Sildenafil vs Viagra: which one to choose?

Sildenafil is the name of a medicine used to treat Erectile Dysfunction (ED), it is available as a product named Sildenafil, often referred to as a generic, and also as the brand-name product, Viagra.

These medicines work in the same way and they are the same strength.

Our most popular option for customers buying Sildenafil are our Generic Sildenafil tablets. Most of our customers report that they work just as effectively as Viagra but for a better price.

Some customers prefer to use Viagra, the brand name version of Sildenafil, made by the medicine manufacturer Pfizer. This is down to personal choice, some people choose Viagra because they like to receive the same brand of medicine every time as they know how it works for them.

For customers who prefer this brand consistency we offer Sildenafil from specific generic medicine manufacturers Teva and Sandoz. Sandoz being the more popular as their tablets are neatly scored into quarters. When you order these Teva or Sandoz tablets, we will supply you with Sildenafil made by those manufacturers every time.

With all of these products, you should always use the lowest dose that works.

The History of Viagra

Viagra was the first ever treatment for ED and was released into the market in 1998.

Originally developed as a heart medicine, the volunteers taking part in the drug trials found that they were achieving and maintaining stronger erections in the hours following their dose.

On realising this the drug company, Pfizer, dropped Sildenafil as a heart medicine and began a new trial to assess how it could work for men who experience Erectile Dysfunction. The results showed that Sildenafil was both safe and effective in these volunteers and so Pfizer released the drug under the brand name Viagra.

Why Is Sildenafil Cheaper Than Viagra?

When a medicine is first released to market, it is done so under a patent. This means that only one medicine company, in this case Pfizer, was allowed to manufacture Viagra and they set the price.

Viagra came “off patent” in the UK during the summer of 2013, this meant that other medicine companies were able to manufacture the drug Sildenafil, this created competition which caused the price to drop.

The name “Viagra” however, still belongs to Pfizer which is why these other manufacturers have named their products simply after the drug name - Sildenafil. These non-branded products are referred to as generics.

Interestingly, Pfizer still held the patent for Viagra until 2020 in the states, so they’re only a few years into trying different generic Sildenafil products.

What Is the Price Difference Between Sildenafil and Viagra?

You will almost always find that Sildenafil is cheaper than the branded version, Viagra.

This is the case for almost all branded medicines, generally it is because the manufacturer wants to make back the money they put in upfront to develop the medicine.

A study published in 2020 found that the average cost to bring a new drug to market was around £1bn during the period 2009-2018.¹

How does Sildenafil work?

The tissue inside the penis is soft and spongy in its resting state, when blood rushes into this tissue it causes it to become bigger and firmer. This is an erection.

Sometimes this blood flow into the penis isn’t as strong as it should be and doesn’t cause a full erection, or an erection that lasts long enough for sex. We call this Erectile Dysfunction or ED for short.

This weakened blood flow can happen for different reasons. One of these reasons can be that the blood vessels flowing into the penis have become narrower due to fatty plaque build up, this is why we always recommend new Sildenafil customers to get a heart check with their GP. ED can be an early warning sign for heart disease.

See our dedicated post about causes of ED here.

Sildenafil works by helping to widen (relax) these blood vessels that carry blood to the penis following sexual stimulation. This helps to both achieve and maintain an erection long enough to enjoy sex.

Sildenafil is recommended to be taken 30-60 minutes before sexual activity and remains effective for up to 8 hours.

Does Sildenafil Work as Good as Viagra?

In theory, yes.

Two Sildenafil products made by two different companies must both still include the same amount of the active drug - Sildenafil. This is triple checked and verified by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, MHRA for short, and they will not allow companies who cannot prove this to sell medicines in the UK.

However, while all medicines are standardised, we as people are not.

It is not uncommon for people to find that a certain brand of Sildenafil works better for them than another. This might be branded Viagra or one of the many generic Sildenafil tablets.

That is why we offer one of the biggest selections of Sildenafil products you can find online.

See our full range of Sildenafil products here.

Viagra vs Sildenafil - Dosage Comparison

The dose is the amount of medicine you need to use to achieve or maintain your erection.

Both Viagra and Sildenafil come in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg doses and are standardised across all Viagra and Sildenafil products.

This means 25mg of Viagra will give the same result as 25mg of generic Sildenafil.

You should always use the lowest dose that works for you.

We are very happy to answer any additional questions or provide further advice. You can email us at [email protected].or call our experienced, healthcare trained team on 01295 262925.

References

1. Wouters, Olivier J., Martin McKee, and Jeroen Luyten. 2020. “Estimated Research and Development Investment Needed to Bring a New Medicine to Market, 2009-2018.” JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 323 (9): 844–53.

Related Articles

• Cialis vs Viagra – Which do I Choose?
• The Different Brands of Sildenafil
• Common Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction
• Erection Problems? What Are Your Options?
• Lifestyle Factors That Can Affect Erectile Dysfunction (ED)