FirstMed Consulting Blog

This week, we at Firstmed are continuing to explore some of the more frequent queries we receive from our customers regarding the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Most people on the planet have heard of Viagra at some stage or another. It was launched amid a media storm in 1999 and has subsequently become not only a medical treatment but a part of popular culture. Punch lines aside, Viagra fundamentally remains a treatment for ED, but is it the only one? There are alternatives to the ‘little blue pill’ and many people want to know, are they as good as the original.

Do the New Erectile-Dysfunction Drugs Work as Well as Viagra?

Two drugs, Levitra, from Bayer AG and GlaxoSmithKline PLC, and Cialis, from Eli Lilly & Co., were introduced in 2003 and are Viagra’s closest competitors on the ED market. They work in the same way as Viagra, blocking the same enzyme. Though it’s unlikely any one works better than Viagra overall, slight chemical differences mean that if one brand doesn’t work for a patient, another one might.

The main difference between the three treatments is the time frame in which they remain effective. Viagra lasts up to 4 hours, Levitra up to 8 and Cialis, a whopping 36. This does not mean that you will have an erection for this time period, just the ability to maintain one should you require it. Early studies show Levitra requires a smaller dose and works faster than Viagra with fewer side effects. Cialis has been dubbed the “weekend pill,” because its effects last up to 36 hours and is popular among holiday makers and people who feel more comfortable with a larger window of opportunity.

Which one is the best? Well they all tick different boxes so it really is up to each individual.

If you have tried treatments other than Viagra than let us know. We’d love to hear which you regard as the most effective.