Most men with erectile dysfunction (ED) are able to get back their lost erectile function by addressing and managing the underlying conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, among others. However, some men need medications to get some assistance in achieving and keeping an erection.
The FDA has approved oral medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and avanafil (Stendra), for the treatment of ED.
These drugs belong to the class of pharmacological agents called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. They inhibit the secretion of the PDE5 enzyme in the body in order to stop the degradation of a chemical called cGMP. When this happens, the body is able to release nitric oxide on sexual stimulation, increasing blood supply to the penile organ for an erection.
What Generic ED Drugs Are Available?
Currently, the below-mentioned generic ED drugs are available in the market. Generic ED drugs are much, much cheaper than their branded counterparts. They could be 80 to 85% cheaper than brand versions.
- sildenafil (Generic Viagra)
- tadalafil (Generic Cialis)
- vardenafil (Generic Levitra)
- avanafil (Generic Stendra)
These generic impotence drugs work similarly to each other. However, there are subtle differences in their onset and duration of action. For instance, Generic Cialis has a long-lasting effect of 36 hours than other drugs that last for four to six hours. Generic Stendra takes around 15 minutes to work, while other drugs need at least 30 minutes to start working.
Men should not use these generic ED drugs if they take nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, for chest pain, or alpha-blockers for high blood pressure. A combination of nitrates or alpha-blockers and any of these generic ED medicines can decrease your blood pressure to a potentially dangerous level.
Word of Caution
If you are affected by the expensiveness of brand-name drugs and want to use generic ED drugs, make sure you check with your doctor first. More importantly, always follow the instructions on your prescription label carefully and take these drugs exactly as directed.
It is worth trying generic ED drugs if you do not want to burn a hole in your pocket by spending more dollars on branded versions. They work just as well at fixing ED as their branded counterparts. The choice of medication can be left on the patient, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP). It also states that the choice of generic medications may depend on the price and patients’ lifestyle.
