Despite essentially being the same thing, the brand name and recognition of Viagra means it can be sold at much higher prices.
Viagra (25, 50, 100 mg) is approved to treat erectile dysfunction, while 20 mg sildenafil (Revatio) can be prescribed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in addition to erectile dysfunction. Viagra is famous as the "little blue pill” and is diamond shaped. Sildenafil in tablet form varies in appearance by generic manufacturer, typically off-white or white in color. The price is probably the most important difference to the consumer. Branded Viagra is much more expensive than generic versions of sildenafil. Viagra and sildenafil both last for three to five hour, but depending on dose can last longer.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kamagra Polo | 100mg | 12 Pills | 60.21€ 57.34€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 10 Pills | 28.91€ 27.53€ | |
| Kamagra | 100mg | 360 + 6 Pills | 839.95€ 799.95€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 180 + 8 Pills | 425.45€ 405.19€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 180 + 8 Pills | 199.37€ 189.88€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 20 Pills | 40.52€ 38.59€ | |
| Kamagra Polo | 100mg | 84 + 4 Pills | 244.49€ 232.85€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100mg | 63 + 7 Sachets | 224.18€ 213.50€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100mg | 30 + 5 Sachets | 136.20€ 129.71€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 30 + 4 Pills | 60.91€ 58.01€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 12 Pills | 57.55€ 54.81€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 360 + 10 Pills | 330.21€ 314.49€ |
There are a few additional factors that can influence sildenafil's effectiveness, which include: For the greatest effect, Viagra and sildenafil should be taken on an empty or light stomach, or in the absence of a high-fat meal. Eating a large, heavy, or high-fat meal prior to taking sildenafil can dramatically increase the time it takes for the body to absorb and deploy the medication.
PDE5 can restrict blood flow to blood vessels located in the spongy penis tissue known as the corpus cavernosa. This is the tissue that helps the penis to become erect when aroused. During arousal, the corpus cavernosa fills with blood, creating an erection in much the same way air inside a balloon slowly enlarges the balloon. PDE5 is essentially the body's natural braking system on erections, helping to slow and reduce erections after orgasm or ejaculation. Sildenafil and other similar medications help to stop PDE5 from restricting sildenafil syrup blood flow into these blood vessels and relax the muscles in the penis.
As a result, the penis gets the blood it needs to maintain an erection. Typically, a dose of sildenafil will be 25mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg depending on the degree of the erectile dysfunction. Pills are to be taken within an hour of sexual activity for maximum effectiveness and will stay in the body for three to five hours. Viagra is specifically marketed to treat erectile dysfunction, but sildenafil has another use. Individuals that suffer from pulmonary arterial hypertension sometimes use sildenafil to treat their condition. High-fat meals can make sildenafil less effective. Smoking is incredibly bad for your health in general, and this is just another reason to quit. The nicotine that’s found in tobacco is known to reduce blood flow and cause vasoconstriction, and smoking causes significant damage to the heart, lungs, blood vessels, and nerves. All of these are crucial to the process of achieving an erection.
Alcohol in small doses is acceptable but moderate-to-heavy chronic drinking can make it much more difficult to get an erection over time. When taking Viagra or sildenafil, it’s best to avoid alcohol altogether. The combination can end up lowering your blood sildenafil spray pressure too far, resulting in dizziness, lightheadedness, or headaches as well as making it more difficult to get an erection. There are many misconceptions about Viagra and how it works. People may think it’s as simple as popping a pill and getting an erection, but it’s more complex than that.
In the late 1980s, Pfizer chemists were researching a new potential treatment for high blood pressure called sildenafil. Initially it looked as though sildenafil could be a good match for treating angina, a form of chest pain, but they found results in humans were not particularly promising. What they did discover was how effective sildenafil could be at producing erections in men. After a few more years of research and clinical trials, Pfizer successfully patented sildenafil, and two years later it would be approved by the Food and Drug Administration as an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction, in 1998. Viagra hit the shelves, and the world was sildenafil citrate 100 mg never the same.
While sildenafil can still be used to treat high blood pressure (more on that later) it’s primarily used to help men achieve and maintain erections strong enough for sexual intercourse. Things would change in 2017 as the patent for Viagra expired, allowing for the sale of generic sildenafil at much lower prices. Generic drugmakers flooded in from 2017 to 2020, and today a variety of companies manufacture generic sildenafil. Most generic sildenafil products are simply labeled as “sildenafil,” but there are some manufacturers that use other names. Sildenafil is technically a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, which means that it helps to block the PDE5 enzyme that affects certain muscles in the penis and the heart. For starters, Viagra does not work unless you are or get sexually aroused.
Revatio, also made by Pfizer, is a branded medication that has the same active ingredient (sildenafil) as Viagra but is used to treat hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension can cause smooth muscles in the lungs to become irritated and inflamed, which restricts blood flow to certain lung arteries. Revatio is used to relax and widen blood vessels in the lungs to reduce pulmonary blood pressure to the heart and therefore improve its function. This reduction in blood pressure helps the individual to become more active and improve their heart and lung health. Another stark difference between Revatio and Viagra is the size of the dose and when it’s taken.
Revatio is a smaller dose than Viagra at 20mg or less, but is taken up to three times daily, whereas Viagra is only to be taken when needed. In addition, Revatio can be taken as an oral tablet, a liquid, or an injection while Viagra is strictly available in pill form. For the most part, there are no differences between Viagra (sildenafil citrate) and sildenafil. The active ingredients are identical and the only differences are due to marketing. That’s not to say that there are no differences between sildenafil versions, however: Viagra (25, 50, 100 mg) is approved to treat erectile dysfunction, while 20 mg sildenafil (Revatio) can be prescribed to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension in addition to erectile dysfunction. It may take some time before it's broken down and the drug begins to kick in, but if you don't have any sexual stimuli, it generally won’t work. Foreplay and other methods of stimulation are important to how effective the medication will be. For the most part there are few serious side effects from taking Viagra or generic sildenafil.
| Form | Strengths | Route of Administration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablets | 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg | Oral | Most common form |
| Sublingual Tablets | 25 mg, 50 mg | Sublingual | Faster absorption |
| Extended-release Capsules | 100 mg | Oral | Less common |
| Oral Suspension | Customizable doses | Oral | Experimental/clinical use |
The most common side effects reported are headaches, indigestion, and flushing of the face or body, but even these are not frequent.
When used to treat PAH, blood pressure-lowering effects are noticeable within one to two hours. Medicines that interact with sildenafil may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with sildenafil. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. Sildenafil is metabolized mainly by CYP3A4 and to some extent by CYP2C9.
It also weakly inhibits CYP1A2, 2C(, 2C19, 2D^, 2E1, and 3A4. Any drug that is a substrate of one of these enzymes could potentially interact with sildenafil. In addition, taking sildenafil with too much alcohol can lead to orthostatic hypotension, which is a drop in blood pressure when you go from a sitting or lying down position to standing. Symptoms include a headache, dizziness, or fainting when standing. Antacids, such as magnesium hydroxide or aluminum hydroxide may also affect the absorption of sildenafil. Priapism (erection lasting longer than four hours) Priapism (erection lasting longer than four hours) It’s also extremely important to note that you should talk with your provider about other medications that you may be taking before taking Viagra or sildenafil in any form.
| Effect | Mechanism | Onset Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vasodilation | Increased cGMP in smooth muscle | 30 mins | 4-6 hours |
| Blood Pressure Reduction | Vasodilation effects | Rapid | Several hours |
| Enhanced Erectile Function | Increased blood flow to penis | 30 mins | Up to 4-6 hours |
It can potentially impact these other medications and cause serious health issues. If you meet any of the following criteria, you should generally talk to a provider, and sildenafil or other PDE5 inhibitors may not be appropriate: Take alpha blockers for high blood pressure Take alpha blockers for high blood pressure Have been diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease Have been diagnosed with Peyronie’s disease Overall the only difference between sildenafil citrate and sildenafil is related to manufacturing and marketing. Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra, as well as generic forms of Viagra with the same dose, purpose, and FDA label.
Grapefruit juice may also increase the side effects of sildenafil. Note that this list is not all-inclusive and includes only common medications that may interact with sildenafil. You should refer to the prescribing information for sildenafil for a complete list of interactions. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use sildenafil only for the indication prescribed. Sometimes a brand name is so popular that it becomes synonymous with an item.
Chapstick instead of lip balm, Jacuzzi instead of hot tub, and Crock Pot instead of slow cooker. Another example of this phenomena is Viagra®. Viagra is the brand name for the medication and active ingredient sildenafil citrate. Viagra is just one oral medication option among many that can treat erectile dysfunction. The differences between sildenafil citrate (Viagra) and the generic sildenafil are few in terms of effectiveness, but many in terms of branding. From a chemical composition and scientific point of view, there are no differences between Viagra and sildenafil. The key differences are related to how it’s presented, what it can be used for, and price. Choosing Viagra over other forms of generic sildenafil will not necessarily help to relieve erectile dysfunction any better, but there will be a price difference. Learn more about getting ED meds delivered with Rex MD by clicking here.
50 mg PO ~1 hr before sexual activity; however, may be taken anywhere from 30 min to 4 hr before sexual activity Maximum dosing frequency is once per day Based on effectiveness and toleration, may increase dose to maximum of 100 mg or decrease to 25 mg Indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (World Health Organization [WHO] Group I) to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening Revatio (PO), Liqrev: 20 mg PO TID; may titrate up to 80 mg TID, if required, based on symptoms and tolerability Revatio (IV): 10 mg IV bolus TID 10-mg IV predicted to provide pharmacologic effect equivalent to 10-mg oral dose Do not exceed recommended PO/IV dose Viagra, VibriqueSevere (eg, cirrhosis): Consider initial dose of 25 mg Severe (eg, cirrhosis): Consider initial dose of 25 mg RevatioMild or moderate (Child-Pugh A or B): No dose adjustment requiredSevere (Child-Pugh C): Not studied Mild or moderate (Child-Pugh A or B): No dose adjustment required Viagra, VibriqueMild or moderate (CrCl 30-80 mL/min): No dose adjustment requiredSevere (CrCl <30 mL/min): Consider initial dose of 25 mg Mild or moderate (CrCl 30-80 mL/min): No dose adjustment required Severe (CrCl <30 mL/min): Consider initial dose of 25 mg RevatioAny severity, including severe (CrCl <30 mL/min): No dose adjustment required Any severity, including severe (CrCl <30 mL/min): No dose adjustment required Indicated in children aged 1-17 years for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (WHO Group I) to improve exercise ability and, in pediatric patients too young to perform standard exercise testing, pulmonary hemodynamics thought to underly improvements in exercise 20-45 kg: 20 mg PO TID Maximum dose in pediatric patients not identified Based on experience in adults, dose may be titrated up to 40 mg TID, if required, based on symptoms and tolerability Mild or moderate (Child-Pugh A or B): No dose adjustment required Any severity, including severe (CrCl <30 mL/min): No dose adjustment required ≥65 years: 25 mg PO initially ~1 hr before sexual activity; however, may be taken anywhere from 30 min to 4 hr before sexual activity Maximum dosing frequency is once per day Based on effectiveness and toleration, may increase dose to maximum of 100 mg or decrease to 25 mg Indicated for treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) (World Health Organization [WHO] Group I) to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening PO: 20 mg PO TID; may titrate up to 80 mg TID, if required , based on symptoms and tolerability 10-mg IV predicted to provide pharmacologic effect equivalent to 10-mg oral dose Recommended PO/IV dose not to be exceeded Adding Revatio to bosentan does not have any beneficial effect on exercise capacity Clinical trials found no significant difference in response between elderly patients and younger adults; however, cautious dose selection should be considered in elderly because of greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, and cardiac function, as well