Photo Credit: by Carrie Borzillo
Chances are if you are having a hard time performing in bed, the thought of popping a little blue pill might have come into your head. Most men do a little online research before even speaking to a doctor about their erectile dysfunction issues, and sometimes a Google search can get the best of us. You will find an abundance of information on different drugs, natural remedies, horror stories of 24-hour erections, and more.
It’s enough to scare anyone off. Your first step is simple: Consult your doctor, specifically a urologist recommended by your primary physician. You need to first be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. The medical definition of ED, according to MedicineNet.com, is this: “A consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Commonly known as impotence. Medically, the term erectile dysfunction is used to properly differentiate this form of impotence from other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as disease, injury, drug side effects, or a disorder that impairs the nerve supply or the blood flow to the penis.”
Next, your doctor is most likely going to recommend non-prescription remedies to try first before he writes that ‘script out. That can include emotional therapy, natural remedies such as sleeping better, or even stem cell treatment.
If you’ve tried everything, and you and your doctor still decide it’s time to take the next step and get started on a pill, you should do a little research on your own to really know the differences between the medicines - and we don’t just mean you should read this article only! Look for research on such reputable medical sources as WebMD, MedicineNet, Mayo Clinic, U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes, and others.
Are All ED Drugs The Same?
Here’s the thing - urologists note that the prescription medications currently available pretty much work the same way. They are all phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors, which aid in relaxing muscles and increasing blood flow to the body in order to get more blood flow into the penis.
“[They boost] the effects of NO [nitric oxide] in the penis. They typically have mild side effects. Some work faster but others last longer. There is no ‘best’ drug, as some will work better for some men than others, but they all are about equally effective at increasing the hardness of an erection,” Aaron Spitz, M.D., author of The Penis Book, recently told Men’s Health magazine.
Dr. Spitz also added that pills don’t work for everyone. “The main risk is using them with nitroglycerine which can be fatal and must absolutely be avoided,” he adds. Nitroglycerine is a drug that treats a specific chest pain called angina in people who have coronary artery disease, which is the narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart.
Here’s how some of the most popular erectile dysfunction drugs compare…
Viagra vs. Cialis
Viagra (the generic version is Sildenafil) and Cialis (the generic version is Tadalafil) are the two most popular ED drugs. The common side effects that they share are flushing (redness of the face, neck, and/or chest), headache, stuffy or runny nose, upset stomach, back pain, and muscle aches.
On the side effects front, where they differ is here: According to Healthline, Viagra’s additional side effects, which haven’t been reported for Cialis, include dizziness, nausea, rash, and vision changes. Cialis’ side effects that aren’t reported in Viagra users include indigestion and pain in limbs.
The American Association of Retired People (AARP) researched 12 different studies on erectile dysfunction drugs (none of which were funded by the drug companies)and found that Cialis was favored over Viagra 12 to 0. “The 8,300 participants favored Cialis by a wide margin — 3 to 1, on average. In studies that also included the third major erection drug, Levitra (vardenafil), Cialis was still substantially more popular than either competitor,” writes AARP’s Michael Castleman. Studies also showed that women prefer Cialis for their male partners over Viagra as well.
The main reason? Cialis lasts longer, and therein lies the biggest difference between these two top-tier drugs. Viagra only lasts four to six hours, whereas Cialis can last from 18-36 hours. Cialis has been called “the weekend drug” because, while it might take longer to kick in, it is useful for two to three days. That doesn’t mean he’ll have an erection that lasts for 18-36 hours straight (nobody wants that!). It just means that the drug will help with erections when so desired for up to that amount of time. With Viagra, you need to make sure you’re ready to have sex in their four to six-hour window.
What About Stendra & Levitra?
Stendra and Levitra are the lesser-known ED drugs on the market, and there are a few differences between them and the top two. Stendra, for instance, reportedly has the lowest amount of side effects. One report in Healthline shows 13 common side effects and which of these four drugs has them. It breaks down like this: Viagra (10), Cialis (8), Levitra (7), and Stendra (5). Additionally, the only common side effect reported in Stendra uses, but not Viagra is a sore throat.
The amount of time it takes for the drug to kick in also differs, according to Healthline. Stendra can take as short as 15 minutes to kick in (that’s for 100-mg and 200-mg doses) and last up to six hours and Levitra takes approximately 60 minutes for it to kick in and lasts up to four hours. Viagra takes 30 to 60 minutes to kick in, while Cialis takes longer up to two hours, so it’s good to plan your activities in advance).
If your doctor clears you to take erectile dysfunction medicine and you’re still unsure which one to choose, first and foremost, always go with the doctor’s recommendation based on your particular case. The doctor may determine one prescription is better than another based on how it interacts with our medications you may be on. That said, if he says the choice is up to you, you need to decide which side effects are most tolerable for you and if you want a fast-acting drug or one that lasts longer.
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