【Levitra and fatty meals (oily and greasy foods)】

Explaining the relationship between Levitra and fatty foods. Important considerations regarding its effectiveness and timing of intake. Providing information for effective ED treatment.

Levitra (Vardenafil), which starts to take effect in approximately 15 to 20 minutes after ingestion and has the strongest effect among erectile dysfunction medications, has a known weakness of not being compatible with fatty meals. Taking Levitra immediately after a fatty meal can reduce its effectiveness by half.

If you take Levitra before a meal and wait for about 30 minutes for it to be absorbed before starting your meal, it will not be affected by a high-fat diet. However, with this dosing pattern, there is a higher possibility that the peak effect of Levitra will occur during the meal (the peak effect of Levitra generally occurs approximately 45 minutes after ingestion).

As a result, even if you take Levitra before or after a fatty meal, the maximum effectiveness of Levitra cannot be achieved if you try to consume a fatty meal. It is crucial to take Levitra on an empty stomach (approximately 3 hours after a meal) or to have a non-fatty meal.

Now, let’s look at how much a fatty meal affects the effectiveness (absorption) of Levitra in concrete terms.

According to studies conducted by Bayer, the pharmaceutical company that developed Levitra, a meal with a fat calorie percentage of less than 30% of the total calorie intake does not affect the effectiveness (absorption) of Levitra.

Specific food examples are as follows (calculated from the nutritional information provided by major fast-food chains):

Grilled beef (kalbi): 80%

French fries: 48%

Pork cutlet set meal: 42%

Hamburger steak set meal: 40%

Hamburger: 35%

Beef bowl (regular size): 25%

Natto (fermented soybeans) set meal: 18%

Grilled fish set meal: 18%

Sashimi set meal: 13%

Beef udon: 10%

Cold soba or udon: 2%

If you think the fat calorie content is likely to exceed 30% based on the food table above, it is recommended to limit the amount you eat or wait for about 3 hours after the meal to take Levitra to ensure that Levitra and the meal do not mix.

Regardless, consuming excessive amounts of fatty food can lead to metabolic syndrome and potentially worsen the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. It is advisable to moderate your intake of fatty food.

【Supervisor of this article】

Ken Takemori, MD. An anesthesiologist and Director of Shibuya 3rd Block Clinic.