Sildenafil vs Viagra - What is the difference?
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Science means that ED can be optional.
No fancy packaging. No unwanted subscriptions. Delivered discreetly.
Virtually everyone in the world knows what Viagra is.
And if you’ve ended up here because you're researching ED treatments, you’ll have probably come across sildenafil.
In fact, you may even be confused with how the two are interchangeable.
To be clear, Viagra contains the active ingredient, sildenafil.
Sildenafil is also available as a non-branded version, referred to as just, sildenafil.
This article looks to explain some of the similarities and differences between the two.
How are sildenafil and Viagra similar?
To start with, they both contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate.
Sildenafil citrate is a phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor – a class of drugs that encourages blood vessels to relax, allowing for an influx of blood which causes an erection.
Pfizer originally had the license to be the sole distributor of Viagra.
In 2013, the UK patent on Viagra expired, which enabled other pharmaceutical companies to start using the same ingredient, sildenafil citrate, under their own brands. These brands are also referred to as, generic Viagra.
Given that they both contain the same ingredient, medically, sildenafil is as good as Viagra.
What is the difference between Viagra and sildenafil?
They both contain the same ingredient, so any differences are likely to be in the packaging and price.
Viagra is a diamond shaped blue tablet. It will have the dose engraved onto the tablet. Sildenafil tablets are usually blue or white, and come in all shapes.
Apart from the differences in packaging, the only other difference between the two, is price.
The difference in price between sildenafil and Viagra
As the generic form of Viagra, you can expect sildenafil to cost less. With a more competitive price on the market, men suffering from ED have more options, making it easier to treat erectile dysfunction and enjoy a healthy sex life.
Here are the current prices for Viagra, sildenafil, and Viagra Connect:
| Sildenafil | Viagra | Viagra Connect | |
| Price 50mg x 4 Tablets | £7.49 | £29.49 | £19.99 |
*Prices may vary depending on the dose and quantity
Does sildenafil cause more side effects than Viagra?
Given that the active ingredients are the same, the side effect profile will also be the same. Side effects can include:
- Blurry vision
- Facial flushing
- Diarrhoea
- Heartburn
- Headaches (read about Viagra headaches for more information)
If you take more than the recommended dose for Viagra or sildenafil, or mix the pill with other drugs, or more than one or two alcoholic drinks, you’re more at risk of serious side effects such as dizziness, sudden loss of vision, or hearing problems. If you notice any of these, contact your doctor right away.
How about Viagra vs Viagra Connect?
Until recently, Viagra and sildenafil were only available with a prescription. However, today, you can buy Viagra over the counter from a licensed pharmacist, in the form of Viagra Connect.
Viagra Connect, which is essentially the brand name for over-the-counter Viagra, contains the same ingredients as the prescription version. It works in the same way as sildenafil and Viagra. Like Viagra, it is also manufactured by Pfizer.
The one distinction between Viagra and Viagra Connect is the dosage amount.
- Regular Viagra pills are available as 25mg, 50mg and 100mg.
- Viagra Connect pills contain 50mg of sildenafil citrate. They aren't available in different doses.
Apart from the differences in dose, there is no difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect.
What are the other options?
Today, men looking for erectile dysfunction treatment have more options than they did a few short years ago. In addition to sildenafil and Viagra, there are different oral medications that are made with other types of PDE5 inhibitors, such as tadalafil and vardenafil.
To find out more, visit our article: Viagra alternatives
Which is best for me?
There is no medical difference between sildenafil (generic Viagra) and Viagra, and they both have the same effect. In fact, Viagra is sildenafil. When deciding which medication to take, the only real difference is the price, with sildenafil being priced much cheaper than Viagra.
You can expect the medical effects, the pill quality, and your personal experience to be identical, as they contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate.
Sources: VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) tablets (2014). [PDF document]. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/20895s039s042lbl.pdf (Accessed: 11/03/2024).
Whilst all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it is not intended to be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.
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