Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra: Which is better?
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Four popular drugs are widely available for treating the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED).
The drugs are phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, and their brand and generic names, respectively, are Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Stendra (avanafil).
They all have approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and they have the same function. However, there are some differences between them.
Understanding these differences can help a person choose the most suitable option.
The drugs are all PDE5 inhibitors, and they all work in a similar way. They help relax the muscles and increase blood flow to the body.
This makes it easier for blood to enter the penis, and it allows people with ED to experience a lasting erection during sexual activity.
The drugs act relatively quickly, but the precise timing depends on the drug.
This table shows when to take the drug, the usual starting dose in milligrams (mg), and how long the effect is likely to last. It is of note that a doctor may adjust the dose for people with certain health conditions and those using other medications.
The following table compares these two ED medications:
Cialis Viagra Main ingredient tadalafil sildenafil How long it takes to work around 30 minutes around 30 minutes How long it lasts 17.5–36 hours 4–12 hours When to take it daily, at the same time each day 30 minutes–4 hours before sex, but preferably 60 minutes before Dosage 5, 10, or 25 mg, up to once per day 25, 50, or 100 mg, up to once per day Price from around $18 for 30 tablets of 20 mg of generic tadalafil from around $12 for 30 tablets of 100 mg of generic sildenafil Common side effects • headache • flushing • indigestion • nasal congestion • back pain • muscle pain • pain in the limbs • headache • flushing • indigestion • nasal congestion • back pain • dizziness • rash Pros • people can take it with or without food • lasts longer than Viagra • can take the medication daily • only take it when anticipating having sex • sildenafil is one of the cheaper ED medications • leaves the body quicker, which may make side effects last less time Cons • may cause limb pain • stays in the body longer than Viagra, which may mean side effects last longer • have to take an hour before sexual activity, which may be unsuitable for people who prefer more spontaneous sex • may cause dizziness and rash.
People can purchase Cialis and Viagra from telehealth providers if they have a valid prescription. The following are two options people may consider.
Lemonaid Health and Cialis.
Lemonaid Health offers a range of ED medication, including generic Viagra and Cialis, and generic daily Cialis.
To use this service, a person must answer an online questionnaire. Then, the medical team reviews the person’s health history and may ask follow-up questions before creating a treatment plan.
Lemonaid Health states that it offers ED medication starting from $2 per pill. The company recommends generic daily Cialis for people who have sex more than five times a week.
The company offers free delivery. Lemonaid Health states that people will have to pay for prescription out of pocket if they opt for delivery. If a person’s health insurance covers the cost of the medication, they can instead ask the company to send the prescription to a local pharmacy.
Levitra and Viagra have the following similarities and differences:
Levitra Viagra Main ingredient vardenafil sildenafil How long it takes to work around 60 minutes around 30 minutes How long it lasts 4–12 hours 4–12 hours When to take it 60 minutes before sex 30 minutes–4 hours before sex Dosage 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 mg, up to once daily 25, 50, or 100 mg, up to once daily Price from around $47 for 10 tablets of 20 mg of generic vardenafil from around $12 for 30 tablets of 100 mg of generic sildenafil Common side effects • headache • flushing • nasal congestion • indigestion • sinusitis • flu-like symptoms • dizziness • nausea • back pain • headache • flushing • indigestion • nasal congestion • back pain • dizziness • rash Pros • people can take it with or without food • sildenafil is cheaper than vardenafil • has less side effects than Levitra Cons • may cause flu-like symptoms • unsuitable for spontaneous sex • unsuitable for spontaneous sex.
These medications are also available to purchase online with a valid prescription from reputable telehealth providers.
Blink Health and Levitra.
Blink Health offers telemedicine appointments and states it can help people find a lower prescription cost.
The company claims that it offers ED medication for up to 50% less than other health websites.
The first doctor’s visit and month of medication costs $10 , with monthly refills starting from $17 .
It states that the most common medications the healthcare professionals on this platform prescribe are generic Viagra and Cialis.
Blink Health states that vardenafil, the generic form of Levitra, starts at $622.12 for 30 tablets of 20 mg.
Hims and Viagra.
Hims is a telehealth company that focuses on male health. The platform offers several ED medications, including Viagra.
Hims offers generic Viagra starting at $3 per pill, and branded Viagra starting at $139 per pill.
To start with Hims, people must fill in an online questionnaire. The service will connect people to a licensed medical professional who will prescribe treatment if necessary.
The company offers free and discreet delivery.
The following table provides an at-a-glance comparison between these two medications.
Stendra Viagra Main ingredient avanafil sildenafil How long it takes to work around 15 minutes around 30 minutes How long it lasts 3–6 hours 4–12 hours When to take it 30 minutes before sex 30 minutes–4 hours before sex Dosage 50, 100, or 200 mg, up to once daily 25, 50, or 100 mg, up to once daily Price from around $385 for 6 tablets of 100 mg from around $12 for 30 tablets of 100 mg of generic sildenafil Common side effects • headache • flushing • nasal congestion • nasopharyngitis • back pain • headache • flushing • indigestion • nasal congestion • back pain • dizziness • rash Pros • fewer side effects than Viagra • works within 15 minutes • sildenafil is cheaper than Stendra Cons • not available in generic form • more expensive than sildenafil • unsuitable for spontaneous sex.
Stendra and Viagra are available from several telehealth providers, including the following:
Blink Health and Stendra.
Blink Health states that it can help people find the lowest price for their ED medication.
While the service offers ED treatment direct from the website for as little as $17 per month, it does not state whether it prescribes Stendra through its ED treatment plan.
Instead, Blink Health can send a prescription for Stendra to local participating pharmacies.
A bottle of six 200 mg Stendra tablets costs $414.33 through this platform.
Roman and Viagra.
Roman offers generic Viagra and generic Cialis.
To start treatment with this company, a person must first fill out an online questionnaire. Roman will connect people with a healthcare professional who will prescribe treatment if necessary.
Generic Viagra is available starting from $4 per dose.
Rooman offers free and discreet two-day shipping.
The following table compares Levitra and Cialis:
Levitra Cialis Main ingredient vardenafil tadalafil How long it takes to work around 60 minutes around 30 minutes How long it lasts 4–12 hours 17.5–36 hours When to take it 60 minutes before sex daily, at the same time each day Dosage 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 mg, up to once daily 5, 10, or 25 mg, up to once per day Price from around $47 for 10 tablets of 20 mg of generic vardenafil from around $18 for 30 tablets of 20 mg of generic tadalafil Common side effects • headache • flushing • nasal congestion • indigestion • sinusitis • flu-like symptoms • dizziness • nausea • back pain • headache • flushing • indigestion • nasal congestion • back pain • muscle pain • pain in the limbs Pros • people can take it with or without food • lasts less time than Cialis, so side effects may pass sooner • generic Cialis is cheaper than generic Levitra • has fewer side effects than Levitra • allows spontaneous sex Cons • not suitable for spontaneous sex • has more side effects than Cialis • may cause limb pain.
Roman and Cialis.
Roman offers generic and branded Cialis and daily Cialis.
People will have to fill in an online questionnaire and connect with a healthcare professional through the service to receive a prescription.
Generic Cialis starts at $8 per dose. Branded Cialis starts at $20 per dose.
Roman offers free and discreet 2-day shipping.
The price of ED medication can vary widely depending on which medication a person chooses and whether they choose the generic or branded version of the drug.
Costs will also vary depending on whether a person’s insurance wil cover the price of the medication. People should always contact their insurance provider to see which medication it covers. Some companies may not offer coverage for branded medication.
Websites such as Optum Perks find and compare prices of medication and may offer discounts and coupons. People may find their medication at a cheaper price using a comparison site.
Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra are all drugs for treating the symptoms of ED.
A doctor will reach a diagnosis of ED if a person meets one of the following criteria :
never being able to get an erection often being unable to get an erection being able to get an erection but one that does not last long enough for sexual intercourse.
Aspects of physical and mental health can contribute to ED, and a doctor will discuss these and lifestyle habits with the individual before prescribing these drugs.
Doctors may not prescribe the drugs to a person who has a cardiovascular health issue, which makes sexual activity dangerous for them.
The drugs are also not suitable for use with certain medications. Below, learn more about medications that can interact with these drugs.
Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra have many similar side effects and interactions, but there are also some variations.
Anyone considering using these drugs should speak with a doctor first. The drugs may not be suitable for everyone, as they may affect a person’s existing health conditions or interact with other drugs the person is taking.
None of these drugs are suitable for an individual whom a healthcare professional has advised to avoid sexual activity because they have cardiovascular issues or are taking nitrates for a heart condition.
Using these drugs with nitrates or alpha-blockers may lead to a sudden fall in blood pressure, resulting in dizziness, faintness, and possibly falls and injuries.
An older study in rodents suggests that the following medications may increase the concentration of PDE5 inhibitors in the body, and therefore, an individual should consult a doctor before using ED drugs with any of them:
Grapefruit juice is a CYP3A4 inhibitor and may increase the impact of these drugs.
The following table compares the possible adverse effects of the four drugs.
Viagra Cialis Levitra Stendra Headache x x x x Nasal congestion x x x x Flushing x x x x Indigestion x x x Nausea x x Dizziness x Vision changes x Muscle aches and pains x x Back pain x x x Limb pain x Sinusitis x Flu-like symptoms x High levels of creatine kinase x Sore throat x Vision loss x x x x Priapism x x x x Sudden hearing loss x x.
If a person experiences vision loss, priapism, or sudden hearing loss while using any of these medications, it is important to contact emergency services for immediate medical attention.