Viagra and Cialis have helped millions of men with erectile dysfunction (a.k.a. impotence) achieve firmer erections and improved sexual experiences. Still, not everyone can afford these prescription medications.
That doesn’t mean you have to choose between going broke or having an unsatisfying sex life. Generic Viagra, called sildenafil, and generic Cialis, tadalafil, are cheaper alternatives that are as safe and effective as their famous counterparts.
Many people don’t realize that generic medications have the same active ingredients and provide the same benefits as their brand-name versions. So in this article, I’ll explain the differences and similarities between branded and generic ED medications, the side effects of generic Viagra and Cialis, and how to make sure the medication you buy online is safe.
What Is ED Medication?
There are four oral FDA-approved medications to treat erectile dysfunction: sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra), and avanafil (Stendra).
All of these are phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors. They work by blocking the enzyme PDE5, which results in an increase in another molecule (cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP) that causes muscles to relax.
That may seem counter to an erection, but you want the arteries in the penis to relax, because then more blood can flow into the penis—that’s what causes a penis to swell and become erect.
Sildenafil and tadalafil work the same way as Viagra and Cialis. But you cannot just pop a pill and expect an erection—you need sexual stimulation too. When you combine any of these ED medications with something that turns you on, it results in firmer, longer-lasting erections.
What’s the Difference Between Generic and Brand Name Medications?
Generic and brand-name medications are bioequivalent to one another, meaning they are equally safe and effective. They have the same active ingredients in identical amounts and provide the same health benefits for the people who take them.
The only difference is their inactive ingredients and cost. Brand-name medications like Viagra and Cialis tend to be more expensive than their generic counterparts.
Generic versions of brand-name medications exist because of the way prescription drugs are developed, trademarked, and marketed in the United States.
When a prescription drug company creates a new medication, they must pay for research and development, including animal and human testing, to ensure a drug is safe before it hits the market.
When the FDA approves a medication for patient use, they reward the company for taking on the expense of developing a new drug by giving it a patent on the pill. Currently, that means that for at least 20 years, the company is the only one that can sell the drug they created.
To recoup their costs and maximize their profits, drug companies with a trademark medication usually brand it with a consumer-friendly name and spend money to market it to consumers. All of that translates to a higher prescription drug price when you get it from your pharmacy.
Once a patent expires, other drug companies can use the initial research and development results to create their own versions of the medication. Because they don’t have to spend so much money on testing, they can sell their drugs for less money.
Viagra vs. Sildenafil
Viagra is the original medication that Pfizer researched and developed; sildenafil is the generic form of Viagra.
The exact cost of sildenafil depends on your dosage, insurance, and pharmacy. (At Anew Clinic, it starts at $1.85 per 20-mg pill.)
However, the price can be 10 times less than that of Viagra, and both medications work equally well.
Cialis vs. Tadalafil
Cialis is the original drug that Lilly ICOS developed; tadalafil is the generic form of Cialis.
Depending on the dosage, pharmacy, and your insurance, the cost of tadalafil is roughly half of Cialis’s. (At Anew Clinic, tadalafil starts at less than $1.85 per 5-mg pill.)
Here too, generic tadalafil is equally effective as Cialis at treating ED.
What Do Generic Viagra and Cialis Look Like?
When it first hit the market, many referred to Viagra as “the little blue pill” because of its distinct color and diamond shape, as pictured above.
Generic versions of Viagra, however, come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. That’s because although they must contain the same active ingredients as Viagra, the FDA requires that generic drugs look different enough for consumers not to confuse them with their brand-name versions.
Generic Cialis is often white instead of blue and can come in a round or oval shape instead of a diamond.
The difference between tadalafil and Cialis is the shape. Both pills are yellow, but Cialis is always oval-shaped, while tadalafil can be oval or circle-shaped, depending on the manufacturer.
Are There Side Effects of Generic Viagra and Cialis?
Because they have the same active ingredients as Viagra and Cialis, generic forms of these medications risk the same side effects:
Flushing or warm skin
Indigestion
Nausea
Diarrhea
Headache
Muscle aches
Nasal congestion or bloody nose
Occasionally, sildenafil and tadalafil can cause more severe side effects, including:
Blurred vision
Light sensitivity
Decreased color vision or difficulties visually differentiating between colors
Buzzing or ringing in the ears
Confusion
Lightheadedness
Unusual weakness or fatigue
Do not take more medication than you are prescribed, as doing so can increase your chances of developing severe side effects. If you take ED medications and experience any of the following, immediately call your doctor or go to your nearest emergency room.
Fainting
Difficulty breathing
Sudden changes in vision
Sudden changes in hearing
Swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, or any part of the face
Heart attack symptoms
Seizure
A painful erection or an erection that lasts more than four hours
People with heart problems, including those who have experienced a heart attack, stroke, irregular heartbeat, or low blood pressure, should talk to their doctor before taking any erectile dysfunction medication.
Sildenafil, tadalafil, and other ED drugs can cause complications for cardiovascular patients and interact poorly with heart and blood pressure medications.
If you take sildenafil or tadalafil and feel chest pain, nausea, dizziness, or other heart attack symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. When you do, tell the healthcare provider when your last dose was.
ED medications can also cause vision problems in people with certain pre-existing eye conditions. If you have retinitis pigmentosa or non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), taking sildenafil or tadalafil may increase your risk of permanent vision impairment or blindness. Talk to your ophthalmologist before beginning any ED medication.
Get Generic Viagra or Cialis with Anew Clinic
Anew Clinic provides a simple, accessible option for ED treatment. Visit with our provider to determine whether you are experiencing ED. Your doctor will then prescribe you medication, which can be picked up at a local pharmacy or shipped discreetly directly to you.