Staxyn

Erectile dysfunction affects many men around the world.

ED can be caused by health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, heart disease, or psychiatric illnesses like depression, but it can also cause mental health problems.

Staxyn is an orally disintegrating tablet based on vardenafil, the active ingredient sold under the brand name Levitra.

Here, we’ll discuss everything you should know about Staxyn before you use it, including how it works, how much it costs, and where to buy it.

We even offer tips on natural alternatives, how to use the drug safely, and when to avoid it altogether.

What Is Staxyn?

Staxyn is based on the same ingredient as Levitra, i.e., vardenafil. Though they have similar ingredients, they cannot be substituted. Staxyn is an orally disintegrating tablet as opposed to regular tablets.

Staxyn is used to treat erectile dysfunction, but some studies show Staxyn can help with premature ejaculation [1]. Staxyn is manufactured by Bayer.

Staxyn is a more selective form of Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor. It works by improving the blood flow to the penis with minimal side effects in comparison to other medications with similar action like Viagra (sildenafil). However, the medicine only works if sexual stimulation is already present.

What Is the Dose of Staxyn?

Staxyn is available as a 10 mg orally disintegrating tablet. This is the only available dose of Staxyn, and it cannot be substituted with 10 mg of oral tablets because the systemic availability of the drug is higher in comparison to film-coated oral tablets [2].

If the dose needs to change, inform your doctor, and they can prescribe other medications to you.

The advantage of an orally disintegrating tablet is that you do not need to swallow it with any liquid.

Only one tablet of Staxyn in a 24-hour period, as needed.

How Long Does It Take for Staxyn to Start Working?

Staxyn does not work as soon as you take the tablet. It takes around 1 hour to start showing its effect and lasts for 4 to 6 hours.

This drug doesn’t induce erection on its own. You need to be aroused for the drug to work.

How Much Does Staxyn Cost?

A 4-pack of Staxyn costs $40 to $80, meaning each pill costs $10 to $20. The price varies according to the supplier, the country you live in, local competition, the average income of the area, and the prevalence of erectile dysfunction.

The History of Staxyn

Vardenafil was first developed by Bayer. In 2001, the company announced it had a promising new candidate for treating erectile dysfunction. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for erectile dysfunction in 2003.

Bayer then joined forces with another pharmaceutical giant — GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) — to market and distribute the new drug worldwide.

Just two years later, in 2005, Bayer severed its marketing cooperation with GSK and took full control of the drug.

For the next 13 years, vardenafil was sold under the brand names Levitra (Bayer) and Vivanza (GSK) until the patents protecting the drug from the generic market expired. Now you can find vardenafil in generic form from other manufacturers.

FDA approved Staxyn as an orally disintegrating form of vardenafil in 2010.

Who Should Take Staxyn?

Staxyn is only prescribed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction [3]. Using it for premature ejaculation and for athletic enhancement are off-label uses and not approved by the FDA.

The medicine should be used only under the prescription of the doctor. It should not be used to increase sexual arousal or stimulation, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

Your doctor will weigh the benefits of the drug to your individual level of risk and assess your current medications to see if there are any potential drug interactions that would exclude you from being able to use the drug safely.

Staxyn Safety & Side Effects

Staxyn is generally considered safe by the FDA and other regulatory agencies, but it’s not without side effects.

Staxyn is safer than other PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra because of its specificity towards the PDE5 enzyme, without acting on other enzymes.

This primary cause for concern with Staxyn is its effects on blood pressure. The drug works by relaxing the arteries that supply blood to the penis. However, it can affect other arteries as well. When the arteries relax, blood pressure drops.

Your blood pressure may fall too low if you already suffer from low blood pressure or use antihypertensive medications, resulting in dizzy episodes or fainting.

Staxyn may cause some common side effects. See your doctor if the following symptoms are severe or persistent:

Color vision changes
Diarrhea
Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
Flushing (feeling of warmth)
Headache
Heartburn
Muscle aches
Nosebleeds
Numbness, burning or tingling in the arms, hands, feet, or legs
Sensitivity to light

There are also some rare but serious side effects. See your doctor if you experience any of the following:

Chest pain: It is important to note that you should not take nitrates for chest pain.
Prolonged and/or painful erections ( erections lasting for more than 4 hours)
Seizures or fits
Serious allergy or skin reactions: generalized rash throughout the body associated with swelling of lips, swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing, or hoarse voice.
Sudden loss of eyesight
Sudden loss of hearing

Drugs That May Interact With Staxyn

Some medications don’t mix well with Staxyn or other PDE5 inhibitors.

There is a risk of drug interaction if you take any other medicines, vitamins, supplements, or herbal products. Keep a record of all the medicines you are taking and inform your doctor before using Staxyn.

Here, we’ll cover some of the main negative drug interactions to be aware of before using Staxyn:

Nitrates

Nitrates are medicines used for angina-related chest pain. Both nitrates and Staxyn work by dilatating blood vessels, leading to a lowering of blood pressure. Combining these two drugs can severely lower your blood pressure and cause a loss of consciousness and other serious outcomes.

Alpha-Blockers

Alpha-blockers help treat benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), so you could be prescribed Staxyn for this condition. A combination of these two medicines can cause a serious drop in blood pressure.

Antihypertensives

Similarly, if you are taking antihypertensives, the effect of those medicines can be aggravated, leading to a serious drop in blood pressure.

Alcohol

Mixing alcohol and Staxyn can cause low blood pressure, dizziness, headaches, and increased heart rate. Alcohol might also reduce Staxyn’s efficacy.

Antacids

Antacids can reduce Staxyn’s absorption, thus reducing its effectiveness.

CYP3A4 Inhibitors

Staxyn is primarily metabolized in the liver by the CYP3A4 enzymes. Taking other drugs that are metabolized by this enzyme can affect the rate of Staxyn’s metabolization, leading to a prolonged half-life and elevated concentrations in the bloodstream. This can increase the risk of developing side effects.

CYP3A4 Inducers

Opposite to CYP3A4 inhibitors, some medications increase the activity of this enzyme, leading to faster metabolism of Staxyn, reducing its effectiveness.

Who Should Avoid Using Staxyn?

You should avoid taking Staxyn if you have any of the following:

A previous allergic reaction to a medicine containing vardenafil
A serious heart problem or associated risks, like heart failure, myocardial infarction, or congenital heart disease
A serious liver problem
Recently suffered from a stroke or a heart attack
Uncontrolled low blood pressure or hypertension
Eyesight problems due to blood flow
Currently taking nitrates

Before using Staxyn, inform your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

Any bleeding problems
Any heart disease
Disorder of the eye
Gastric ulcers
Have a deformed penis or Peyronie’s disease
Hypertension or hypotension
Liver or kidney disease
Previous history of seizure or stroke

How Does Staxyn Work?

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a compound responsible for relaxing smooth muscles and increasing blood flow in the penis; this helps men achieve an erection adequate for sexual intercourse. cGMP breaks down by an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), found in smooth muscles of the corpus cavernosum.

Staxyn acts by inhibiting PDE5, increasing the cGMP level, and allowing adequate amounts to relax the smooth muscle and increase the inflow of blood into the corpus cavernosum. This inflow of blood causes a penile erection.

Arousal is still needed to trigger the erection in the first place by sending signals to nerves in the penis. Staxyn only works when sexual arousal is present. If sexual arousal is the problem, seek help from your healthcare provider. Adopting a healthy lifestyle can help.

Can Women Use Staxyn?

Staxyn is not approved for women.

Some reports say using vardenafil has increased sexual satisfaction among women. This might be because the drug can cause increased blood flow to female genitalia through a similar mechanism of action. However, this theory is not well established.

There are too many potential side effects associated with the drug, so the benefits are not enough to outweigh the risks. Furthermore, sexual problems in women are primarily related to sexual arousal, which Staxyn does not address.

Staxyn Alternatives

Staxyn is just one of over a dozen erectile dysfunction medications available on the market. It’s most similar to Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil).

Avanafil (Stendra)
Mirodenafil (Mvix)
Sildenafil (Viagra)
Udenafil (Zydena)
Vardenafil (Staxyn and Vivanza)

Natural Alternatives to Staxyn

Some herbs have similar effects to Staxyn that either target PDE5, cGMP, or nitric oxide to improve erection — however, none of these compounds are going to be as potent as the pharmaceutical medications and may not be a reliable alternative.

However, it’s usually best to start with a natural alternative and to try adapting lifestyle changes before moving to a prescription drug.

Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.)
Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng)
L-Arginine
Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris)
Yohimbine

Where to Buy Staxyn?

Staxyn is only available by prescription from the doctor. Once you have a prescription, you can go to any local pharmacy or order Staxyn online at a digital pharmacy.

Make sure to tell your doctor about any substances you use so they can determine how safe Staxyn is. They can prescribe something else if they feel it’s too big of a risk.

Remember that alternatives are available without a prescription and might be enough to solve the problem.

References Cited

Aversa, A., Pili, M., Francomano, D., Bruzziches, R., Spera, E., La Pera, G., & Spera, G. (2009). Effects of vardenafil administration on intravaginal ejaculatory latency time in men with lifelong premature ejaculation. International Journal of Impotence Research, 21(4), 221-227.
Huang, S. A., & Lie, J. D. (2013). Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors in the management of erectile dysfunction. Pharmacy and therapeutics, 38(7), 407.
Morales, A. M., Mirone, V., Dean, J., & Costa, P. (2009). Vardenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: an overview of the clinical evidence. Clinical interventions in aging, 4, 463.