What is Sildenafil? What is Vardenafil?

Sildenafil Citrate and Vardenafil are the components of generic Viagra and Levitra correspondingly. Both of them belong to the PDE-5 inhibitors and are, at the time of this writing, the most effective ED treatments.

How do Sildenafil Citrate and Vardenafil act?

Sildenafil Citrate and Vardenafil do almost the same thing - they "freeze" the PDE-5 ferment, which in turn increases production of a cGMP; the high level of the cGMP chemical help the soft muscles of the penile arteries to relax, which results in better blood inflow to the penis. This leads to longer-lasting, stronger and an easier to achieve erection.

What is the difference between Sildenafil Citrate and Vardenafil?

Background: Viagra (Sildenafil) was approved by the FDA in 1998 and is by far the most known ED synthetic treatment. Levitra (Vardenafil) was approved by the FDA in 2003, and it is gaining popularity pretty quickly.

Effect: Viagra works about 60 minutes after taking the pill, and Levitra starts working from 15 to 60 minutes; the Viagra's effect lasts for up to four hours while Levitra's for up to five hours.

Side effects: as all synthetic drugs, both Viagra and Levitra can cause side effects; in 97% of the cases side effects are mild and do not require any special treatment.

Success rate: there is no noticeable difference in the success rate of both Viagra and Levitra - they work in approximately 70% to 80% of the cases. Unfortunately a single, universal ED treatment that works 100% for all does not exist.

Cost: there is no noticeable difference in the price for Viagra and Levitra.

Food and alcohol: Viagra works better and faster on an empty stomach, Levitra works regardless of the food intake. The heavy consumption of alcohol while taking Viagra or Levitra should be avoided since it might cause additional side effects.

Prescription: in most countries both Viagra and Levitra require prescriptions.

Dosage: Viagra is sold in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg pills. Most physicians will initially prescribe the 50mg tablets, and then adjust the dosage if needed. Levitra is sold in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 20 mg tablets and the 10 mg ones are the initial dosage.

What is the difference between brand-name Viagra and Levitra and their generic analogs?

Sildenafil is the main ingredient of Viagra and generic Viagra, and Vardenafil is the active component of Levitra and generic Levitra. What is the difference between the brand-name drugs and the generic drugs then?

The generic drugs work in exactly the same way as the brand-name medications, they are controlled by the regulating authorities, they meet the same standards, they are safe and much cheaper.

The brand names Viagra and Levitra can be used only by Pfizer and Bayer AG, GSK, and SP respectively and all other Sildenafil Citrate and Vardenafil medicines are known as generic Viagra and generic Levitra.