When looking to treat erectile dysfunction, there are two commonly used treatment options available for patients. These are Viagra and sildenafil: two similar but distinct types of medication.
Both contain the fundamental ingredient – sildenafil citrate – which aims to treat erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to specific areas of the body. However, there are important differences between these tablets that UK patients should be aware of.
Let’s break down more of what these differences are and when these types of medication should be used.
What is erectile dysfunction: a quick guide for UK patients
Erectile dysfunction, a very common medical condition, is when people are unable to achieve or maintain an erection during sexual activity.
The core conditions include the inability to get an erection when they want to have sex, the inability to keep an erection long enough to complete sexual activity, or a reduced amount of sexual desire (libido).
It can be an indication and an early sign of an underlying medical condition, such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease, or it could be due to a variety of psychological factors.
Physical causes of erectile dysfunction can include a blood vessel blockage, high blood pressure or nerve damage. Psychological causes include things such as stress, anxiety and depression, which can be due to a myriad of factors such as work problems or relationship issues.
Luckily, there are many ways that erectile dysfunction can be treated, including tablets such as Viagra and sildenafil.
What’s the main difference between Viagra and sildenafil
When deciding whether to choose Viagra or sildenafil to treat erectile dysfunction, there are distinct differences that you should know.
The main difference between them comes from their branding. Sildenafil is sometimes referred to as ‘generic Viagra’ because Viagra is a specifically branded drug that is made by Pfizer.
Sildenafil is the generic term used to describe similar drugs made by other manufacturers such as Eva, Sandoz, Accord/Actavis and Mylan.
Another difference between Viagra and sildenafil is the cost. Generic drugs are typically cheaper to buy than branded ones such as Viagra. A typical 50g sildenafil product will cost £2.50 per tablet, while a 50g Viagra product will cost £9.50 per tablet.
This means, especially for generic sildenafil products, bulk buying can often significantly reduce the price per tablet.
The branding and packaging of sildenafil and Viagra are also different. Viagra tablets are usually blue with a distinctive diamond shape. With generic sildenafil drugs, the colour and shape will vary depending on which manufacturer you choose.
Sildenafil and Viagra still ultimately serve the same purpose of aiming to treat erectile dysfunction by dilating blood vessels and increasing blood flow to the corpus cavernosum.
They have similar potential side effects that patients should be aware of before choosing them. This includes nausea, flushing, indigestion and dizziness.
While Viagra is a branded drug developed by Pfizer, there are now many ‘generic Viagra’ or sildenafil products that have been developed by different manufacturers, which you can source online with a prescription.
