Zhewitra

Today, many men in the world are suffering from erectile dysfunction and it has become a common condition, not only affecting a person’s sexual life but also affecting their mental health and relationships. Studies have shown that incidents rise with age.

However, treatment for these problems is available—Zhewitra being one of them. The medicine helps men suffering from erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis, resulting in a penile erection.

The guide will try to provide you with all the information regarding the medicine, including the dose, when to take it, how long the medicine lasts, side effects, safety profile, when to avoid the medicine, and alternative treatment options.

What is Zhewitra?

Zhewitra is a medicine based on vardenafil used by men for erectile dysfunction and to improve their sexual relationships with their partners. Levitra is the other well-known brand name with the same major component—vardenafil, manufactured by Bayer. Zhewitra is manufactured by Sunrise Remedies Pvt. Ltd.

Zhewitra falls under the class of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors, which helps in improving blood flow to the penis, causing penile erection. Studies have also shown that Zhewitra can help with premature ejaculation. [1] 

Zhewitra is a more selective form of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors. So, it works by improving the blood flow to the penis with minimal side effects compared to other medications with similar action. However, the medicine only works if sexual stimulation is already present.

What is the Dose of Zhewitra?

Zhewitra tablets are available in the four dosage strengths mentioned below:

• 10 mg
• 20 mg
• 40 mg
• 60 mg

These medicines are also available in the form of soft gel tablets and oral jelly. However, soft gel tablets and oral jelly forms are only available in the strength of 20 mg.

The 80 mg tablet is available under the name Super Zhewitra.

The usual dose of the medicine is 20 mg, and the dose is changed by your prescribing doctor, based on the effectiveness and side effects of the medicine. 

You can take only 1 tablet of Zhewitra every 24 hours on a needed basis. The medicine must be taken with a full glass of water. 

How Long Does it Take for Zhewitra to Start Working?

Zhewitra usually takes 40 minutes to an hour before it starts working. However, it may take longer in a few cases. You need to remember that you should not take more than 1 pill every 24 hours. If the medicine does not work, talk to your doctor.

The effect of the medicine lasts for around 4 to 6 hours. It may vary according to a person’s age, weight, and genetic makeup.

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

How Much Does Zhewitra Cost?

The cost of Zhewitra is between $0.99 and $3.99. The cost of the medicine varies according to the place where you are getting it from and also the number of tablets that you are buying.

The History of Zhewitra

Zhewitra is manufactured by Sunrise Remedies. The company was founded in 1996. In this section, we will talk about a brief history of its major ingredient—vardenafil.

The pharmaceutical company Bayer announced the drug vardenafil in 2001 and it was approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in 2003. 

For global distribution, Bayer joined hands with another pharmaceutical giant—GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).

Just two years later, the agreement with GSK was broken and Bayer exercised full authority over the drug.

For the next 13 years, Bayer sold vardenafil under the brand name Levitra and GSK under the brand name Vivanza, till the patent expired. Now the medicine is available with different brand names under various pharmaceutical companies.

Who Should Take Zhewitra?

Zhewitra is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. [2] Although the drug has a high safety profile, there are some risks involved that make it essential for the drug to be prescribed by a registered doctor by counselling patients regarding the risks involved.

Your doctor will first assess whether Zhewitra is likely to interact with your current medications or whether any underlying health conditions could lead to a higher risk of severe side effects.

The risk of using Zhewitra needs to be weighed with the potential benefits before it is prescribed.

Studies have also shown that vardenafil is effective in the treatment of premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation is an ejaculatory problem in which a man loses control over ejaculation and ejaculates before intended. Since erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation can co-exist as a male sexual problem, Zhewitra is prescribed as off-label medicine for these conditions.

Zhewitra Safety & Side-Effects

Zhewitra is safe and well tolerated among people suffering from erectile dysfunction. However, as with every medicine, side effects of Zhewitra exist, and in rare instances, they can be severe.

The most common side effects noted in patients taking vardenafil are headache, flushing, and rhinitis [3].

If you already suffer from low blood pressure or use antihypertensive medications, your blood pressure may fall too low. This results in dizzy episodes or fainting.

Some of the common side effects associated with Zhewitra are mentioned below. These side effects are usually dose-dependent and subside on their own. [4] It’s better to inform your health care provider if these side effects are severe or persistent.

• Headache
• Stomach upset
• Heartburn
• Diarrhea
• Flushing (feeling of warmth and redness on face and neck)
• Bleeding from nose
• Sleeping problems
• Abnormal sensations in hands or feet like numbness, tingling, and burning sensation
• Muscle pain
• Sensitivity to light

There are some rare but serious side effects. You need to see your doctor if you experience any of these:

• Sudden loss of hearing, ringing in the ear
• Sudden loss of eyesight
• Color vision problems (difficulty in separating blue and green colors)
• Prolonged and/or painful erections ( erections lasting for more than 4 hours)
• Serious allergic or skin reactions: generalized rash throughout the body associated with swelling of the lips, swelling of the tongue, difficulty breathing, or hoarse voice.
• Seizures or fits 

Drugs That May Interact With Zhewitra

Zhewitra can interfere with other medications in several ways. It can be related to how the drug acts on the body or how the body acts on the drug. The interaction can sometimes increase the side effects of the drug and can sometimes make the medicine ineffective.

Interactions with vitamins, supplements, and herbal products may also occur. So, you need to tell your doctor about your health condition, all the medicines that you are taking, and any special diet you are following when it is prescribed for you.

Some of the potentially serious drug interactions are:

Blood pressure lowering medicines like nitrates (used for angina-related chest pain), Alpha-blockers (used for the treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia), and antihypertensives can cause an additive effect when used together with Zhewitra. This effect can cause an abrupt lowering of blood pressure, leading to dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting.

Alcohol can interact with Zhewitra, causing side effects related to low blood pressure or decreasing the effectiveness of the medicine.

Antacids may decrease the absorption of the medicine, reducing its effect.

CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole, erythromycin, sodium valproate, omeprazole, cimetidine, and others. These medicines decrease the processing of Zhewigra and lead to an increased accumulation of drugs, causing an increased risk of side effects. This can decrease the metabolism of Zhewigra and thus lead to an increased risk of side effects.

CYP3A4 inducers such as Rifampicin, Carbamazepine, Phenytoin, Phenobarbitol, Griseofulvin. These medicines can increase the metabolism of Zhewigra, removing it from the body and reducing its effectiveness. 

Who Should Avoid Using Zhewitra?

Zhewitra is contraindicated in the following conditions: 

• The patients with severe hepatic impairment.
• The patient with end-stage renal disease.
• Patient with a recent history of stroke or myocardial infarction.
• Patient with angina pectoris
• Patient with a history of  known hereditary degenerative disorders of the retina (e.g. retinitis pigmentosa)
• Patient with a recent history of severe heart failure or life-threatening arrhythmia.
• Patient taking nitrates

In certain conditions, you need to inform your health care provider and follow their advice before using Zhewitra:

• Hypertension or hypotension
• Any heart disease
• Liver or kidney disease
• Previous history of seizures or stroke
• Disorder of the eye
• Gastric ulcers
• Any bleeding problems or blood-related disorders
• Have a deformed penis or Peyronie’s disease.

How Does Zhewitra Work?

Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which a person cannot achieve an erection or maintain it. Erection occurs, when smooth muscles in the penis relax, causing blood flow in the penis. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is a chemical in your body that relaxes the muscles in the penis and increases blood flow into the penis. In erectile dysfunction, this mechanism is not working properly. 

Zhewitra works by inhibiting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase 5. The enzyme is responsible for the metabolism and removal of cGMP from the blood. Inhibiting this enzyme increases the level of cGMP in the blood, which causes smooth muscle to relax and increases blood flow to the penis.

Arousal is still needed to send the signal to the penis to trigger the erection in the first place. So, Zhewitra only works when sexual arousal is present. 

Can Women Use Zhewitra?

Zhewitra is not approved for use in women because the only accepted conditions for prescribing the drug are benign prostatic hyperplasia and erectile dysfunction, both of which are male-specific health conditions.

In men, Zhewitra improves blood flow to their penis by blocking the action of an enzyme called PDE5. This enzyme is also found in the vagina and the clitoris of women. So, in theory, if a woman takes Zhewitra, it could increase blood flow to her genitals, but the amount of PDE5 found in women is less than that of men. So, studies have not shown enough evidence to suggest the use of Zhewitra in women.

Also, sexual problems in women often have a lot to do with reduced sexual desire and arousal. Zhewitra is unlikely to address these issues.

Zhewitra Alternatives

Zhewitra is just one of several brand-name PDE5 inhibitors used for treating erectile dysfunction.

Some pharmaceutical alternatives to Zhewitra include:

• Sildenafil (Viagra)
• Tadalafil (Cialis)
• Avanafil (Stendra)
• Mirodenafil (Mvix)
• Udenafil (Zydena)

Vardenafil is also no longer protected under patent law, which means there are generic versions of the drug available at a much lower cost than the official brand name version of the drug.

Natural Alternatives To Zhewitra

While there are natural PDE5 inhibitors and other forms of erectile dysfunction supplements, nothing in the natural world is as reliable as Zhewitra or other prescription medications.

Many of these natural substances lack the clinical testing and proof necessary to ethically recommend these products for erectile dysfunction.

However, there are a few promising candidates worth mentioning:

Horny Goat Weed (Epimedium spp.)—this plant contains a compound called icariin, which is a relatively strong PDE5 inhibitor similar to Zhewitra 

L-Arginine — this amino acid is one of the required precursors for nitric oxide production, which in turn promotes the activity of cGMP to promote erection. 

Korean Red Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium)—KRG extracts have been shown to improve nitric oxide production, promote dilation of the arteries in the penis, and promote erection. 

Where to Buy Zhewitra?

Zhewitra is a prescription-only medication. It means you can get it only under the prescription of a certified doctor. After being prescribed by the doctor, you can get this medicine from a pharmacy or online drug store.

You must tell the doctor about your medical condition and any medicines, herbs, or supplements that you are taking. The doctor might also assess your general health and may send some investigations if needed.

Then it would be decided by the doctor whether to prescribe the medicine or not. 

References Cited in This Article

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Keating, G. M., & Scott, L. J. (2003). Vardenafil. Drugs, 63(23), 2673-2702.
4. Ormrod, D., Easthope, S. E., & Figgitt, D. P. (2002). Vardenafil. Drugs & aging, 19(3), 217-227.