Staxyn

Staxyn^® (vardenafil hydrochloride) is a medication approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). Like other oral ED treatments, it belongs to the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor class of medications, which work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.

Staxyn comes as an orally disintegrating tablet, which may be appealing to those who don't like swallowing pills. Staxyn provides higher exposure in the body to the active ingredient vardenafil than does Levitra^®, another ED medication containing vardenafil. 

Staxyn should be taken as needed approximately 60 minutes before sexual activity and lasts for a few hours. Side effects include headache, flushing, and congestion. Staxyn should not be used with nitrates, and users should consult their healthcare provider before taking the drug, as it can cause low blood pressure when combined with certain other medications.

Staxyn (vardenafil hydrochloride) is indicated to treat:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED)

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitor

Adverse reactions reported by ≥2% of patients treated with Staxyn:

• Headache

• Flushing

• Nasal congestion

• Indigestion

• Dizziness

• Back pain

Brand-name Staxyn^® is no longer available, but its generic form is. The cost of generic Staxyn may vary depending on your insurance plan, the dosage, quantity, and where you buy it.

Without insurance, the average retail price of generic Staxyn is about $700 for 40 disintegrating oral tablets or about $50 for four tablets. However, coupons or discount cards may be available to bring down the price. Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of generic Staxyn because they don’t consider it medically necessary.

You can get a prescription for generic Staxyn after being evaluated by your primary care provider or a specialist who can determine if the medicine is right for you based on factors like your symptoms and medical history.

• Administration with nitrates and nitric oxide donors

• Drug interactions: Nitrates, alpha-blockers, antihypertensives, CYP3A4 inhibitors

• Cardiovascular effects: Patients should not use Staxyn if sex is inadvisable due to cardiovascular status

• Potent and noderate CYP3A4 inhibitors: Do not use Staxyn in patients taking potent or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors

• Risk of priapism

• Effects on the eye: Patients should stop use of Staxyn, and seek medical attention in the event of sudden loss of vision in one or both eyes

• Sudden hearing loss

• Alpha-blockers: Caution is advised when PDE5 inhibitors are co-administered with alpha-blockers

• QT prolongation

• Phenylketonurics: Each Staxyn tablet contains 1.01 mg phenylalanine per tablet, which could be harmful for patients with phenylketonuria

There are other medications prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Some of these drugs may be better suited to you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to generic Staxyn, talk with your provider to learn more about other medications that may work well for you.

Other oral medications that can treat ED include:

• Stendra^® (avanafil)

• Cialis^® (tadalafil)

• Vardenafil

• Viagra^® (sildenafil)

• Chewable ED meds available through Hims that contain one or more of the active ingredients in Cialis and Viagra

Penile injection medications for ED include:

• Caverject^® or Edex^® (alprostadil)

• Papaverine

• Phentolamine

• Combination medications such as Bimix, Trimix, and Quadmix

As an alternative or addition to ED medications, your healthcare provider may suggest therapy for mental health issues that may be contributing to your  ED symptoms and/or lifestyle changes to support sexual health, like following a healthy diet, exercising, and cutting back on alcohol.

Other treatments for ED include a topical gel, a penis pump with or without a constriction ring, penile implant surgery, and testosterone therapy (if low testosterone is a contributor).

*This information is from the label for brand name Staxyn^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Vardenafil, the active ingredient in Staxyn, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient vardenafil.