Though it’s more of an erection cream than an erection gel, alprostadil can be an effective topical treatment for ED.
| Drug Class | Examples | Effect | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitroglycerin | Nitroglycerin | Severe hypotension | Avoid concomitant use |
| Alpha-blockers | Doxazosin, Tamsulosin | Enhanced blood pressure lowering | Use with caution |
| CYP3A4 inhibitors | Ketoconazole, Erythromycin | Increased sildenafil plasma levels | Dose adjustment may be necessary |
| Other PDE5 inhibitors | Tadalafil, Vardenafil | Additive effect and increased risk of side effects | Avoid combining |
You simply apply it before sexual activity and wait for it to do its magic (that is, boost blood flow to your penis).
A 2016 review of studies suggested alprostadil cream could be a potential second-line therapy for erectile dysfunction. In other words, it might help those who can’t (or don’t want to) use PDE5 inhibitors like sildenafil.
Be ready for sex whenever you're in the mood You may know it as the “little blue pill,” but have you heard of “Viagra gel” or “topical Viagra?” Scrolling through online forums for erectile dysfunction (ED), you may have seen discussions about a so-called sildenafil gel or sildenafil cream referring to the active ingredient in Viagra®, one of the most popular medications for ED. You massage these products onto the head of your penis and boom — you’re meant to get an erection soon after. Sildenafil isn’t available as a topical gel. One such product available over the counter (OTC) is Eroxon® StimGel, an ED gel inaccurately dubbed “topical Viagra.” Despite the moniker, Eroxon doesn’t contain sildenafil citrate — neither do any of the other erection gels and topicals commonly mislabeled as “Viagra gel.” While there are a few studies on OTC erectile dysfunction gels as potential treatments for ED, there’s currently not enough research to confirm they work as well as FDA-approved prescription ED drugs. If you’re one of the millions of men who experience erectile dysfunction, it’s good to know your options.
Let’s talk about sildenafil gel for ED and other potential treatments. Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is in a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors. These medications block the enzyme PDE5, which helps widen blood vessels to improve blood flow to the penis, making it easier to get and maintain an erection. When it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, sildenafil was the first oral medication available specifically for treating erectile dysfunction. While alprostadil cream is sold in several countries, it’s not available in the United States. The FDA has approved some forms of alprostadil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction — injections and pellets, to be specific — but not alprostadil cream. Right now, no gel-based version of sildenafil is available to the public in the United States. Over the years, some researchers have looked at the effectiveness of topical sildenafil gel for erectile dysfunction, with largely mixed results.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 20 Pills | 37.74€ 35.94€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 20 Pills | 79.79€ 75.99€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 60 + 4 Pills | 71.99€ 68.56€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 270 + 8 Pills | 198.48€ 189.03€ | |
| Kamagra Polo | 100mg | 84 + 4 Pills | 244.49€ 232.85€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 10 Pills | 28.91€ 27.53€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 120 + 6 Pills | 129.64€ 123.47€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 12 Pills | 57.55€ 54.81€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 272 + 12 Pills | 593.42€ 565.16€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100mg | 220 + 18 Sachets | 662.24€ 630.70€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 20 Pills | 61.69€ 58.75€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 120 + 8 Pills | 177.58€ 169.12€ |
A small 2005 study with less than 100 participants compared the effects of topical sildenafil to oral sildenafil to see which was a more effective treatment for ED. Of the men treated with topical sildenafil, 12.5 percent achieved a “complete erection” after a short period of massage.
Another 12.5 percent got a “moderate erection,” and the remaining 75 percent didn’t achieve an erection at all. In comparison, 70 percent of those who got oral sildenafil achieved a complete erection, with 15 percent getting a moderate erection. Only 15 percent of the men in this group didn’t achieve an erection following treatment. Put simply, the oral sildenafil tablet was significantly more effective than the topical sildenafil gel.
These chemicals are found in various cosmetics and function as thickening agents, moisturizers, and lubricants. Other PDE5 inhibitors, specifically tadalafil, work better. In a second clinical trial comparing Eroxon (Med3000) to tadalafil (generic for Cialis), tadalafil showed a “greater improvement in erectile function.” Other PDE5 inhibitors, specifically tadalafil, work better. In a second clinical trial comparing Eroxon (Med3000) to tadalafil (generic for Cialis), tadalafil showed a “greater improvement in erectile function.” Some drug manufacturers make a version of sildenafil that’s sold as an oral jelly. This includes Kamagra Oral Jelly®, a flavored jelly from the Indian pharmaceutical company Ajanta Pharma.
If swallowing a tablet is difficult for you, Kamagra may sound appealing. However, sildenafil jellies haven’t been approved by the FDA, and they aren’t legally available in the United States. The same goes for Osidea GL, another sildenafil gel from a Mexican manufacturer. Still, you might come across U.S.-based online stores selling Kamagra. They may market these products as supplements for sexual performance. More recently, a 2022 review explored whether topical PDE5 inhibitors may help with erectile dysfunction. It concluded that these treatments can be “promising” in mild to moderate cases of erectile dysfunction.
| Feature | Gel | Tablet | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed of Absorption | Faster | Slower | Gel bypasses GI tract |
| Convenience | Easy to apply directly | Swallowed whole | Discreet use |
| Dosage Flexibility | Customizable per application | Fixed doses | Better for dose titration |
| Side Effects | Lower GI irritation | More systemic exposure | Reduced gastrointestinal side effects |
Though we might eventually get a sildenafil-based erection gel, reviews like these are few and far between.
So pass on the Kamagra, and speak with a healthcare professional sildenafil pink pill if you’re experiencing any form of sexual dysfunction. If a flavored treatment sounds good to you, consider Hims chewable ED mints. Some mixed up Viagra gel with AndroGel®, a topical gel prescribed to men with low testosterone levels. AndroGel contains testosterone, a critical hormone for controlling your level of interest in sex. Although the link between testosterone and erections isn’t totally clear, this type of medication may offer benefits if you have a weak sex drive caused by low testosterone.
One small randomized study looked at the effects of testosterone gel on erectile dysfunction in men who didn’t get results from using sildenafil alone. The study only examined hypogonadal men, meaning they all had low hormone levels at the beginning of the trial. The researchers concluded that testosterone gel, when combined with sildenafil, may improve erectile function in hypogonadal men. While this is great news for guys with low testosterone levels, AndroGel probably shouldn’t be considered as a solo treatment for erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil gel might also be confused with alprostadil cream. More research is needed before topical sildenafil is offered to the public.
To say this is a red flag is an understatement. Selling Kamagra in the United States is illegal, for one thing, and there’s no way to tell if the products are real or fake. Kamagra is the most common imitation ED medication sold online, according to a 2010 review. The review also found that fake ED medications are often mislabeled and filled with contaminants — like talcum powder, commercial paint, and printer ink — as well as other dodgy ingredients. Basically, it’s not something you’d want in (or on) your body.
Though these stores let you purchase ED medications without a prescription, buying from them is ill-advised. Sildenafil can be safe for many people, but it’s not suitable for everyone. For instance, it can be dangerous to use sildenafil if you’re also taking nitrates or hypertension (high blood pressure) medication. This combination could lead to dangerously low blood pressure. Although buying over-the-counter Viagra may sound convenient, landing in the hospital on date night is absolutely not. Let’s face it: Erectile dysfunction can be frustrating. The good news is that it’s almost always treatable with the right approach. Several medications are currently available for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, including: Viagra and generic sildenafil tablets typically start working in less than an hour, providing relief from erectile dysfunction for up to four hours a dose.
But while some news outlets have dubbed Eroxon “topical Viagra,” the medication isn’t a PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra. Instead of blocking the PDE5 enzyme, this erectile dysfunction gel physically cools and warms the penis, according to the manufacturer’s website. This is thought to stimulate nerve endings and release nitric oxide to encourage better blood flow to the area. In a 12-week clinical trial of 250 men published on the manufacturer’s website, more than 60 percent saw improvement in ED symptoms, with some men getting erections within 10 minutes. A fast-acting formula might sound appealing, given that Viagra takes around 30 minutes.
However, there are some interesting factors to consider: Eroxon was the “placebo” in its first clinical trial. In the 12-week clinical trial, Eroxon was actually the “placebo.” The active drug consisted of nitroglycerin, a vasodilator. During the trial, researchers found that Eroxon (the placebo) performed almost as well as the active drug. Eroxon was the “placebo” in its first clinical trial. The FDA calls Eroxon a “non-medicated hydro-alcoholic gel.” It contains ethanol, carbomer, propylene, glycerine, and potassium hydroxide. Viagra and generic sildenafil tablets typically start working in less than an hour, providing relief from erectile dysfunction for up to four hours a dose.
You need a prescription to buy and use sildenafil. Sildenafil is pretty effective and safe when used correctly. But contrary to internet rumors, it’s only available as a pill — not as a gel. Some studies have looked at the possibility of using a sildenafil gel for erectile dysfunction. However, no manufacturers have actually pushed for it to be FDA-approved.
Because of this, it’s currently not possible to buy a sildenafil-based ED gel in the U.S. Many people seem to confuse sildenafil gel with sildenafil jelly, which is taken orally and isn’t available in the United States. (Well, not unless you get it from a dodgy online shop — which we don’t suggest.) It may also be confused with AndroGel® and alprostadil cream — more on these below. If you’re looking for a topical treatment for ED, Eroxon StimGel is a newer FDA-approved option. Made by the UK-based pharmaceutical company Futura Medical, it’s the first topical ED treatment legally available over the counter in the United States. The active ingredient in Cialis, tadalafil is also available as a generic medication. It’s by far the longest-lasting treatment for ED — a single tablet works for up to 36 hours.
| Parameter | Value | Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Absorption Rate | 45 | min | Time to peak plasma concentration |
| Peak Plasma Level | 15 | ng/mL | After application |
| Half-life | 4.2 | hours | Elimination half-life |
| Bioavailability | 25 | % | Compared to oral administration |
The active ingredient in Levitra®, vardenafil comes in tablet form and lasts up to four hours like sildenafil.