medication list, medical history, and any other conditions during your consultation. They will check for any factors that might make the combination less suitable for you, such as severe heart disease, very low blood pressure, or other medicines that might add to the effects. You should never stop or change a prescribed medicine like trospium without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it.
What does your prescriber check before approving vardenafil and trospium together?
During your online consultation for vardenafil, the prescriber will ask about all your current medicines, including trospium and any over-the-counter products or supplements. They will check your medical history for conditions that might make vardenafil unsuitable, such as recent heart attack or stroke, unstable angina, severe heart failure, very low blood pressure, or previous sudden vision loss (NAION) [5][12].
The prescriber will also check whether you take any medicines that must never be combined with vardenafil. These include nitrates (such as GTN spray, isosorbide mononitrate or dinitrate), nicorandil, riociguat, or amyl/alkyl nitrites (poppers). Taking vardenafil with any of these can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure [5]. You must not take vardenafil if you are using another PDE5 inhibitor at the same time.
If you take medicines that can raise vardenafil levels in your blood—such as potent CYP3A4 inhibitors like ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, or clarithromycin—vardenafil may be contraindicated or require a dose adjustment [5]. The prescriber will also ask about alpha-blockers (such as tamsulosin or doxazosin), as these can add to the blood-pressure-lowering effect and require careful dosing. Your consultation ensures that vardenafil is safe alongside trospium and all your other treatments.
Why is sexual activity itself a consideration?
Sexual activity places demands on your heart and circulation. If you have significant heart disease, very low blood pressure, or have had a recent heart attack or stroke, sexual activity itself may not be advisable, regardless of whether you take an ED medicine [2][5]. Your prescriber will assess whether you are fit for sexual activity as part of the consultation, and may suggest you discuss this with your GP or cardiologist if there is any doubt.
Declare all your medicines
Always tell your prescriber about every medicine you take, including trospium and any over-the-counter products. This ensures vardenafil is safe and effective for you, and helps avoid potentially dangerous interactions with nitrates or other medicines.
Practical advice when taking vardenafil and trospium
If your prescriber approves vardenafil for you while you are taking trospium, take each medicine exactly as directed. Vardenafil should be taken about 25 to 60 minutes before you plan to have sex, and no more than once a day [5]. Trospium is usually taken twice daily (or once daily for modified-release) on an empty stomach, so plan your doses to avoid taking both medicines at exactly the same time if possible, though this is not a strict requirement.
Be aware of how each medicine affects you individually. Common side effects of vardenafil include headache, flushing, indigestion, and nasal congestion [5]. Trospium may cause dry mouth, constipation, or blurred vision [12]. If you notice unusual dizziness, fainting, or a rapid heartbeat after starting vardenafil, sit or lie down and contact your GP or pharmacist for advice.
Avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol when taking vardenafil, as alcohol can make erectile dysfunction worse and add to the blood-pressure-lowering effect, increasing the risk of dizziness [5]. Grapefruit juice can raise vardenafil levels in your blood, so it is best avoided. Stay well hydrated, especially if trospium is causing dry mouth. If you develop any new symptoms or your bladder symptoms change after starting vardenafil, speak to the doctor who prescribed your trospium.
Warning signs and when to seek urgent help with vardenafil and trospium
Serious side effects from vardenafil are uncommon, but you should seek urgent medical help if you experience an erection lasting more than four hours (priapism), as this can cause permanent damage if not treated promptly [5]. Go to A&E or call 999 if this happens. You should also seek immediate help if you have sudden loss of vision or hearing, as these have been reported rarely with PDE5 inhibitors [5].
If you develop chest pain during or after sexual activity, stop and seek urgent medical advice. Do not take nitrate medicines (such as GTN spray) if you have used vardenafil in the past 24 hours, as the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure [5]. Tell the paramedics or A&E staff that you have taken vardenafil.
Contact your GP or pharmacist promptly if you experience severe dizziness, fainting, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, difficulty passing urine, or severe abdominal pain. These could be side effects of either medicine or a sign that the combination is not suitable for you. If you have any concerns about taking vardenafil and trospium together, speak to the prescriber or pharmacist before your next dose. Never stop a prescribed medicine like trospium without medical advice, as your bladder symptoms may return.
Can I take vardenafil with other bladder medicines?
Other antimuscarinic medicines for overactive bladder—such as oxybutynin, solifenacin, tolterodine, darifenacin, or fesoterodine—work in a similar way to trospium. No major interaction is commonly reported between these medicines and vardenafil, but the same precautions apply: your prescriber must know about all your medicines during consultation [5][12]. Mirabegron, a different type of bladder medicine, also has no commonly reported major interaction with vardenafil, but again, full disclosure during your consultation is essential for safe prescribing.
When to get urgent help
- Erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism)—go to A&E or call 999 immediately
- Sudden loss of vision or hearing—seek urgent medical help
- Chest pain during or after sex—stop activity and call 999; do not take nitrates if you have used vardenafil in the past 24 hours
- Severe dizziness, fainting, or very fast/irregular heartbeat—contact your GP or call 111
- Difficulty passing urine or severe abdominal pain—speak to your GP or call 111 the same day
Call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency, or contact NHS 111 for urgent advice.
Scientific References
- NHS. (n.d.). Erectile dysfunction (impotence). NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (n.d.). Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Knowledge Summaries. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/erectile-dysfunction/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
- Joint Formulary Committee. (n.d.). Sildenafil. British National Formulary. NICE. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/sildenafil/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
- Joint Formulary Committee. (n.d.). Tadalafil. British National Formulary. NICE. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/tadalafil/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
- Joint Formulary Committee. (n.d.). Vardenafil. British National Formulary. NICE. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/vardenafil/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
- Joint Formulary Committee. (n.d.). Avanafil. British National Formulary. NICE. https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/avanafil/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
- Electronic Medicines Compendium. (n.d.). Summaries of Product Characteristics and Patient Information Leaflets. https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/ [accessed 5 November 2026]
Information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Prescription treatments require clinical assessment by a UK-registered prescriber. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting or changing any medication.
Common Questions
Can't find your answer? Our UK pharmacists review every consultation and can help.
Can I take vardenafil if I'm on trospium for overactive bladder?
No major interaction is commonly reported between vardenafil and trospium, so they can usually be taken together. Your prescriber will review your full medical history and all current medicines during consultation to ensure the combination is safe for you.
Will trospium make vardenafil less effective?
Trospium is not known to reduce the effectiveness of vardenafil. They work through different mechanisms and do not significantly alter each other's levels or effects.
Do I need to take vardenafil and trospium at different times of day?
There is no strict requirement to separate the doses, but trospium should be taken on an empty stomach and vardenafil about 25–60 minutes before sex. Follow the specific instructions for each medicine as directed by your prescriber.
Can vardenafil cause bladder or urinary problems?
Vardenafil does not commonly cause bladder symptoms. If you notice any new urinary problems after starting vardenafil, speak to your GP or the doctor who prescribed your trospium, as it may be unrelated to the ED treatment.
Are there any bladder medicines I should avoid with vardenafil?
No bladder medicines are absolutely contraindicated with vardenafil, but if you take an alpha-blocker (such as tamsulosin or doxazosin) for prostate or bladder symptoms, there is a risk of low blood pressure. Your prescriber will check this and may start you on a lower dose of vardenafil.
What should I do if I feel dizzy after taking vardenafil and trospium?
Sit or lie down until the dizziness passes, and avoid driving or operating machinery. If dizziness is severe, frequent, or accompanied by fainting or chest pain, contact your GP or call 111 for advice.
Can I switch from vardenafil to another ED medicine if I'm on trospium?
Other PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil) also have no major reported interaction with trospium. Your prescriber can discuss which ED medicine may suit you best during consultation, taking into account all your current treatments.
Will my GP need to know I'm taking vardenafil with trospium?
Yes, it is good practice to keep your GP informed of all your medicines, including those prescribed online. This ensures your medical records are complete and helps avoid potential interactions if you are prescribed new treatments in future.
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Medically reviewed by
Tarun Kumar, Superintendent Pharmacist (GPhC 2233073)