Drug interactions
Nitroglycerin + Vardenafil
Severity: Contraindicated
Nitroglycerin and Vardenafil: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Vardenafil greatly potentiates the vasodilating effect of nitrates and can cause profound, potentially fatal hypotension. The risk persists for many hours after the PDE5 inhibitor dose.
What this interaction means in plain words
Nitroglycerin and Vardenafil are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Nitroglycerin belongs to Cardiovascular; Vardenafil belongs to Genitourinary.
Why it happens
PDE5 inhibition increases cGMP, amplifying nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation from nitroglycerin.
What to do
Do not use nitrates in patients who have taken vardenafil within the previous 24 hours. In an emergency, use non-nitrate alternatives and give nitrates only under close hemodynamic monitoring after a safe interval.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Vardenafil
- Amyl nitrite + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Glyceryl trinitrate pr + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Isosorbide dinitrate + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Isosorbide mononitrate + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Nicorandil + Vardenafil Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin po + Vardenafil Contraindicated
Other interactions of Nitroglycerin
- Avanafil + Nitroglycerin Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Riociguat Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Sildenafil Contraindicated
- Nitroglycerin + Tadalafil Contraindicated
- Dihydroergotamine intranasal + Nitroglycerin Major
- Dihydroergotamine + Nitroglycerin Major
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Nitroglycerin with Vardenafil?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Nitroglycerin and Vardenafil are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Vardenafil greatly potentiates the vasodilating effect of nitrates and can cause profound, potentially fatal hypotension. The risk persists for many hours after the PDE5 inhibitor dose.
How serious is the interaction between Nitroglycerin and Vardenafil?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not use nitrates in patients who have taken vardenafil within the previous 24 hours. In an emergency, use non-nitrate alternatives and give nitrates only under close hemodynamic monitoring after a safe interval.
What other medicines interact with Vardenafil?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Vardenafil with, for example, Amyl nitrite, Glyceryl trinitrate pr, Isosorbide dinitrate. The full list is on the Vardenafil page.
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