What to choose: Viagra, Levitra or Cialis

Erectile dysfunction develops due to psychological and somatic reasons. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are used to treat the disorder. Means to maintain potency are selected depending on the degree of disorder and the general condition of the man.

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are means for maintaining potency.

Features of compositions and characteristics

Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are medications for improving erectile function associated with various disorders of the genitourinary, nervous and systemic systems. All three drugs act almost instantly and are used immediately before sexual intercourse. The form of release of medicines is tablets for oral administration.

The effectiveness of the drugs is similar, but they have differences in the mechanism of action, which also must be taken into account when selecting drugs.

Typically, generics are selected by a doctor according to indications. But you can buy tablets without a prescription in pharmacies and online. The main substances are chemical components that improve blood flow.

Properties and composition of Viagra

Viagra is considered one of the most effective generic drugs, used for decades. The main substance of the composition is sildenafil. The effectiveness of use is determined by the ability of the component to release nitric oxide in the body of the penis and activate the enzyme guanylate cyclase. Smooth muscles relax and blood flow occurs.

Achieving the desired effect is impossible without sufficient sexual arousal.

The standard dosage of the product is 50, the highest is 100 milligrams. The tablets are taken before meals to improve the effect.

The result is observed 30-60 minutes after direct administration and lasts for four hours.

Characteristics of the drug Levitra

The main component of Levitra tablets is vardenafil. This component enhances the effect of nitric oxide, which is released by the nerve endings of the cavernous bodies during sexual activity. The natural response to sexual stimulation is achieved through relaxation of smooth muscles and blood flow to the organ.

Pharmacy chains sell Levitra Soft for resorption, the effect of which is observed already 10 minutes after administration.

The peculiarity of the application is a gradual increase in dosage. The initial dose should be 10 milligrams.

It is recommended to take before meals 25-60 minutes before sexual intercourse. The advantage of the drug Levitra, by which it can be chosen as the main one, is the relatively rapid onset of the effect.

Characteristics of generic Cialis

The main substance in the drug Cialis is tadalafil. Like the two previous analogues, this drug relaxes smooth muscles, thereby increasing blood flow to the penis. But Cialis differs from them in the small number of negative side effects and a significant increase in blood pressure.

What makes Cialis different from others is that it can be used regularly to treat low sexual activity. It is suggested to take a tablet (20 milligrams) once a day at the same time every day. The therapeutic course is set on an individual basis.

General information about Levitra

This drug was developed by Bayer (Germany). After the patent protection expired, other companies began to produce Levitra.

The main component of the drug is a selective inhibitor – vardenafil. Its principle of action is aimed at increasing blood flow to the cavernous bodies of the penis, after which the man gets an erection. Levitra only works if a man experiences sexual desire.

Benefits of Levitra:

• the drug has a milder effect on the body compared to Cialis;
• after taking Levitra, side effects are very rare, and if they do occur, they are extremely mild;
• Levitra can be taken by men with diabetes;

Vardenafil can also be used by older men (over 60 years of age).

Indications for use

The main indication for the use of medications is insufficient sexual activity and lack of erectile response to stimulation. Similar phenomena may be associated with lesions and conditions:

• vascular disorders;
• lesions of the genitourinary system;
• nervous disorders;
• benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Typically, sexual stimulants are prescribed to patients over 40 years of age. It is not advisable to use drugs in the absence of contraindications. Significant side effects may occur. In addition, with prolonged use, it is likely that resistance to the drug will develop with further increases in dosage.

conclusions

The characteristics of generic drugs Levitra, Cialis, Viagra vary quite a lot. This must be taken into account when changing or selecting medications. Sildenafil and Vardenafil have almost identical half-lives. The onset and duration of action are the same. Tadalafil starts working later, but the effect lasts much longer.

All PDE5 inhibitors are primarily excreted in the feces.
A small amount is removed through the kidneys. The long period of action of Cialis allows you to take fewer medications and makes it possible to make sudden acquaintances without problems. Below is a table showing the main differences between the drugs. Table 1. Comparative characteristics of Sildenafil Tadalafil Vardenafil - PDE-5 inhibitors

Table 2. Frequency of occurrence of the most common side effects

Side effects during treatment

If anti-ED drugs of any manufacture are used incorrectly, an allergic reaction in the form of swelling, redness, and angioedema may progress. Other negative phenomena:

• increased blood pressure;
• heart rhythm disturbance, tachycardia;
• difficulty breathing;
• ringing in the ears, temporary hearing loss;

• erythema, skin rash;
• general weakness and malaise;
• chest pain;
• dizziness and headaches, persistent migraines;
• disruption of the digestive system, dyspepsia;
• nausea and vomiting, inflammatory processes in the gastrointestinal tract;
• myalgia, spasms, increased muscle tone.

It is not recommended to use the drugs if the liver and kidneys are impaired.

An overdose of drugs increases the likelihood of side effects or intensifies already manifested complications. In such situations, symptomatic and supportive therapy is provided.

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Viagra®

The most common side effects were headache and flushing.

Typically, the side effects of Viagra® are mild or moderate and transient.

Fixed-dose studies have shown that the incidence of some adverse events increases with increasing dose.

The frequency of adverse reactions is presented according to the following classification:

From the immune system:

uncommon - hypersensitivity reactions (including skin rash), allergic reactions.

From the side of the organ of vision:

often - blurred vision, blurred vision, cyanopsia; uncommon - eye pain, photophobia, photopsia, chromatopsia, redness of the eyes/scleral injections, changes in the brightness of light perception, mydriasis, conjunctivitis, hemorrhage in the eye tissue, cataracts, disruption of the lacrimal apparatus; rarely - swelling of the eyelids and adjacent tissues, a feeling of dryness in the eyes, the presence of rainbow circles in the field of vision around the light source, increased eye fatigue, seeing objects in yellow (xanthopsia), seeing objects in red (erythropsia), conjunctival hyperemia, irritation of the mucous membrane membranes of the eyes, discomfort in the eyes; frequency unknown - non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, retinal vein occlusion, visual field defect, diplopia*, temporary loss of vision or decreased visual acuity, increased intraocular pressure, retinal edema, retinal vascular disease, vitreous detachment/vigreal traction.

From the side of the hearing organ

: uncommon - sudden decrease or loss of hearing, tinnitus, ear pain, ringing in the ears.

From the cardiovascular system:

often - “hot flashes”; uncommon - tachycardia, palpitations, decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, unstable angina, atrioventricular block, myocardial infarction, cerebral thrombosis, cardiac arrest, heart failure, abnormal electrocardiogram readings, cardiomyopathy, increased blood pressure; rarely - atrial fibrillation, sudden cardiac death*, ventricular arrhythmia*.

From the blood and lymphatic system:

infrequently - anemia, leukopenia.

Metabolism and nutrition:

uncommon - feeling of thirst, edema, gout, uncompensated diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, peripheral edema, hyperuricemia, hypoglycemia, hypernatremia.

From the respiratory system:

often - nasal congestion; uncommon - nosebleeds, rhinitis, asthma, dyspnea, laryngitis, pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, increased volume of sputum, increased cough; rarely - a feeling of tightness in the throat, dryness of the nasal mucosa, swelling of the nasal mucosa.

From the gastrointestinal tract:

often - nausea, dyspepsia; uncommon - gastroesophageal reflux disease, vomiting, abdominal pain, dry oral mucosa. glossitis, gingivitis, colitis, dysphagia, gastritis, gastroenteritis, esophagitis, stomatitis, deviation of liver function tests from the norm, rectal bleeding; rarely - hypoesthesia of the oral mucosa.

From the musculoskeletal system:

often - back pain; uncommon - myalgia, pain in the limbs, arthritis, arthrosis, tendon rupture, tenosynovitis, bone pain, myasthenia gravis, synovitis.

From the genitourinary system:

uncommon - cystitis, nocturia, breast enlargement, urinary incontinence, hematuria, impaired ejaculation, genital swelling, anorgasmia, hematospermia, damage to penile tissue; rarely - prolonged erection and/or priapism, bleeding from the penis.

From the central and peripheral nervous system:

very often - headache; often dizziness; uncommon - drowsiness, migraine, ataxia, hypertonicity, neuralgia, neuropathy, paresthesia, tremor, vertigo, symptoms of depression, insomnia, unusual dreams, increased reflexes, hypoesthesia; rarely - convulsions*, repeated convulsions*, fainting, cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack.

For the skin and subcutaneous tissues:

uncommon - skin rash, urticaria, herpes simplex, itching, increased sweating, skin ulceration, contact dermatitis, exfoliative dermatitis; frequency unknown - Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Others

: uncommon - feeling of heat, swelling of the face, photosensitivity reaction, shock, asthenia, increased fatigue, pain of various localizations, chills, accidental falls, pain in the chest, accidental injuries; rarely irritability.

* Side effects identified during post-marketing studies.

Cardiovascular complications

During post-marketing use of sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, adverse events such as severe cardiovascular complications (including myocardial infarction, unstable angina, sudden cardiac death, ventricular arrhythmia, hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, hypertension and hypotension) have been reported ), which had a temporary association with the use of sildenafil. Most of these patients, but not all of them, had risk factors for cardiovascular complications.

Many of these adverse events occurred shortly after sexual activity, and some of them occurred after taking sildenafil without subsequent sexual activity.

It is not possible to establish a direct connection between the observed adverse events and these or other factors.

Visual impairment

In rare cases, non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a rare condition and cause of vision loss or reduction, has been reported during post-marketing use of all PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil.

Most of these patients had risk factors, including decreased papilledema/disc ratio (“congestive disc”), age over 50 years, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, and smoking.

An observational study assessed whether recent use of the PDE5 inhibitor class of drugs was associated with acute onset of NPINSID. Results indicate an approximately 2-fold increase in the risk of NPINSID within 5 half-lives of PDE5 inhibitor use.

Published literature estimates the annual incidence of NPINSID to be 2.5–11.8 cases per 100,000 men aged >50 years in the general population. In case of sudden loss of vision, patients should be advised to stop sildenafil therapy and consult a doctor immediately.

Individuals who have already had a case of NPIND have an increased risk of recurrent NPIND. Therefore, the physician should discuss this risk with such patients, as well as discuss with them the potential for adverse effects from PDE5 inhibitors.

PDE5 inhibitors, including sildenafil, should be used with caution in such patients and only in situations where the expected benefit outweighs the risk.
When using Viagra® in doses exceeding the recommended ones, adverse events were similar to those noted above, but usually occurred more often.

Restrictions on admission

None of the listed medications are prescribed for hypersensitivity to the composition of the tablets. Also among the restrictions:

• diseases of the cardiovascular system, cardiac dysfunction, angina pectoris;
• simultaneous use of the drug with nitric oxide donors;
• severe liver dysfunction;
• optic neuropathy;

• lactase deficiency, glucose intolerance;
• leukemia;
• exacerbation of ulcerative lesions.

Stimulants are not prescribed to women and patients under 18 years of age. Severe deformation of the genital organ, fibrosis, and Peyronie's disease may also be a relative contraindication. It is not recommended to prescribe the drug to patients with persistent high blood pressure (including hypertension) and a recent stroke of any type. Before direct use, it is recommended to undergo a comprehensive medical examination to determine the presence of indications and contraindications.

Short description

Drugs are prescribed to eliminate ejaculation problems, increase potency and improve sexual health. The most effective means are selected individually depending on the cause of the pathology.

Viagra

The product is available in tablet form and is used to treat impotence. The active substance of the drug is sildenafil, the content of which is 25, 50 and 100 mg in 1 tablet. The product increases blood flow to the pelvic organs during natural sexual arousal.

The pharmacological action of sildenafil is due to the release of nitric oxide in the corpus cavernosum during stimulation of the penis. After sexual intercourse is completed, the activity of the substance decreases. The duration of action and half-life of Viagra is 3-4 hours. Effectiveness appears 40-50 minutes after administration.

Contraindications for use:

• hypersensitivity to components;
• allergic reaction to lactose, nitrates, nitrites and nitrides;
• severe renal failure;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• visual impairment, eye diseases;
• age up to 18 years.

Viagra is not prescribed while taking Ritonavir.

Viagra comes in tablet form and is used to treat impotence.

Levitra

The drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction is available in tablet form. The action of Levitra is due to the properties of the active substance – vardenafil. The effect on the male body appears 30 minutes after administration, the duration of the effect is 11-12 hours.

Absolute contraindications are:

• hypersensitivity to the active substance and auxiliary components;
• intolerance to the effects of nitrogen oxides, nitrates and nitrites;
• glucose-galactose malabsorption;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• visual impairment;
• ophthalmological diseases and eye pathologies.

The drug is not used to treat patients under 18 years of age. Self-medication with medication can cause serious damage to health.

Cialis

The medicine has a positive effect on erectile function due to the properties of the main substance tadalafil. The effect of Cialis is achieved within 20-60 minutes and lasts up to 36 hours. The drug stimulates blood flow to the cavernous bodies of the genital organ in the presence of sexual arousal.

The drug is not prescribed to patients if there are one or more contraindications: hypersensitivity to substances, eye diseases and pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

It is not allowed to take the medicine together with Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, Indinavir, Ritonavir, Erythromycin, Clarithromycin. The simultaneous use of drugs from the group of generics for the treatment of erectile dysfunction is not recommended.

A contraindication for Cialis is hypersensitivity to substances.

Distinctive features of generics

The selection of a stimulant drug should be carried out by the attending physician if there are indications and there are no contraindications. However, the drugs are interchangeable analogues, which are best selected based on the main component. Comparison of the indicated generics in the table.

The combination of Levitra or Cialis with alcohol and meals is allowed; Viagra is not recommended to be taken with alcoholic beverages. Side effects are quite rare for each drug. Most often, negative consequences and complications occur when taking Viagra. The problem is likely to worsen with an uncontrolled increase in the established standard dosages. The latter are considered relatively safe and recommended for any indication.

Cialis – quick help for male potency

This drug was developed by the American company Eli Lilly and Company in the early 2000s. Very quickly, Cialis became the most popular drug for the treatment of impotence, overtaking Viagra in this indicator. In addition to the original Cialis, Indian companies produce numerous generics (or analogues).

The main component of Cialis is another selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase PDE5 - tadalafil. When a man becomes sexually aroused, tadalafil relaxes the smooth muscles in the penis. After this, a large volume of blood rushes into the penis and an erection appears.

Benefits of using Cialis:

• Tadalafil retains its effect for at least 30 hours. No other potency drug can boast of such data;
• Cialis can be taken with a small portion of alcohol - no more than 100 ml;
• strong action;
• Even a man's consumption of fatty foods does not affect the effectiveness of tadalafil.

How to choose the right funds

The comparison table allows you to select generics based on characteristics and properties. It is recommended to avoid cheap analogues due to their lack of effectiveness. Products based on herbal components have not been studied enough, so they do not guarantee 100% results.

The substances presented as the main components of the composition are effective in temporarily eliminating ED of any type for the listed indications. But it is important to consider the speed and duration of action. It is prohibited to combine medications with each other. If it is necessary to use stimulants together with other medications, it is important to consult with your doctor.

Other analogues of funds

Analogs and their samples can be selected if Viagra, Levitra or Cialis are insufficiently effective, as well as increased sensitivity to the composition of these drugs. So, in practice they use:

1. Impaza
   . The substance is a complex of antibodies to endothelial NO synthase. The medicine is classified as homeopathic, the cost of packaging is 450-500 rubles.

2. Vuka-Vuka
   . The effectiveness of the product is controversial. The basis of the tablets is a complex of plant extracts. Price - 600-800 rub.

3. Dapoxetine Delta
   . Used to prevent premature ejaculation in men over 18 years of age. The substance is dapoxetine hydrochloride. Price - 1200-1400 rub.

4. Sealex
   . The tablets include a complex of plant extracts, which makes them analogues of Vuka-Vuka. The price of a box in pharmacies and online networks is 600-700 rubles.

Stimulants are sold through pharmacies and the Internet. A prescription is not required upon purchase. Medicines are not drugs, they are used as symptomatic drugs.