Oral Medications for ED – An Overview
The only major providers we recommend that offer apomorphine in any form are Rugiet and BlueChew, but they typically combine apomorphine with tadalafil and sildenafil in a lozenge.
What Erectile Dysfunction Medications Can And Can’t Do
For Parkinson’s patients, apomorphine is delivered via subcutaneous injection at doses often higher than those used in ED treatment. Studies into its use for Parkinson’s revealed intense nausea as a potential side effect — often to the point that doctors would have to prescribe an antiemetic to deal with nausea and vomiting. ED patients taking apomorphine as a sublingual film — or, in the case of Rugiet, a lozenge — may also experience some nausea, but this appears to decline with regular use.17 Apomorphine appeared on target to become a viable alternative to Viagra in 2000, but the manufacturers behind its two branded forms intended for ED patients pulled it from FDA consideration despite what appeared to be a sure path to approval. They cited the need for further study, particularly into the drug's interaction with nitrates and its potential to cause fainting in less than 0.2% of trial participants. Today, apomorphine remains FDA-approved for Parkinson’s disease but is only prescribed for ED treatment as an off-label use. That lozenge’s sublingual administration may decrease the time it takes to start working.
- Cost & Insurance: Generic versions are cost-effective; brand names may not be covered by insurance.
- Online Telehealth Prescriptions: Legitimate services require consultation with a licensed healthcare provider.
- Counterfeit Pills Risk: Illegal online sales pose dangers of incorrect dosage or harmful contaminants.
- Trial and Error: Finding the best pill often requires trying different types/doses under medical guidance.
- Onset Time Comparison: Avanafil (~15 min), Sildenafil/Vardenafil (~30-60 min), Tadalafil (~30 min-2 hrs).
It’s possible to get apomorphine-only lozenges from Rugiet, but they only come
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levitra Generic | 40mg | 10 Pills | 41.37€ 39.40€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 32 Pills | 120.11€ 114.39€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 20mg | 60 + 6 Pills | 117.76€ 112.15€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 40mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 171.35€ 163.19€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 20 Pills | 55.02€ 52.40€ | |
| Priligy Generic Dapoxetine | 60mg | 120 + 10 Pills | 341.26€ 325.01€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 2.5mg | 60 + 4 Pills | 83.43€ 79.46€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 25mg | 90 + 6 Pills | 105.03€ 100.03€ | |
| Cialis Generic | 40mg | 20 Pills | 59.47€ 56.64€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 60 + 4 Pills | 125.19€ 119.23€ |
in the 3mg dose at a cost of $30 for six doses.
5 Ways to Make ED Drugs Work for You
After that, you can use the low price of Hims’ 30, 90-, and 150-day supplies to stock up on vardenafil chews at a lower cost (as long as you plan to finish your supply before it expires). But men seeking smaller quantities for as-needed use should stick with BlueChew. Per-dose cost via Hims is cheaper than Viagra Can take it with or without meals Not as affordable as sildenafil or tadalafil Many men prefer to take an ED medication only when they need it rather than at the start of a day when they may or may not have sex. Understandably, these men also want that drug to take effect as quickly as possible and with the lowest chance of side effects. Avanafil (brand-name Stendra) is a newer medication in the landscape of ED treatments.
The mental side of sex
While other ED medications like sildenafil affect enzymes like PDE1 and PDE6 alongside PDE5, Stendra is more micro-targeted to inhibit the specific PDE5 enzyme related to a man’s ability to get and keep an erection. This increases Stendra’s efficacy while reducing its side effect profile. Here are some other benefits of Stendra:47 48 According to an early clinical trial of more than 500 men, close to 3 in 10 using the maximum dosage of Viagra report headaches. By contrast, just over 1 in 10 men using the fildena super active 100 200mg Stendra (highest dosage) report headaches. Only about 13% of men using 200mg Stendra experience flushing of the face, compared to 20% of men using the maximum dosage of sildenafil.
Follow a healthy eating plan
Heartburn, muscle and back pain, congestion, and vision changes are all less likely with Stendra. Stendra also acts quicker in the body than others — some studies showed efficacy in as little as 15 minutes.15 This speed makes Stendra a great treatment choice for men who don’t always know when they’ll want to have sex and are happy to take something shortly beforehand. If this describes you, then we recommend Hims Stendra. Stendra is also our top choice for couples who enjoy morning sex. Tadalafil taken in the morning can sometimes require about an hour before it is fully effective. If you’re looking for ED medications that aren’t technically PDE5 inhibitors (which
- Duration Comparison: Sildenafil/Vardenafil/Avanafil (4-6 hrs), Tadalafil (up to 36 hrs), Injections (1-2 hrs).
- Side Effect Management: Headache, flushing, nasal congestion common; usually mild and temporary.
- Food Interactions: High-fat meals delay sildenafil and vardenafil absorption; less impact on tadalafil.
- Alcohol Limitation: Heavy drinking worsens ED; moderate consumption may be okay with some pills.
- Vision Changes (rare): Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) reported with PDE5 inhibitors.
sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil all are), this may be a viable route.
- Red Boost or Similar Supplements: Over-the-counter supplements, not FDA-approved, efficacy is unproven.
- M-Tone (Herbal Blend): Example of herbal remedy, lacks robust clinical trial evidence for ED.
- Horny Goat Weed (Icariin): Popular herbal supplement, may have mild PDE5 inhibiting properties.
- Ginseng (Panax): Some studies suggest benefit for erectile function, but results are inconsistent.
- Prescription Requirement: Most effective pills require a doctor's prescription for safety and proper diagnosis.
We’ll discuss these combination offering in our next section, which is all about combination therapies.
Viagra (sildenafil)
A doctor can prescribe 20mg, 40mg, 60mg, or 100mg, and the patient simply takes the corresponding number of 20mg pills. Both branded and generic Viagra come in 25mg tablets, 50mg tablets, and 100mg tablets. If the most common dose is 50mg, then those 100mg doses are going to sit on the shelf, gradually approaching their expiration date and causing providers to lose money. Like tadalafil, sildenafil doses can vary to greater degrees, especially as delivery mechanisms change. For example, BlueChew’s chewable tablets come in 30mg and 45mg doses, neither of which exist in the typical dose ranges for pills.
Battery-powered penis pump for erectile dysfunction
Here’s a quick visual reference detailing which versions of sildenafil our top choices offer: Our recommendation here, for most men, is generic sildenafil. Sildenafil is far more economical and allows for better dose tailoring. Rocket Rx has the best prices for sildenafil on the market, and it offers these prices without a major commitment. While low prices from Hims and Strut rely on lower doses or 5-12-month billing cycles, Rocket gets you low prices from orders containing up to 64 tablets. That means you stand to spend a lot less up front to find out if the medication and dose are a fit.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
For men new to ED medication who want to test the waters while spending as little as possible, BlueChew may be a good place to start, if only because the medication is super convenient to take and because the company offers a free trial. So you can try it out with very little financial risk. Hims also offers sildenafil in lovegra 100 mg a chew, but only combined with another medication and only at a relatively high combination of doses (which we’ll discuss later in our combination therapy section). However, there are definitely situations in which you might want to opt for Hims’ sildenafil: Hims sildenafil is available in a wider number of doses, making it our top choice for men who find they need to fine-tune or maximize their dosage of sildenafil for the best effect or to reduce side effects. Hims telemedical support is fantastic for men who are dealing with ED alongside efforts to treat premature ejaculation. May improve outcomes in men resistant to monotherapies Can offer treatment outside of just PDE5 inhibitors May increase the
Plan ahead when taking erection pills
This experience with tadalafil varies — some men find tadalafil to be effective for a full 36 hours (which would make the prior morning’s dose still effective), while others find its effects wear off in closer to 18 hours. If you are in the latter camp, Stendra will be better for your morning rituals because you can take a dose as you wake up and then be ready for fun in as little as 15 minutes. However, Stendra will cost you significantly more than sildenafil or tadalafil. Hims — our top choice for convenient access to Stendra — offers a monthly subscription for four 100mg Stendra tablets at $210 per month, billed quarterly. If you can afford the cost, this may be the best choice for you.
Vitamins and supplements for ED
If not, then we’d suggest you explore daily tadalafil. There are three flibanserin standard dosage options for Stendra: Both the 100mg and 200mg dosages take effect in about 15 minutes. Sublingual dose requires no water to take FDA-approved for use in Parkinson’s patients May cause fainting in a small fraction of users Nausea is a common initial side effect Hard to find outside Rugiet’s blended ED treatment Apomorphine has been used since the 19th century as everything from a sedative to an aid in kicking heroin addiction, and it’s currently FDA-approved for treating Parkinson’s disease. However, multiple studies indicate its potential as a treatment for ED.16 The name can be a source of confusion since most people outside the medical professions would likely hear the “morphine” part and assume opioid properties. But apomorphine doesn’t bind to opioid receptors and is nonaddicting. risk of side effects Combination therapies are exactly what
- Natural remedies like ginseng may offer mild benefits for ED.
- Acupuncture has shown mixed results for ED treatment.
- Pelvic exercises can improve blood flow and erectile function.
- Psychological counseling can help if ED has a mental component.
- Regular cardiovascular checkups are essential if ED persists.
- Smoking cessation improves blood flow and overall ED outcomes.
- Managing stress and anxiety benefits erectile performance.
- Monitor blood pressure and cholesterol levels to improve ED.
- Avoid excessive caffeine and sugar intake for better vascular health.
- Ensure adequate hydration and sleep to support sexual health.
- Some herbal supplements may interact with ED medications—consult doctor.
- Open communication with your partner enhances understanding and support.
they sound like: some combination of commonly prescribed ED medications.
Table of Contents
If you’re one of the many men who already use Hims for hair loss treatment or another service, then it could be convenient to use the same provider for ED treatment as well. Hims offers classic, brand-name Viagra or an authorized generic for men who want it. Hims is also the only company we recommend that sells an authorized generic Viagra. Interestingly, Roman lists their options as “Branded Viagra” and “Generic Viagra.” That second option is actually generic sildenafil — it is not an authorized generic made by Pfizer. Roman lists their sildenafil this way out of the belief that it makes it easier for potential patients to understand that the two drugs are practically identical.
Be physically active
Visit our Roman review to learn more. Starts working in as little as 30 minutes Doesn’t cause a particular — but rare — side effect of sildenafil Available in chewable form from BlueChew and Hims While it isn’t the most widely available option from telemedicine providers, vardenafil is an important option for the few men who might not have success taking sildenafil but still want an effective medicine they can take on demand 30-60 minutes before sex. Studies show that vardenafil behaves the same way in the body as sildenafil, with one known exception. A rare side effect of sildenafil is an alteration in color perception due to the drug’s inhibition of PDE6 in addition to PDE5.13 Vardenafil is somewhat more selective in this regard, having no known effect on PDE6 and, therefore, no known effect on color perception. And while vardenafil is less thoroughly researched than sildenafil, there are still numerous studies looking at thousands of users over nearly two decades, so its safety and efficacy are without question.14 For a while, BlueChew was the only provider among our top picks to offer vardenafil, but Hims has included it in its recent development of chewable mint tablets.
Editorial Policy: Science-Backed, Expert-Reviewed
Despite not typically being a daily medication, Hims offers a 30-day supply of vardenafil that bears the same low price as its daily tadalafil. As a result, you can get 8.5mg vardenafil chews from Hims for significantly less than you can from BlueChew. Hims’ low price on vardenafil reflects their pricing for a 150-day supply. If you don’t want to stockpile vardenafil like that, the next-lowest price per dose you can get from Hims on smaller quantities of vardenafil is $6, which is more expensive than even the highest price per dose from BlueChew. BlueChew's free trial still makes it the best starting place for men new to ED treatments.
