10 Vardenafil Side Effects: Headache, Flushing, Stuffy Nose, and More

If you have erectile dysfunction (ED), your healthcare provider may prescribe vardenafil to help you achieve and maintain an erection. Compared to certain other medications in its class, such as sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil may work a bit faster. 

Vardenafil treats ED by improving blood flow to the penis. But it can sometimes have this effect on other areas of your body, too. This may contribute to side effects such as headache, flushing, and a stuffy nose. So, are the benefits worth the risks?

Vardenafil side effects at a glance

All phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as vardenafil, can cause similar side effects. If you’re experiencing side effects after taking one, they should go away as the medication’s effects wear off. But in the meantime, you can often manage mild side effects at home. While less common, more serious side effects are also possible.

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Common vardenafil side effects include:

• Headache

• Flushing

• Stuffy nose

• Stomach upset

• Dizziness

• Sinus infection

• Nausea

• Back pain

Less common but potentially serious vardenafil side effects include:

• Low blood pressure

• Prolonged erection (priapism)

• Heart rhythm changes

• Vision changes

• Hearing changes

Below, we’ll discuss 10 of these vardenafil side effects and how to manage them. 

1. Headache

Headaches are the most common vardenafil side effect, reported by up to 15% of people taking vardenafil during clinical trials. Headaches are common with all PDE5 inhibitors, although experts don’t fully know how this happens. But it may have to do with blood flow and chemical changes in the brain.

If you develop a headache after taking vardenafil, it will often go away on its own. But if it’s bothersome, your healthcare provider may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) pain reliever to take as needed. 

But if you’re frequently experiencing headaches after taking vardenafil, talk to your healthcare provider. Headaches may be more likely to happen with higher doses, so they may have you try taking a lower dose to see if that helps. In some cases, they may have you try a different ED medication instead.

2. Flushing

Vardenafil can make your face look red or feel flushed after taking it. This is because vardenafil can dilate (widen) blood vessels near the surface of the skin. Similar to headaches, skin flushing should go away on its own. But in the meantime, you can try applying a cool compress to the affected areas of skin if it’s bothering you. Let your healthcare provider know if it’s persistent or getting worse.

If skin flushing from vardenafil is becoming a problem, talk to your healthcare provider about your options. They may suggest lowering your dose or switching to a different ED medication.

3. Stuffy nose

Some people experience a stuffy nose after taking vardenafil. This is because of blood vessels dilating in your sinuses. But like most common vardenafil side effects, nasal congestion is usually temporary.

You might try taking an OTC decongestant before taking vardenafil to prevent a stuffy nose. But these medications constrict blood vessels, which can affect how well vardenafil works for an erection. If decongestants are safe for you, take your dose after the time you need vardenafil to work. You can also try home remedies, such as breathing in steam from a hot shower.

If nasal congestion from vardenafil continues to bother you, your healthcare provider may consider lowering your dose.

4. Nausea and stomach upset

Vardenafil may cause you to feel nauseated or have an upset stomach. This usually resolves without any treatment. But if you’re taking vardenafil on an empty stomach, try taking it with a small, low-fat snack to see if that helps. Keep in mind that it may not work as quickly with a high-fat meal.

If your nausea or stomach upset persists or gets worse, let your healthcare provider know. They can help determine the cause and best next steps.

5. Dizziness

Dizziness is another possible vardenafil side effect. This may be due to small drops in your blood pressure after taking it. To be safe, don’t drive or perform tasks where dizziness can be dangerous until you know how vardenafil affects you. Don’t change positions quickly either (such as going from sitting to standing), since this may increase the risk of falls.

If your dizziness isn’t going away or is getting worse, contact your healthcare provider right away. Dizziness can also be a symptom of low blood pressure or abnormal heart rhythms, which we’ll cover later.

6. Back pain

Some people report back pain after taking vardenafil. Of all the PDE5 inhibitors, back pain tends to be most common with tadalafil — not vardenafil. Experts don’t know exactly why back pain occurs, but it may be due to how these medications affect other proteins in the body. 

In general, back pain should resolve within a day or two after taking vardenafil. But if it’s bothersome or not going away, let your healthcare provider know. They can determine if it’s your medication and how best to relieve it.

7. Low blood pressure

As mentioned above, vardenafil can cause small drops in your blood pressure. This may not be concerning for everyone. But it may be more of a problem if you have heart disease or take other medications that also lower your blood pressure, such as alpha blockers. In fact, nitrates shouldn’t be taken with vardenafil for this reason.

When your blood pressure gets too low (called hypotension), you may feel lightheaded, dizzy, or weak. If you experience these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Seek immediate medical attention if you feel like you’re going to pass out.

Keep in mind: Be sure to share your current medical history and medication list with your healthcare team. This allows them to check for potential interactions and make sure that vardenafil is safe for you to take.

8. Prolonged erection

Vardenafil can help you achieve and maintain an erection by increasing blood flow to your penis. That’s what you want it to do. But sometimes the blood has a problem draining back out. When that happens, it can result in an erection lasting longer than it should — over 4 hours. This is called priapism, and it’s a rare vardenafil side effect.

Priapism can be very painful and is considered a medical emergency. If left untreated, your penis may be permanently damaged. Go to the nearest emergency room if you experience an erection that lasts longer than 4 hours.

9. Heart rhythm changes

Some medications, including vardenafil, can lengthen the time it takes your heart to reset between beats. This is called QT prolongation, and it can result in life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms.

Some people are born with QT prolongation (or long QT syndrome). In general, it’s recommended to avoid vardenafil if you have this condition. This is also the case if you take certain medications that affect your heart rhythm, such as quinidine and amiodarone.

Before starting vardenafil, make sure your healthcare team knows about all other medications you take. Certain medications should be avoided with vardenafil altogether, while others may be used with caution.

Heart rhythm changes don’t always cause symptoms. But you should get immediate medical attention if you have a fast or irregular heart beat. Call 911 if you feel like you’re about to faint.

10. Vision or hearing changes

Vardenafil and other medications in its class can cause sudden vision loss in one or both of your eyes. This may be a symptom of a condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION). NAION is rare, but the risk is higher in men ages 50 and older.

NAION vision loss happens when there’s decreased blood flow to your optic nerve, which affects communication between your eyes and brain. If you notice a change or loss of vision, talk to your provider as soon as possible for further evaluation.

Sudden hearing loss has also been reported with medications such as vardenafil. It’s unclear if the cause is vardenafil or something else entirely, however. If you have a sudden ringing in your ears or decrease in your hearing, stop vardenafil and contact your provider right away.

When should you contact your healthcare provider about vardenafil side effects?

Most common vardenafil side effects are mild and go away on their own as the medication’s effects wear off. But if any side effect becomes bothersome or long lasting, go ahead and contact your healthcare provider. They may recommend lowering your dosage or changing treatments.

As reviewed above, there are some situations that may require immediate medical attention. Examples include an erection that’s painful or lasts longer than 4 hours, fast or irregular heartbeats, and changes in your vision or hearing.

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Written by:

Brian Leonard, PharmD, BCACP, BCGP

Brian Leonard earned his doctorate in pharmacy from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and is board certified in Ambulatory Care and Geriatric Pharmacy.

Edited by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

Reviewed by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

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