Vardenafil vs. Sildenafil: Which One Is Better At Treating ED?

With so many generic and brand erectile dysfunction drugs being sold right now, it can be hard to decide on the right one for you.

That is why, today, we decided to investigate the difference between Vardenafil vs. Sildenafil, focusing on which one is better to be used.

We will look at different factors while discussing Vardenafil vs. Sildenafil to help you make the best decision.

How Do Vardenafil and Sildenafil Work?

Vardenafil, better known by its brand name Levitra, is an FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved-prescription drug since 2003, used to treat erectile dysfunction. Its active ingredient is Vardenafil.

Sildenafil is the generic name of the popular prescription erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. Viagra is also approved by the FDA, although it has a longer history of treating this specific male issue since it had been first approved back in 1998. Its active component is Sildenafil.

Both Vardenafil and Sildenafil work in a similar way. They are known PDE5 inhibitors, which means that they are blocking a specific enzyme called phosphodiesterase-PDE5. This enzyme is destroying cGMP, a nucleotide whose one of main functions is to provide the effect of vasodilatation, thus allowing a healthy and long-lasting erection to happen.

By blocking PDE5, both Vardenafil and Sildenafil allow the arteries in the penis to fill with blood – blood that will be trapped inside of them while contracting the veins to maintain the desired effect.

What Is the Typically Used Dosage?

Both Vardenafil and Sildenafil are to be taken orally. Vardenafil is available in doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg, whereas Sildenafil is available in 25, 50, and 100 mg.

The typically used dosage of Vardenafil is 10 mg and 5 mg for men over the age of 65, while the typical dosage of Sildenafil is 50 mg.

Because of the different chemical composition between Vardenafil and Sildenafil, a 10-mg dose of Vardenafil is considered to be approximately equivalent to 50 mg of Sildenafil.

When Are Vardenafil and Sildenafil Supposed to Be Taken?

Vardenafil needs to be taken around 60 minutes before the sexual intercourse. On the other hand, Sildenafil can be taken approximately 30 to 60 minutes before sexual intercourse. Using Sildenafil allows the individual to be more spontaneous, which is why some men prefer it over Vardenafil and other erectile dysfunction drugs.

The effects of both Vardenafil and Sildenafil last around 4 to 5 hours maximum, so there is not much difference here. Neither of these two drugs, or any other erectile dysfunction drugs, are meant to be taken more than once in 24 hours.

What Are the Potential Side-Effects of Vardenafil and Sildenafil?

Both Vardenafil and Sildenafil have potential side effects. The side effects can range from mild to more severe, although more men tend to experience only mild side effects.

Because both drugs come from the same class of chemicals, their side effects are very similar. However, some individuals prefer using Vardenafil over Sildenafil because Vardenafil is known to have fewer common side effects than Sildenafil.

The common potential side effects of Vardenafil include:

• Headache;
• Congestion;
• Back pain;
• Swelling;
• Indigestion;
• Upset stomach;
• Color blindness;
• Facial flushing, etc.

The usual possible side-effects of Sildenafil include:

• Headaches;
• Stomach pain;
• Facial flashing;
• Nausea;
• Diarrhea;
• Blurred vision;
• Color blindness, etc.

Is There Any Difference in the Cost Between Vardenafil and Sildenafil?

Unfortunately, nor Vardenafil nor Sildenafil are covered by medical insurance when used to treat erectile dysfunction issues.

But, since Vardenafil and Sildenafil are acting as effective PDE5 inhibitors, it is not uncommon for them to be used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension and thus be covered by some medical insurance companies when used for the goal of treating this common health issue.

As for the cost of Vardenafil and Sildenafil, there is not much of a difference. Vardenafil can be found for around $55 per pill, whereas Sildenafil usually costs about $60-$70 per pill.

Vardenafil vs. Sildenafil – Which Is Better?

It is hard to say which one of the two erectile dysfunction drugs is better. The truth is that both of them are causing satisfying results. There is too little of a difference when it comes to comparing Vardenafil and Sildenafil.

Of course, some men prefer to use Vardenafil over Sildenafil because of its not significantly lower price, as well as because Vardenafil takes less time to deliver its wanted effects Sildenafil. Some individuals for whom Sildenafil has failed to cause any beneficial effects often make the switch to Vardenafil or some other erectile dysfunction drug.

One of the reasons why most men choose Vardenafil over Sildenafil is the potential side effects. Although they do cause similar side effects as discussed, Vardenafil is less likely to cause severe side effects since it is more of a selective drug than Sildenafil.

Besides, Vardenafil does not cause muscle aches and a skin rash, which are two relatively common side-effects of Sildenafil. Although we listed color blindness in both Vardenafil and Sildenafil as potential side-effects, this side-effect is much more likely to occur due to the use of Sildenafil.

Although both drugs can last around 4 to 5 hours, Sildenafil can start working about 30 minutes after consummation, depending on different factors such as age and metabolism rate. This is one of the major perks of using Sildenafil and one of the reasons why many men decide on it rather than using any other generic or brand erectile dysfunction drug.

Conclusion

There are a lot of different factors to be considered when choosing the best erectile dysfunction drug for you.

What might have worked best for you does not mean that it will work in the same way for other men.

This needs to be taken into consideration when comparing Vardenafil vs. Sildenafil, which are both effective erectile dysfunction drugs. Still, they might not work in the same way for the same person.