Erectile Dysfunction can affect men no matter what age they are or stage of life they are in. Fortunately, there are various medications available to treat the condition.
In this article, we explore the differences between two popular medications that help treat Erectile Dysfunction – Viagra and Sildenafil.
WHAT ARE VIAGRA AND SILDENAFIL?
Both Viagra and Sildenafil are medications to treat Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Both medications contain the same active ingredient, also called Sildenafil, which works by increasing blood flow to the penis to cause an erection.
It works by releasing hormones when you are aroused and is best taken 30 – 60 minutes before sex. Both medications come in three different strengths: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg and the effects can last for up to 24 hours.
In conclusion, both Viagra and Sildenafil, in a medical sense, are effectively the same.
HOW ARE VIAGRA AND SILDENAFIL DIFFERENT
Although medically the same, the two medications do have some differences.
BRANDS
When pharmaceutical companies create or develop a new medication, they create a brand for it and file for a patent. This patent then stops other companies from releasing a product with the same name.
Viagra is a brand name created by a pharmaceutical company called Pfizer, the name is purely for marketing purposes.
Patents only stop companies from selling a product with the same name, for a certain period of time. After a certain time, they can be sold under a different name. In this case, the unbranded version of Viagra is Sildenafil.
PRICE
Branded products are often more expensive than non-branded, for example:
- For 25mg of Viagra, prices start from £29.49 for 4 tablets
- For 25mg of Sildenafil, prices start from £7.95 for 4 tablets
The reason non-branded products are cheaper is that companies selling them are often competing with other generic manufacturers, which drives the product price down. The company that produced the branded version has established their brand name in the market and may look to keep their prices high.
INACTIVE INGREDIENTS
Both Viagra and Sildenafil have the same active ingredients, but they have different inactive ingredients.
The inactive ingredients don’t change the medical effect of the drug, but they can change the way they look.
AVAILABILITY
If you choose to buy from an online pharmacy like PostMyMeds, both medications are easy to access. However, if you get them through the NHS, due to Viagra being more expensive, you are more likely to be prescribed Sildenafil.
MEDICAL STUDIES
Due to the prominence of the brand names, there are often more medical studies carried out on the drug.
Viagra has been in the market a lot longer than Sildenafil which means there are more medical studies published, but this doesn’t mean Sildenafil is any less effective.
HOW DO I DECIDE WHAT TO BUY?
Both medications will achieve the same results, so the main decision you need to make is based on price and brands.
If brands are something that is important to you and you can afford the prices, then Viagra is an option, if not Sildenafil is a perfect alternative that will achieve the same results.
OTHER MEDICATIONS AVAILABLE TO TREAT ED
If you try Viagra or Sildenafil and find they don’t achieve the results you need, then there are other options you can choose – both branded and non-branded.
There is a selection of medications that treat ED called PDE5 inhibitors, see our guide to choosing the right Erectile Dysfunction medication to find out more.
HOW TO BUY SILDENAFIL AND VIAGRA
You can buy either medication in three easy steps:
- Complete a quick, 60-second consultation
- Select a suitable treatment
- Get fast, free and discrete delivery
Buy Sildenafil or Viagra today.
