Pfizer originally discovered the medication in 1989 while looking for a treatment for angina. [11] It was approved for medical use in the United States and in the European Union in 1998.
[5][8][11][12] In 2023, it was the 151st most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 3 million prescriptions. [13][14] It is available as a generic medication.
We’ll ask you a couple of quick medical questions. Tick the boxes and a clinician will review your answers and issue you a prescription. Your selected treatment will be delivered for free, with discreet packaging and instructions on how to use it. Chat with a medical expert whenever you need. Enabling the mission of revolutionising how men approach health, they are at the super p force online core of the men’s wellness platform.
Excellent service and products which really do work. Have helped me get back a lot of confidence and appreciate this company massively!!! Excellent service and extremely well priced supplements. Very efficient team, advise is beyond expectation service and supply was second to none, I'd recommend any day Excellent service has helped me greatly and given me so much confidence first class All content on this page has been medically reviewed by: Hassan Thwaini, Clinical Pharmacist and Copywriter, Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) on 30 March, 2026. Sildenafil is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.
It contains the same active ingredient as branded alternatives. Sildenafil works by encouraging more blood to flow to the penis, ensuring a strong erection when you need one. It’s effective for 82% of men.1 Find the clinically proven ED treatment that suits you best. No names, no logos, no delivery fee. 4.6* from over 33,000 people like you. [15][16] In the United Kingdom, it is available as a pharmacy medicine.
The primary indication of sildenafil is treatment of erectile dysfunction (inability to sustain a satisfactory erection to complete sexual intercourse). Its use is now one of the standard treatments for erectile dysfunction, including for males with diabetes mellitus.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levitra Generic | 40mg | 180 + 10 Pills | 405.06€ 385.77€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 180 + 6 Pills | 154.93€ 147.55€ | |
| Levitra Soft Tabs | 20mg | 30 + 2 Pills | 99.17€ 94.45€ | |
| Levitra Original | 20mg | 76 + 4 Pills | 344.39€ 327.99€ | |
| Levitra Original | 20mg | 22 + 2 Pills | 138.55€ 131.95€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 360 + 10 Pills | 423.48€ 403.31€ | |
| Cialis Black | 80mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 502.88€ 478.93€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100 mg | 10 Sachets | 54.55€ 51.95€ | |
| Viagra Professional | 100mg | 90 + 2 Pills | 207.09€ 197.23€ | |
| Priligy Generic Dapoxetine | 60mg | 120 + 10 Pills | 341.26€ 325.01€ | |
| Kamagra Gold | 100 mg | 180 + 6 Pills | 436.79€ 415.99€ | |
| Levitra Generic | 60mg | 120 + 8 Pills | 372.33€ 354.60€ | |
| Levitra Generic | 40mg | 360 + 10 Pills | 704.99€ 671.42€ | |
| Apcalis SX Oral Jelly | 20mg | 30 + 5 Sachets | 141.84€ 135.09€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 147.18€ 140.17€ | |
| Levitra Generic | 10mg | 90 + 8 Pills | 150.58€ 143.41€ | |
| Cialis Original | 20mg | 92 + 4 Pills | 377.99€ 359.99€ |
Tentative evidence suggests that sildenafil may help males who experience antidepressant-induced erectile dysfunction. While sildenafil improves some markers of disease in people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, it does not appear to affect the risk of death or serious side effects.
BSc (Hons) MBBS MRCGP AFHEA MA (Hons) AFMCP “Efficacy and Safety of Sildenafil Citrate for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in a Population With Associated Organic Risk Factors.” Journal of Andrology (2013). “Efficacy and Safety of Sildenafil Citrate for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in a Population With Associated Organic Risk Factors.” Journal of Andrology (2013). Answer a few simple questions to get the treatment you need. Sildenafil, sold under the brand name Viagra among others, is a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. [4][8] It is also sometimes used off-label for the treatment of certain symptoms in secondary Raynaud's phenomenon.
[9] It is unclear if it is effective for treating sexual dysfunction in females. [8] It can be taken orally (swallowed by mouth), intravenously (injection into a vein), or through the sublingual route (dissolved under the tongue). [8][10] Onset when taken orally is typically within twenty minutes and lasts for about two hours. Common side effects include headaches, heartburn, and flushed skin. [8] Caution is advised in those with cardiovascular disease. Sildenafil and other PDE5 inhibitors are used off-label to alleviate vasospasm and treat severe ischemia and ulcers in fingers and toes for people with secondary Raynaud's phenomenon;[9][21] these drugs have moderate efficacy for reducing the frequency and duration of vasospastic episodes. [9] As of 2016,[update] their role more generally in Raynaud's was not clear.
There are many oral therapies for erectile dysfunction, but the only approved medication in the US is the PDE 5 enzyme inhibitor sildenafil (Viagra). Unapproved therapies, some of which are available in the US and some elsewhere, some of which have data to prove efficacy and some not, include tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), yohimbine, phentolamine, trazodone, apomorphine and neutraceuticals. PDE5 inhibitors act to relax penile erectile tissues with sexual stimulation thus enhancing your ability to get an erection. Sildenafil (Viagra) is effective for all sorts of erectile dysfunction in 69% of people. Why is there a need for another pill?
In some cases the erection is not hard enough, sometimes sildenafil (Viagra) just doesn’t work. Structurally vardenafil (Levitra) is similar to sildenafil, while tadalafil (Cialis) is very different. Vardenafil (Levitra) is almost 10 times more biochemically potent than sildenafil, therefore a lower dose is needed to facilitate the penile erection, potentially resulting in less side effects. Selectivity is the ability of the drug to attach to the specific enzyme PDE 5 found in penile tissues. Vardenafil (Levitra) is more selective than sildenafil and tadalafil (Cialis) to PDE5, which again means a lower dose is needed with potentially less side effects.
Tadalafil is very specific for PDE5 and is also very specific for the enzyme PDE11. Unfortunately, we don’t know much about PDE11, which is found in the heart, in the pituitary gland in the brain and in the testicles. Pharmacokinetics, half-life, is how long the medication stay s in the blood. This means that vardenafil (Levitra) should act longer than sildenafil (Viagra) but the clinical significance is not known. Tadalafil (Cialis) has the longest half-life and allows you to take the medication and not relate the sexual activity to the immediate use of the medication. Sildenafil has shown some potential for improving exercise performance at high altitudes.
| Brand Name | Active Ingredient | Typical Dosage | Onset of Action | Duration | Common Side Effects | Approved Countries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra | Sildenafil | 50 mg, 100 mg | 30-60 minutes | 4-6 hours | Headache, flushing | US, UK, EU, Canada |
| Cialis | Tadalafil | 10 mg, 20 mg | 30-60 minutes | Up to 36 hours | Muscle pain, headache | US, UK, Australia |
| Levitra | Vardenafil | 10 mg, 20 mg | 25-60 minutes | 4-5 hours | Nasal congestion, flushing | US, EU, Japan |
However, its overall efficacy is not clear. Sildenafil has been studied for high-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), but its use is currently not recommended for that indication.
| Tests | Purpose | When Recommended | Typical Time Frame | Who Performs It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Tests | Hormone levels, health markers | Initial diagnosis | 1-2 days | Primary care doctor, endocrinologist |
| Nocturnal Penile Tumescence Test | Determine physiological vs. psychological ED | Persistent issues | 1 night monitored | Urologist |
| Ultrasound Doppler | Blood flow assessment | When vascular issues suspected | 30 mins | Urologist or specialist in vascular health |
In clinical trials, the most common adverse effects of sildenafil use included headache, flushing, indigestion, nasal congestion, and impaired vision, including photophobia and blurred vision.
| Medication | Average Cost per Dose | Cost for a 30-Day Supply | Over-the-Counter Options | Cost Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra (Brand) | $30-$50 | $900-$1500 | - | High | Prescription required |
| Generic Sildenafil | $1-$5 per tablet | $30-$150 | - | Low | Same effect as branded |
| OTC Supplements | $20-$70/month | N/A | Available online | Varies | Effectiveness is less certain |
[4] Some sildenafil users have complained of seeing everything tinted blue (cyanopsia). [24] This cyanopsia can be explained because sildenafil, while selective for PDE5, does have some affinity for PDE6, which is the phosphodiesterase found in the retina.
The drawback is if you need nitrates after using tadalafil (Cialis), this medication lasts a long time in your blood stream and may place you at a higher risk. Younger people might do well treated with tadalafil, (Cialis) while older people with other health issues might be better off using sildenafil (Viagra) or vardenafil (Levitra) but more data are needed. The side effects of vardenafil (Levitra) are potentially less than sildenafil (Viagra), but more data are needed. In a recent study on men with erectile dysfunction and diabetes, vardenafil (Levitra) improved their erectile dysfunction. Tadalafil (Cialis) is as effective as sildenafil (Viagra), and vardenafil (Levitra) with similar side effects except for back pain that occurs occasionally with tadalafil, probably because of the long half-life.
Many people stop taking drugs because they are experiencing side effects, they no longer have a partner, or they are worried about safety. Sexual activity is not a major contributor to the risk of a heart attack. Sexual activity, with or without sildenafil (Viagra) increases the chance of an MI during sexual activity by only 0.1%. If pills fail, there are vacuum devices, Muse, injections, bypass surgery and implants. The patient making a presentation has had penile bypass surgery.
In addition he takes testosterone and sildenafil as needed. This is a classic example of why people with ED need complete care: a psychological exam, history and physical exam, and diagnostic studies with long term follow-up care. Patients with ED should not just be prescribed sildenafil (Viagra) and then be lost to follow-up. Make erection worries a thing of the past. Medically equivalent to Viagra®, but at a fraction of the cost. Patients thus taking the drug may experience colorvision abnormalities. Some complained of blurriness and loss of peripheral vision.
In July 2005, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated labeling for tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and sildenafil (Viagra) to reflect a small number of post-marketing reports of sudden vision loss, while acknowledging that "...it is not possible to determine whether these oral medicines for erectile dysfunction were the cause of the loss of eyesight or whether the problem is related to other factors such as high blood pressure or diabetes, or to a combination of these problems. "[25] A careful review of pooled data from clinical trials containing well documented information about the dose and duration of exposure to the drug for a large number of patients, yields no evidence for an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy or other adverse ocular events associated with PDE5 inhibitor use.
[8] Rare but serious side effects include vision problems, hearing loss, and prolonged erection (priapism) that can lead to damage to the penis. [8] Sildenafil should not be taken by people on nitric oxide donors such as nitroglycerin, as this may result in a serious drop in blood pressure. Sildenafil acts by blocking phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that promotes breakdown of cGMP, which regulates blood flow in the penis. [8] It requires sexual arousal to work, and does not by itself cause or increase sexual arousal. [8] It also results in dilation of the blood vessels in the lungs. Rare but serious adverse effects found through postmarketing surveillance include prolonged erections, severe low blood pressure, myocardial infarction (heart attack), ventricular arrhythmias, stroke, increased intraocular pressure, and sudden hearing loss.