What are the medications for erectile dysfunction? Which erectile dysfunction drugs are the best? Are there cheaper alternatives to erectile dysfunction medications? How to choose between erectile dysfunction drugs?

Medications for Erectile Dysfunction
Basic Types of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs according to the Active Ingredient
What are Generics?
Forms of Preparations for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Division of Drugs according to the Active Ingredient
How to Choose an Active Ingredient?
Erectile Dysfunction Medications - Interactions with Food
Safety of Taking Erectile Dysfunction Medications
Erectile Dysfunction Medications and Penis Size

Medications for Erectile Dysfunction

Orally administered drugs are often the first choice in treating erectile dysfunction. For most men who have difficulty achieving and maintaining a sufficiently firm erection, these drugs work well and have few side effects. They are therefore very popular. What are they?

Basic Types of Erectile Dysfunction Drugs according to the Active Ingredient

The most well-known erection-enhancing drugs in tablet form are preparations containing sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and avanafil (Spedra). Their common feature is that they help increase blood flow to the penis vessels, allowing for erection in response to sexual stimulation. Without sexual stimulation, erectile dysfunction drugs are not effective.

Although the above-mentioned preparations work in the same way, are comparably effective, and have similar safety profiles, each of them differs slightly from the others. Differences lie in the onset of action, duration of action, and potential side effects.

The above-mentioned drugs are available only by prescription. However, there are over-the-counter generics available for purchase online without a prescription (following the original innovative preparations, also known as Viagra generics, Cialis generics). It is advisable to consult with your doctor about their suitability for use or to carefully read the package leaflet to avoid any potential issues that could outweigh the benefits.

What are Generics?

Generics are full equivalents of original innovative drugs whose patent protection has expired. They usually contain the same amount of active substance, the same dosage form (tablets, capsules, chewable tablets, etc.), have the same method of administration, and effects as the original innovative preparation.

After the patent of the innovative preparation expires, other pharmaceutical companies can manufacture and sell drugs with the same active ingredient, only with a different trade name, usually derived from the active substance of the preparation.

Forms of Preparations for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

Preparations for erectile dysfunction come in several dosage forms. The most well-known ones are:

Tablets - swallowed whole, not chewed, taken with liquid. The advantage is rapid administration, but absorption is slower.

Lozenges, chewable tablets - dissolve in the oral cavity, absorption into the body occurs through the oral mucosa, resulting in faster onset of action than with tablets. Moreover, more of the active substance is absorbed this way compared to tablets, where part of the active substance may be destroyed by gastric juices.

Oral jelly (oral gel, gel sachets) - the contents of the sachet can be squeezed directly into the mouth without the need to drink it. The onset of action is very rapid due to absorption of the active substance through the oral mucosa.

Effervescent tablets - soluble in water, making them very convenient to use.

Division of Drugs according to the Active Ingredient

 Taking erectile dysfunction drugs depending on the content of the active ingredient

Sildenafil citrate - the recommended dose is 50 mg approximately 1 hour before sexual activity. The dose can be increased to 100 mg or decreased to 25 mg according to efficacy and tolerability. The maximum recommended daily dose is 100 mg.

The most well-known original (innovative) medication based on sildenafil is Viagra, while its generic version is Kamagra.
You can learn more about this active ingredient in a separate article titled "Sildenafil."

Tadalafil - the recommended daily dose is 10 mg regardless of food intake, at least 30 minutes before sexual activity. For patients where the 10 mg dose of tadalafil does not lead to adequate effect, a 20 mg dose can be used. This dose is not recommended for regular use. If regular use is assumed (at least twice a week), it is advisable to consider reducing the single dose to 2.5 - 5 mg depending on tolerability.

The most well-known original (innovative) medication based on tadalafil is Cialis, with well-known generics such as Vidalista and Tadarise.
You can learn more about this active ingredient in a separate article titled "Tadalafil."

Avanafil - the recommended daily dose is 100 mg, taken approximately 15 to 30 minutes before sexual activity. Depending on individual efficacy and tolerability, the dose can be increased up to a maximum dose of 200 mg or decreased to 50 mg. The preparation should be taken no more than once daily.

The most well-known original (innovative) medication based on avanafil is Spedra, with the popular generic being Avaforce.

Vardenafil - the recommended dose is 10 mg, taken approximately 25 to 60 minutes before sexual activity. Depending on efficacy and tolerability, the dose can be increased to 20 mg or decreased to 5 mg. The maximum recommended dose is 20 mg. The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once daily.

The most well-known original (innovative) medication based on vardenafil is Levitra, with a generic version being Valif.
You can learn more about this active ingredient in a separate article titled "Vardenafil."

How to Choose an Active Ingredient?

Each of the active ingredients in individual preparations has a different onset of action and duration of this effect. This is a very good guideline for their choice depending on the user's needs.

Another guideline is the amount of active ingredient contained in the preparation. With a lower content of the active ingredient in one dose, the risk of side effects is reduced. Therefore, it is better to start with a lower dose with the possibility of later adjustment as needed.

Alternatively, we can compare various preparations with different active ingredients to determine which one suits best.

Erectile Dysfunction Medications - Interactions with Food

Alcohol and fatty foods reduce the effectiveness of erectile dysfunction medications, so it is better to completely avoid consuming fatty foods and alcohol on the day of use. The sensitivity of preparations to certain types of food is a great challenge for manufacturers, and progress is being made in this field.

A pioneer in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which is not as sensitive to the consumption of fatty foods and alcohol, is Kingmaster - lozenges containing sildenafil with a menthol flavour.

Furthermore, it is necessary to avoid consuming grapefruit and grapefruit juice due to adverse interactions with active ingredients, which could lead to health issues.

Safety of Taking Erectile Dysfunction Medications

Do not take erectile dysfunction medications if you:

• Have or have had heart and vascular problems in the past (there could be a sudden drop in blood pressure with potentially fatal consequences, especially if you are taking nitrates)
• Take medications for enlarged prostate (alpha-blockers)
• Have low or high blood pressure
• Suffer from severe liver disease
• Suffer from kidney diseases requiring dialysis
• Suffer from degenerative retinal disorders

Possible Side Effects:

• Headaches
• Stuffy nose
• Blurred vision (blurred vision, blue vision)
• Hot flashes
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Back pain
• Priapism (Priapism is a condition of prolonged and spontaneously non-resolving erection, usually very painful. If the erection lasts longer than 4 hours without sexual stimulation, medical help should be sought. If priapism is not treated immediately, it can lead to permanent damage to the penis and permanent loss of potency.)

Erectile Dysfunction Medications and Penis Size

Preparations used to achieve and maintain an erection can fill the vessels of your penis to their maximum volume. However, they cannot change your anatomy, so it is not possible to expect a miraculous enlargement of the penis in length or circumference that you have never had before.

However, they can extract the maximum from your penis with which Nature endowed it. Good news, don't you think?

You might also be interested in:

Medications for Erectile Dysfunction in Questions and Answers
Problems with Erectile Dysfunction and Visiting a Doctor

Author: Ava Williams

Sources:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/in-depth/erectile-dysfunction/art-20047821
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/treatment
https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction-medications-common-side-effects
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts
https://www.lemonaidhealth.com/blog/which-erectile-dysfunction-drug-is-best
https://www.bumc.bu.edu/sexualmedicine/informationsessions/choosing-the-right-pill-to-treat-ed/