Brand-name Levitra has been discontinued by the manufacturer, while the generic vardenafil is still available at retailers like Costco. 

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Historically, Costco has used its bulk-buying power, where members participate in wholesale purchases, to offer medications like Levitra or Vardenafil at a dollar or two below the average cost at retail pharmacies. In recent years, however, the retailer has made some major changes that highlight both the benefits and the drawbacks of relying on wholesale clubs for medication.

Current Costco Prices For Vardenafil

Vardenafil Prices at Costco

Costco currently offers vardenafil 20 milligram for $3.78. The Costco price for vardenafil 10 milligrams is $1.89.

Both prices are the lowest of all the brands we track — and much lower than the national average of $15.84 for the 20 milligram dose strength and $7.92 for 10 milligrams.

About Vardenafil

Available beginning in 2003, Levitra is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, the same class of medication as Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil). The action of PDE-5, an enzyme, constricts the blood vessels, so inhibiting it allows more blood to flow into the penis, making it easier to get an erection and keep one.

Levitra has a second formulation designed to dissolve on the tongue, called Staxyn or Levitra Soft. While they have the same active ingredient, they’re not equivalent and shouldn’t be swapped out for each other, as the overall dosages may be different.

Vardenafil is also currently being studied to see if it can help with premature ejaculation (PE), based on anecdotal evidence. It remains unclear what the precise mechanism for this may be. It’s not currently considered a drug to treat PE, but people who have both conditions may want to consider trying it before other PDE-5 inhibitors.

Vardenafil is both the active ingredient in Levitra and its generic name. Generic vardenafil has been available since 2018 and has the same active ingredients as Levitra, which have been shown to have the same effects. Generic drugs have different inactive ingredients, like colorings and flavorings, that don’t affect the action of the drug itself. 

However, while rare, you may be allergic to certain ingredients in a specific formulation. You may want to check with your doctor before swapping from brand name to generic if this has been a problem for you in the past.

Nausea is the most commonly reported side effect of vardenafil, which is common to the PDE-5 inhibitor class. 

Rarer side effects include:

• Abdominal or back pain
• Photosensitivity or abnormal vision
• Eye pain 
• A puffy or swollen face
• Low blood pressure
• Temporary changes in heartbeat 
• Itchiness or rash

If you experience an erection that lasts more than four hours, see a doctor immediately.

If you’re taking nitrates or other medications for hypertension (high blood pressure),  avoid the entire class of PDE-5 inhibitor drugs. Hypertension medication and PDE-5 inhibitors may combine to cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Never take different PDE5 inhibitors together due to similar risks. 

Vardenafil may extend the QT interval, or how long the heart’s ventricles take to contract and relax. Don’t combine vardenafil with any other medication that affects the QT interval or if you have any heart rhythm concern.

Discontinue any herbal supplements you may be taking for ED before starting a PDE5 inhibitor. Imported herbal products, in particular, may have PDE-5 inhibitors or other pharmaceuticals mixed in, raising the risk of a drug interaction.

Why Did Costco Discontinue Carrying Levitra?

It’s rare that an individual retailer will tell you why they’ve stopped carrying any product, and it can be jolting when a medication disappears from a storefront without warning. We’ve found this to be an increasing trend across the industry; Amazon, for example, has stopped carrying some medications without warning. We’ve also observed that it’s more likely to happen with a drug that has a generic equivalent.

The best theory, considering this marks a period of time where Costco substantially dropped prices on generic vardenafil, is that Costco simply found a better deal. Remember, Costco’s model is as a wholesaler who sells its bulk purchases to customers at a lower per unit cost. 

Whether this state of affairs will change soon, or ever, is anyone’s guess. Brand-name medications tend to cost slightly more than generics, so until Costco decides the math makes sense, Levitra won’t be back in stock.

Ordering Medications Online May be Right for You

Big brick-and-mortar pharmacies like Costco can sometimes have better prices than those you can get online, especially on generic medications like vardenafil. But even if the cost per pill may be a bit higher, you get more value for your money when you shop at eDrugstore.

Shopping with us has benefits beyond the value of a dollar. We can offer you convenience and discretion in all your purchases, which is especially important for any sexual health medication.

Prescriptions are processed electronically with your order, which can spare you the trip to the pharmacy and waiting in line. If you don’t already have a prescription, you can book an online consultation with a doctor through our secure platform. The doctor will help you evaluate your condition and decide what medication and dosage will be right for you. 

Shipping is free and fast with eDrugstore, and your first order comes with a free pill splitter so you can save money on smaller doses. We will deliver your medication discreetly, directly to your home.

We carry all FDA-approved ED medications, including Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis and their lower-cost generic versions. Check out our erectile dysfunction page to learn more about the wide range of medications and products we offer.

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