is cialis or viagra better

Viagra Vs. Levitra

Call it getting a rise out of the competition. In its first month of sales, Levitra, the new erectile dysfunction treatment from Bayer and GlaxoSmithKline. managed to grab a 50% share of prescriptions in newly diagnosed patients. Sounds impressive, but analysis by Bernstein Research of data from health information provider IMS Health reveals another side to these figures. Viagra maker Pfizer still has well more than 95% of total prescriptions for impotence.

Worse, Bernstein pharmaceuticals analyst

Richard Evans Richard Evans

sees U.S. sales of only $425 million each annually for Levitra and another erectile dysfunction drug, Cialis, being developed by Eli Lilly and ICOS. Cialis is expected to go on the market early next year. Viagra, which now has U.S. sales of $1 billion, will, by Evans’ reckoning, drop by nearly half. The new drugs will merely cannibalize the existing market.

Not everyone is so bearish.

Myron Murdock Myron Murdock

medical director of hisandherhealth.com and a doctor who has conducted clinical trials with all three drugs, thinks the flood of direct-to-consumer ads will get men into their doctor’s office. All three drugs work by inhibiting the same enzyme, but he sees significant advantages to the new entrants. Levitra is a more potent molecule, and it seems to work faster and on a full stomach. (Expect more studies from Pfizer, showing that Viagra works fast and with food, to keep up.) He says Levitra also clearly works better in hard-to-treat cases, such as men whose impotence is caused by diabetes.

Cialis, on the other hand, clearly works for 36 hours or more, making it an ideal choice for men who are very sexually active, Murdock says. He still gives Viagra the edge in treating female sexual dysfunction, a yet-unapproved but potentially lucrative use. Pfizer is five years ahead of the competition in that area. Murdock also notes another advantage for Levitra. Viagra patients have been ordering high-dose pills and splitting them, because all doses come at the same cost. Levitra, a small, hard orange pill, is much more difficult to cut, so at least it won’t have to deal with sales reduced by pill splitting.

Comment from: Peter, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 1-6 months (Patient) Published: February 06

For a year or so I was having erections that were either not hard enough for penetration or faded too soon. Cialis solved the problem. Really great results. Within an hour of taking a 10mg tablet I can be very hard and not have to worry about losing it. We're enjoying extended sex again. Maybe because I'm staying very hard, my orgasms and ejaculation are much more intense.

Comment from: Floyd, 55-64 Female on Treatment for 2-5 years (Patient) Published: December 10

I have tried Viagra and it worked very well for me. I find that Cialis works better as not olny are my erections rock hard, I can acheive and maintain multiple rock hard erections over a tow day period. I highly recommend this product.

Comment from: normous, 35-44 Female on Treatment for 6 months - 1 year (Patient) Published: September 18

Cialis vs. Levitra vs. Viagra: How Each Stacks Up

Three of a kind?

Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra are oral medications used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). You may also know them by their generic names, tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and sildenafil (Viagra).

About 30 million men occasionally have a problem with getting or keeping an erection, according to the Urology Care Foundation. When ED becomes a problem, many men turn to oral ED medications. These drugs often help. Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra each work in similar ways. But there are also some differences, such as when you take them, how long they work, and what their side effects are.

Drug features

Cialis. Levitra. and Viagra are all in a class of drugs called PDE-5 inhibitors. These drugs work by blocking an enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5. They also boost a chemical in your body called nitric oxide. This action encourages the muscles in your penis to relax. Relaxed muscles allow blood to flow freely so that when you’re aroused, you can get an erection. It also helps you maintain the erection long enough to have sex.

Levitra and Viagra stay in your bloodstream for about four to six hours. Cialis remains in your bloodstream for 17 to 18 hours or longer. The length of time a drug stays in your system may be important if you’re taking other medications.

Here are more basics on each of these drugs:

Be sure to take this drug exactly as your doctor tells you to. If you have questions or concerns, talk with your doctor.

Cost, availability, and insurance

Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra are usually stocked at most pharmacies. All three of these drugs cost about the same amount. In general, most health insurance companies won’t cover their costs. But if you have certain medical conditions, your health plan may pay for the drug with prior authorization.

Side effects

The side effects of these medications are similar. Most men have only mild side effects.

The chart below compares the side effects of these drugs.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that linger and don’t go away on their own. If you have an erection that lasts longer than four hours, call your doctor right away.

Drug interactions

Each drug comes with the chance of drug interactions. Since PDE-5 inhibitors work on the body in similar ways, Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra come with similar interactions.

If you have an erection that lasts longer than four hours, call your doctor right away.

All three of these drugs interact with nitrates. They also all interact with blood pressure drugs such as alpha-blockers. For Cialis, these also include the drugs bendrofluazine, enalapril. and metoprolol. For Viagra, these also include the blood pressure drug amlodipine .

Viagra also interacts with the drug ritonavir .

Cialis can also interact with alcohol. Drinking alcohol with Cialis can cause low blood pressure when you stand up from a sitting or lying position. This may result in dizziness or a headache. To learn more, read more about the effects of mixing Cialis and alcohol.

Levitra and Viagra do not seem to cause low blood pressure when taken with alcohol. However, alcohol may interfere with your ability to get an erection, even while you’re taking any of these drugs.

Outlook

If you have ED, talk to your doctor about Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra. Tell your doctor if you take other over-the-counter or prescription drugs or supplements. Be sure to mention all other health conditions you have.

Each of these three popular drugs has been shown to help men with ED when they’re used correctly. All three drugs have good results, but it may take a little time and patience to get it right. If one drug doesn’t work or produces unpleasant side effects, you can try another drug. It may also take some trial and error to find the dosage that works best for you. And if you’re not sure that drug treatment is right for you, you can give these natural treatments for erectile dysfunction a try.

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