You have heard of Viagra and Cialis, maybe Levitra. These are usually prescribed treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED). But what could be better? And are there any differences between them?
Short answer … no
The best treatment for erectile dysfunction is the one that’s right for you. Sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are the most common drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction and are equally safe and effective. In most cases, the lifestyle and the costs will help you choose between them.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is defined as a regular difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Here the keyword is “common”. It is normal for men to have trouble getting into a difficult state from time to time, but when a successful erection is the exception rather than the rule, or when it no longer occurs fully, it is about ‘erectile dysfunction, and this can be a sign that something is going on. . In progress.
Erectile dysfunction is really annoying, but it’s usually not serious. However, in about 20% of cases, erectile dysfunction can be a warning sign of an undiagnosed disease, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or depression. Or there is some other cause, such as obesity, smoking, heavy drinking, certain medications, stress, relationship issues, or hormonal issues. Your doctor will perform simple tests to see if the cause of your erectile dysfunction is reversible. If so, treating these causes can improve your erectile dysfunction without the need for erectile dysfunction drugs. However, although difficult to reverse, erectile dysfunction drugs are safe, available, and effective in 70% of cases.
What are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra?
Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) belong to a class of drugs called PDE inhibitors. To understand how they work, we need a brief introduction to erections. To achieve an erection, a chemical called nitric oxide (NO) sends a message to the tissues of the penis (technically corpora cavernosa), which is released and filled with blood. The erection ends with another messenger, PDE₅ (phosphodiesterase-5).
PDE inhibitors inhibit erection “lethal switches” and help erection last long enough to be sexually satisfying. (These drugs do not help “turn on” an erection.)
Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis have been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The main differences between them are as follows:
- How are they taken?
- How long will they last
- Side effects
- costs
For temporary use, most people start with sildenafil. Tadalafil may be a better option for regular use. Some people prefer to switch medications depending on their lifestyle and marital status.
Viagra (sildenafil)
How to take it: You should not take Viagra with food. Ideally, you should wait 1 to 2 hours after a meal before eating. If you can’t wait, try a light, low-fat meal. Fatty foods and alcohol can prevent Viagra from working.
How fast it works: It can start working in just 11 minutes, but you usually have to wait 1 hour for it to take full effect. It then continues to operate for 3 to 5 hours.
Typical dose: A typical starting dose is 50 mg. If you have side effects, you can reduce them to 25 mg. If it doesn’t work completely, it can increase up to 100 mg.
Cialis (tadalafil)
How to take it: Cialis is not affected by food. You can only take it when you need it, or regularly, every day.
How fast it works: It can start working in as little as 14 minutes, but you have to wait 2 hours for it to reach the point where it is most efficient. Cialis stays in your body for about 17 hours, which helps you get an erection anytime during this time.
Typical dose: The typical starting dose of Cialis for temporary use is 10 mg. It can be reduced to 5 mg or increased to 20 mg depending on your reaction. The usual daily dose is 2.5 mg.
Levitra (vardenafil)
How effective are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra?
Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) also work well. There are no studies that directly compare them, but a systematic review and meta-analysis of several hundred studies showed that all three drugs lead to successful sexual penetration in 65% to 80% of users with erectile dysfunction. (Compared to 30% with sugar pills).
What are the common side effects of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra?
The most common side effects of all PDE inhibitors are:
- Headache
- Redness
- Congestion in the nose
- Digestive issues
- Vision changes
- Muscle pain
Viagra has a higher risk of vision changes than Cialis. Three percent of all people who take Viagra or sildenafil have blue vision that lasts for several hours. On the other hand, Cialis has a slightly higher risk of muscle pain than Viagra and Levitra. Users are generally not bothered by the side effects of these drugs, most of which do not last long.
A serious side effect of all PDE inhibitors is that they can lower blood pressure. This may not necessarily apply to you, but it can be a problem if you are also taking blood pressure medication. A sudden drop in blood pressure can lead to dizziness, falls, fainting, or even a heart attack. The greatest danger is with nitrate based drugs such as nitroglycerin. You should never take sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) or other medicines if you are taking nitrate for angina or high blood pressure.
How much do Viagra, Cialis and Levitra cost?
At the time of this last page, these were the lowest GoodRx prices for a 30-day delivery of a typical dose of each drug:
- Sildenafil (Generic Viagra): $ 13.28 for thirty 50 mg tablets
- Tadalafil (Generic Cialis): $ 17.07 for thirty 10 mg tablets
- Vardenafil (Levitra): $ 245.73 for thirty 10 mg tablets
Conclusion
Sildenafil (Viagra) is by far the cheapest drug for erectile dysfunction and has the longest safety record. It is good for temporary users, but should be taken on an empty stomach.
Tadalafil (Cialis) is expensive, but it takes longer, which is useful if you have a more active and regular sex life. You can also take it with or without food, which is helpful.
It is common to switch between sildenafil and tadalafil based on individual needs.
Vardenafil (Levitra) is an expensive drug with no significant advantage over Viagra or Cialis. It’s worth a try if sildenafil doesn’t work for you. It works just as well for treating erectile dysfunction as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) and the side effects are very similar.
The American Academy of Physicians (ACP) recommends that you (the patient) choose a drug and state that it may depend on the cost of the drug and your lifestyle.
How do we decide
To answer this question, we performed a comprehensive review of current international scientific evidence regarding the use of PDE₅ inhibitors in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This included a review of the National Guidelines for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction, which represents an agreement between leading professions such as the American Academy of Physicians and the American Urological Association, who have reviewed and evaluated a comprehensive set of medical research on them. seba. (In other words, they did a lot of the work for us.)
Remember
Do not take any supplements that are not regulated or approved to improve your sexual function. The FDA regularly issues warnings about dangerous and unregulated ingredients in supplements that claim to increase sexual stamina, self-confidence and performance, and “natural alternatives” that contain Viagra or Cialis that are not prescribed. .
There are currently no studies comparing sildenafil to tadalafil. Existing studies have only looked at how well each drug can compare to a placebo (a sugar pill). This means that no one can claim that one drug works better than another in treating erectile dysfunction.
And while the side effects of sildenafil and tadalafil are very similar, the jury is still out on the dangers of long-term use of these drugs for decades.