When it comes to medication, many men will look towards the big pharma companies like Pfizer or the little guys like Staxnex to solve their erectile dysfunction (ED) problems. While both have incredible medications to offer, for some men the choice may be more complex than simply picking up a pill. That’s because both drugs are known to have various side effects; some of which are more serious than others. Let’s examine the pros and cons of each drug and help you make the right decision for your unique needs.
Why Are You Considering Both?
On paper, both medications appear to be quite similar. They are both PDE-5 inhibitors and, as mentioned by their names, they both inhibit the effect of a neurotransmitter called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This means that both medications can help with ED by increasing the flow of blood to the penis and, as a result, increasing the size of the erections. This makes them both great choices for men who have never been able to achieve a full erection or those who suffer from mild to moderate ED. Furthermore, both medications are known for having very good safety profiles and are relatively cheap.
In practice, this simple explanation doesn’t fully represent the differences between these two powerful medications. To begin with, Viagra is known to be somewhat more effective than Cialis when it comes to treating ED. Some men have even suggested that Viagra is able to enhance an erection more so than Cialis, particularly in severe cases of ED. This could be because Viagra was originally developed to treat angina, a form of heart disease. In order to gain approval from the FDA, Pfizer had to do extensive clinical trials on their product and, in some of these trials, they observed an increase in blood flow and an improvement in erections in men who used Viagra as opposed to Cialis. What’s more, Viagra is better absorbed by the body and has fewer side effects.
Other than these differences, the two medications appear to be pretty much identical. Both are known for having powerful effects and both are able to reverse a type of erectile dysfunction called ‘cardiac-related ED’ or ‘bradycardia’. This is when a man’s heart rate is too slow and he finds it difficult to achieve or maintain an erection. In these cases, the doctor will often prescribe either medication in combination with each other or will prescribe a different type of medication to treat the low heart rate. This is why men who have ED and/or suffer from heart problems should consider both medications and discuss the ramifications of combining them with other drugs.
Cialis: The PDE-5 Inhibitor
Cialis is probably the lesser-known of the two main PDE-5 inhibitors. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Cialis is currently the third most popular drug in the world, with over 80 million prescriptions written annually. It was first marketed by Pfizer in 2002 and is available in several different forms, including tablets, liquid, and gel. What’s more, Pfizer has actually approved several new medications for treating ED, including Cialis, so there’s plenty of choice for men who want to try something new.
In clinical trials, Cialis was found to be both safe and effective for treating ED in cases where other medications had failed. In fact, Cialis was so successful that it’s been recommended by the American Society of Apheresis as a first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction. Cialis is also a commonly prescribed medication for prostate cancer and ischemic heart disease. This makes it a medication that physicians and patients alike can get behind.
What’s great about Cialis is that it’s relatively cheap. The price of a 30-day supply is about $150 and many insurance companies, including Aetna, Humana, and United Healthcare, cover the cost of this medication. This is in stark contrast to Viagra, which has a list price of about $600 for a 30-day supply. Because it’s a relatively new drug, Cialis is also less likely to cause drug interactions than many of the other medications listed here.
Cialis is a great medication for men who want to try something new. In cases where Viagra has failed or in men who have an irregular heart beat, this drug could be an option. If you’re on a tight budget or if you have hypertension (high blood pressure), then Cialis could be a viable option. What’s more, many men have reported being able to achieve orgasm while on this medication, which could make it a viable choice for men with low libido issues as well.
Viagra: The Classic ‘Oral’ Pill
Viagra is, without a doubt, the most popular PDE-5 inhibitor in the world. This drug was originally approved by the FDA in 1998 and is available as both a tablet and a liquid. The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil (trade name: Viagra), which is a very successful inhibitor of cGMP. Just like with Cialis, Pfizer was required to do extensive clinical trials on their product before it was approved by the FDA. In these trials, they observed that Viagra increased the flow of blood to the penis and helped with erections in men with ED. So, even though it’s been around for a while, this drug still has value today.
In practice, Viagra is a much safer and more effective medication than Cialis. This is because Viagra doesn’t have to be taken orally. It can be given as a tablet or a liquid and bioavailability studies have shown that 90% of the medication is absorbed after being given orally as opposed to Cialis, which has a lower bioavailability rate of about 50%. This could be because Cialis has to be broken down in the body and, in many cases, the effectiveness is diminished due to this first-pass metabolism in the liver. The other types of PDE-5 inhibitors are also relatively ineffective when compared to Viagra.
Some men may experience side effects with Viagra, such as headache, flushing, and stuffy nose. Although these are unpleasant side effects, they aren’t severe and the risks seem minimal when compared to the benefits of the drug. Furthermore, Viagra is a great choice for men with heart problems since it doesn’t increase blood pressure and, as a result, may be safer for them than other medications. For these reasons, it’s been recommended by the American Society of Apheresis as a first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction.
As you can see, the differences between Cialis and Viagra are fairly substantial. Some men prefer one over the other based on personal experience, but the overall safety and efficacy of both medications makes them a viable choice for men who want to try something new.