Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition affecting around 40% of men at age 40 and 70% at age 70.1 While you may feel some embarrassment, know that you are not alone and there are effective medications available to you from the privacy of your own home.
Vardenafil (Levitra®) and sildenafil (Viagra®) are two commonly prescribed prescription medications for ED. Read on to learn more about how they work, their effectiveness and how much you can expect to pay for each.
What is vardenafil (Levitra®)?
Vardenafil (Levitra®) is a medication prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction in men. It belongs to a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors and works by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. While vardenafil does not cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire, the increased blood flow to the genitals can cause an erection.
Vardenafil comes as a rapidly disintegrating oral tablet.2 Recommendations are to take as needed, 60 minutes before sexual activity. The most commonly prescribed dosage is 10 mg once per day as needed.3 Depending on your personal needs and direction from your medical provider, you may be prescribed 5 mg or 20 mg doses. The effects of vardenafil last for approximately four hours after ingestion.4 Vardenafil usually should not be taken more than once every 24 hours.
What is sildenafil (Viagra®)?
Sildenafil (Viagra®) is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. Sildenafil is in a class of medications called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors which treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation. This increased blood flow can lead to an erection. However, sildenafil cannot cure erectile dysfunction or increase sexual desire.
Sildenafil is also prescribed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.6
For most patients, the recommended dosage is 50 mg approximately one hour before sexual activity. However, sildenafil can be taken anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity.7 Your medical provider may prescribe a different dosage, depending on your needs, of 20 mg, 25 mg or 100 mg. The effects of sildenafil last approximately four hours.8
What are the differences between vardenafil and sildenafil?
Vardenafil and sildenafil are similarly effective at treating erectile dysfunction. Both are phosphodiesterase inhibitors; however, vardenafil has been shown to be more potent and more selective than sildenafil at inhibiting phosphodiesterase-5. Vardenafil does not inhibit phosphodiesterase-6, which has been connected to a rare side effect of sildenafil of altered color perception.9
Sildenafil also acts faster than vardenafil, kicking in as soon as 30 minutes. Vardenafil is effective closer to 60 minutes after ingestion.10
How effective are vardenafil and sildenafil for erectile dysfunction?
Vardenafil has been shown in studies to be effective for erectile dysfunction in 71% of men under the age of 45, 76% of men aged 45-64 and 85% of men over 65.11
Up to 87% of men in one study with a broad spectrum of participants reported sildenafil had improved their erections compared with 11.3%-41.3% of patients in subgroups receiving a placebo.12
How do the side effects compare for vardenafil and sildenafil?
Common side effects of vardenafil include:13
Headache.
Upset stomach.
Heartburn.
Flushing.
Stuffy or runny nose.
Flu-like symptoms.
Sildenafil has many of the same side effects as vardenafil like headache, flushing, nasal congestion and nausea/upset stomach. A few side effects that sildenafil has that aren’t common with vardenafil include:14
Heartburn.
Diarrhea.
Nosebleeds.
Numbness, burning or tingling in the arms, hands, feet or legs.
Pain in muscles, back, arms or legs.
Changes in color vision (seeing a blue tinge on objects or having difficulty telling the difference between blue and green).
Sensitivity to light.
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Get Started for FreeWhat are common drug interactions for vardenafil and sildenafil?
Negative interactions may occur if the following drugs or substances are consumed while taking vardenafil15 or sildenafil:16
Nitrates (including Nitroglycerin).
Alpha-blockers.
Antihypertensives.
Alcohol.
Can vardenafil and sildenafil be taken together?
It is not advised to take vardenafil and sildenafil together, as it may cause blood pressure to fall excessively. Additionally, there would be an increased risk of other side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, headache, flushing, heart palpitations and priapism (prolonged and painful erection unrelated to sexual activity).17
How do costs compare for vardenafil and sildenafil?
The average cost of vardenafil is $20 for two tablets.18 With RedBox Rx, you can get generic vardenafil for as low as $3 per tablet.
The average cost of sildenafil is approximately $10 for two tablets.19 With RedBox Rx, you can get generic sildenafil for $5 and as low as $1 per tablet when choosing larger quantities. You can also see how RedBox Rx compares to other online pharmacies in the chart below.
Sildenafil (Viagra®) 100 mg Price Example
| Brand | Per Tablet | 20 Tablets |
|---|---|---|
RedBox Rx |
$5.00* |
$100 |
Roman® |
$34.00 |
$680 |
Hims® |
$10.00 |
$200 |
Rex MDTM |
$8.50 |
$170 |
*Discounts for larger quantities as low as $1.00 per tablet.
Are vardenafil and sildenafil available over the counter?
Both vardenafil20 and sildenafil21 require a prescription. You can obtain a prescription online for vardenafil and sildenafil. You cannot get vardenafil or sildenafil over the counter.
Additionally, the FDA warns against purchasing over-the-counter vardenafil and sildenafil alternatives because they are not regulated and pose health risks like dangerously low blood pressure.22 RedBox Rx only prescribes FDA-approved medications for ED.
Vardenafil (Levitra®) vs. Sildenafil (Viagra®) Comparison Chart
How RedBox Rx can help
RedBox Rx makes obtaining a prescription for ED, like vardenafil or sildenafil, easy and affordable.
Benefits of RedBox Rx include:
Transparent, affordable, flat rates for ED medications starting at $1 per tablet.
Free consultations with a U.S. licensed medical professional.
No insurance required. FSA and HSA eligible.
No office wait times or scheduling issues typical with physical medical practices.
Free shipping directly to you.
Start your treatment today with our ED assessment and free online consultation.
