Similar to Viagra connect — single-dose sildenafil, without the prescription.
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Comes as an on-demand pill that lasts for 36 hours, or as a daily dose that's active all the time.
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A bit of everything. 3 different tablets you can try to see which one works best for you.
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Injection that's slightly different to Caverject. Recommended when other treatments haven't worked.
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Liberize is a tablet for ED. Same active ingredient as Viagra, but cheaper.
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Like Viagra, but cheaper and works in the same way. Non-branded version of the original ED drug.
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It’s estimated that around 150 million men around the world get ED. So it follows that there are quite a lot of different erectile dysfunction treatments available; no one treatment is ever going to work perfectly for everyone.
For the first time user, it might not seem obvious where to start. But luckily, there is a ‘path’ you can follow – starting with a certain type of ED drug if you’re new to treatment, and moving onto other types if these don’t work.
The most common treatment for erectile dysfunction is a type of drug known as a ‘PDE5 inhibitor’ (PED5i), which includes the famous Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil), as well as vardenafil and avanafil. These will all work in largely similar ways, which is to relax the muscles around your penis to increase blood flow, making it easier to achieve an erection when you become aroused.
Usually you’ll need to take these drugs around an hour before you plan to have sex, and they’ll last in your system for around three to five hours. But some drugs, like Cialis, can be taken daily, or stay in your system up to 36 hours with the weekend pill – so you can be ‘good to go’ whenever you need to.
Typically, if you’re taking ED drugs for the first time, you’ll be recommended one of sildenafil or tadalafil. This is because they have a proven record of being effective treatments , and come as an oral tablet – meaning many people use them without too much difficulty.
But they’re not always going to work or be suitable for everyone. Fortunately, there’s also a range of different types of treatments including creams, injections and tablets. In the table below, you can compare the different ED treatments on offer, and weigh up their pros and cons, so you can see whether they could be right for you.
| Treatment | Pros | Cons | Who's it for? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra (sildenafil) | widely available, long safety record, easy-to-take tablet | can be expensive (but there is a cheaper generic alternative) | a good starting point for men experiencing ED |
| Viagra Connect (sildenafil) | no prescription required, widely available | only one dosage | for those who don’t want or need to have a consultation with a doctor |
| Cialis (tadalafil) | Cialis daily allows you to be ready for sex any day any time. Cialis weekend is active in your system for up to 36 hours | can be expensive (but there is a cheaper generic alternative) | those who may want to have more spontaneity for sex |
| Vardenafil | more potent so a small dosage can provide good effects and with a smaller chance of side effects | like other PDE5i drugs it can only be taken once a day | men who’ve experienced side effects on other ED pills or haven’t had great results with other brands |
| Spedra (avanafil) | gets to work within 15 minutes | some men find it less effective than alternative brands | those who want to be ready for action in 15 minutes |
| Caverject (alprostadil) | very effective for men who have tried tablets without great results | is an injection, no generic version available | those who have found oral ED medication hasn't worked well enough |
| Vitaros Cream (alprostadil) | not a tablet, applied direct to the penis | no generic version available | for men who didn't get a great result from tablets and who don't want to try injections |
| Viridal Duo (alprostadil) | not a tablet, an injection | no generic version available | those who have found oral ED medication hasn't worked well enough |
| Invicorp (aviptadil/phentolamine) | not a tablet, applied direct to the penis, works in 5 minutes | no generic version available, works for up to an hour | those who have found oral ED medication hasn't worked well enough |
| MUSE (alprostadil) | not a tablet, applied directly to the penis | no generic version available | for men who didn't get a great result from tablets and who don't want to try injections |
| Liberize (sildenafil) | similar to Viagra but cheaper. No prescription required | only one dose available | for men who want a prescription-free treatment that's relatively cheaper |
| ED trial pack (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, avanafil) | get to trial different treatments | will need a prescription | for those who haven't used treatment before |
Everyone is different. So the best ED treatment for you might be completely different to what’s best for someone else. Most ED treatments need a prescription, so it’s important to be honest about your health when you talk to your clinician about treatment options, as well as the extent of your condition. And tell them about any other medications you might be taking – as these could impact your suitability for different treatments.
Keep in mind that whatever treatment you try isn’t guaranteed to work straight away. Finding the right treatment for you can take time, and many people find that their treatment doesn’t start working for them until they’ve tried it a few times. So don’t worry if you’ve tried a treatment a couple of times and it’s not worked – sometimes the third time’s the charm.
‘Non-prescription’ ED drugs aren’t available in the same way that over-the-counter medications (like paracetamol) are. They’re what’s known as pharmacy medicines. This basically means that you won’t need a formal prescription from your doctor to buy them, but a pharmacist will still need to ask you a few questions before you can buy them to make sure that they’re safe and suitable for you to take – you can’t just pick them off the shelf and pay for them at the checkout.
Right now, there are only five non-prescription treatment options for erectile dysfunction: Viagra Connect (at 50mg), Sildenafil 50mg, Aronix (sildenafil 50mg), Cialis Together (tadalafil 10mg) and Liberize (sildenafil 50mg). These are generally considered the ‘go-to’ doses that are safe and effective for most people.
For the medications containing sildenafil, there isn’t much difference between them, aside from the fact that they’re made by different labs, and that Viagra will come with that distinctive blue colour and diamond shape, whereas the other three look a little different.
Sildenafil will be a bit cheaper, though. So if you don’t mind whether your treatment is branded or not, the generic sildenafil might be the better option for you.
Another point to consider is that medications containing sildenafil usually stay active in your system for up to five hours. On the other hand, Cialis Together can last for up to 36 hours, offering a longer window for intimacy.
Sometimes a treatment might not work the same way it used to, or you might be struggling with some side effects, or perhaps you’ve been recommended a different treatment by someone else. Whatever the reason, our experts can give you the advice you need.
Talk to us about your health, and we’ll talk you through what options can be most suitable for you. Whether you want to change your dosage, or try a new treatment entirely, we offer a range of treatments on flexible subscriptions. So whichever treatment is right for you, we’ll help you find it.
Erectile Dysfunction.
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) Inhibitors In the Management of Erectile Dysfunction. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 38(7), pp.407–419.
Last updated on Aug 27, 2024.
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