Long-lasting tablet treatment for ED. Effective after 30 minutes.
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Similar to Viagra connect — single-dose sildenafil, without the prescription.
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Injectable treatment that's very similar to Caverject. Works from 5 minutes and lasts up to 1 hour.
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Rebranded version of Viagra that comes in one dose (50mg) and doesn't need a prescription.
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The one you've heard of. Works in 30-60 minutes and lasts for up to 5 hours.
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Non-branded version of Levitra. Works in the same way, but cheaper.
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Tablet that works from just 15 minutes. Works in the same way as Viagra and lasts for 5 hours.
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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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Lower dose pill. Better option if you're older or have a pre-existing condition like diabetes.
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Injection that's slightly different to Caverject. Recommended when other treatments haven't worked.
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It’s estimated that hundreds of millions of 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’, 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 and 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 five hours. But some drugs, like Cialis, can be taken daily, or stay in your system for longer – 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 that melt on your mouth. 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.
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.
‘Over the counter’ ED drugs aren’t available in the same way that medications like paracetamol are. They’re what’s known as pharmacy medicines, or non-prescription. 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 two ‘over-the-counter’ (non-prescription) treatment options for erectile dysfunction: ‘Viagra connect’ (at 50mg) and Sildenafil 50mg. As the middle dose of three available doses, these are considered the ‘go-to’ dose.
There isn’t much difference between these two treatments, 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 sildenafil can sometimes 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.
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.
The global prevalence of erectile dysfunction: a review. BJU International, 124(4), pp.587–599.
Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) Inhibitors In the Management of Erectile Dysfunction. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 38(7), pp.407–419.
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