With vardenafil, blood flow to the penis is enhanced by relaxing the blood vessels and muscles in the area. An erection is easier to achieve and maintain with the blood flowing more freely. If you're not already aroused or sexually excited, vardenafil won't do you any good.
The active ingredients in vardenafil begin to operate within 30 minutes. Vardenafil's effects typically wear off after 4 hours, while some men report feeling them for up to 6 hours.