Compare Viagra Cialis and Levitra

By David Talbot, December 10, 2007

So you are ready to fight erectile dysfunction but can´t decide on which type of PDE-5 inhibitor to go for? You are not alone with this question. Here we will compare Cialis, Levitra and Viagra and hopefully help you to make the decision. Of the three PDE-5 inhibitors approved by the FDA, Viagra (sildenafil citrate) is the most popular one, but this shouldn’t be the only factor to consider. Levitra (vardenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) are very competitive choices also, although they are not as popular as Viagra. This is much because Cialis and Levitra simply hasn’t been in the market for as long as Viagra has.

Cialis, Levitra and Viagra are all drugs called PDE-5 inhibitors and therefore they help to make compromised or hardened penile arteries relaxed so allowing for more blood to pour into the penis and then create an erection. All three medications as well help keep high rates of cGMP inside the penis. What’s cGMP? It stands for cyclic guanosine monophosphate and it's an excellent matter that is naturally created by the penile tissue in reaction to sexual stimulant and which helps vascular muscular tissue relaxation. Once high levels of cGMP are present, the penile arteries get loosened up and a natural and stiff erection will happen.

Unluckily, with most gentlemen hurting from erectile dysfuction, the PDE-5 enzyme neutralises any available cGMP and without it an erection will turn flabby or won't happen the least bit. That is where PDE-5 inhibitors such like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra step in. These medications block the uninvited PDE-5 and therefore the much desired cGMP is admitted to stay inside the penis afterwards sexual stimulation happens, so helping the erection process and maintaining the penis erect.

Ok, now let´s compare Cialis Levitra and Viagra

The generic name for each drug

Cialis is Tadalafil

Levitra is Vardenafil

Viagra is Sildenafil Citrate

FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval date

Cialis was approved by the FDA in November 2003

Levitra was approved in August 2003

Viagra was approved in March 1998

How much do they cost?

The price for Viagra, Cialis and Levitra is very similar though Viagra is usually the cheapest and Levitra the most expensive.

Level of success

All the three work for approximately 80-85 % of all men suffering from ED.

How fast are they?

Levitra goes to work in as little as 15 minutes in most men compared 30 minutes with Cialis and to 60 minutes for Viagra.

How long does their effect last?

Cialis: about 24-36 hours (Cialis has the nickname “weekender”)

Levitra: about 5 hours

Viagra: about 4 hours

The side effects

Viagra Cialis and Levitra share just about the same side effects. Some people might experience flushing, headaches, back pain, stomach aches or runny noses. These are altogether most common side effects and shouldn't be reason to concern excessively. A few Viagra reports have showed that on rare occasions a patient might start seeing a bluish tinge but that will disappear after the medicine has been eliminated from the body. None of the three drugs should be taken in combination with low blood pressure medicine since this is able to possibly cause an individual to have a heart attack.

Summary

Now that we have compared Cialis, Levitra and Viagra you can see that the differences are very small between the three. Levitra goes to work fastest and Cialis lasts the longest but altogether they work the same way and there are only minor differences.