What if Viagra doesn't work for me?
If you experience sexual dysfunction symptoms, there is nothing to be ashamed about. You are certainly not alone. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 31% of men are affected by symptoms of sexual dysfunction. This may include erectile dysfunction (ED), loss of interest in sex, or problems ejaculating.
Many men look to medication such as Viagra for help, but what if this popular remedy just doesn’t work for you? This, too, is absolutely common! Many have found that Viagra or Cialis don’t help their situation, but I assure you that’s not a dead end. There are actually ways to make your ED drugs more effective and even alternative therapies your health care provider can recommend in lieu of the little blue (or yellow) pill.
How to make Viagra more effective
Here are a few ways you can make your ED drugs more effective.
1. Take Viagra on an empty stomach. Food—specifically fatty foods—can block the absorption of Viagra into your body, causing it to be less effective. Keep this in mind if you plan to go out to eat the same day you choose to use Viagra.
2. Learn what is really causing your ED. ED can be caused by conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, nerve damage, or even injury. Speak to your health care provider about situations that can cause or worsen ED.
3. Give it a try alone. Stress can definitely be a cause of ED. Speak to your doctor if using Viagra by yourself could help you learn if anxiety may be the true culprit of your erectile dysfunction.
4. You might need a dose change. If you still aren’t having any luck with your current dose, speak to your doctor or other health care provider about whether a dose change is appropriate for you.
5. Viagra might actually not be for you. If you have tried the previous suggestions and still experience no changes, there are alternative therapy options you can speak to your doctor about. See the chart below.
What are the prescription ED medications besides Viagra that have been shown to work?
Some alternative first-line therapies for ED are:
• tadalafil (Cialis)
• vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn)
• avanafil (Stendra)
The ED medications listed above should not be taken by men who are actively taking nitrates, like isosorbide or nitroglycerin. ED medications should be used carefully. Men who are actively taking prazosin, doxazosin, and terazosin should be monitored for low blood pressure.
What are the ED drug options and their differences?
| Alternative Drug Therapies for Erectile Dysfunction | |||
| Generic name (Brand) | When do I take it? | What are the doses? | How do I take it? |
| tadalafil (Cialis) | Available in two forms. Taking daily is effective in between doses, but it can take 4 to 5 days before it begins working. The “weekender” version of tadalafil can start working in as little as 30 minutes at highest dose of the drug (20mg); it will work for up to 36 hours. | Daily pill comes in a 2.5mg and 5mg tablet; most men start with the lower dose. The “weekender” pill comes in 5, 10 and 20mg; The recommended starting dose is 10mg, | Can be taken with or without food. Avoid heavy drinking when taking Cialis, as it can lead to headaches, dizziness, heart racing, and lowered blood pressure. |
| vardenafil (Levitra) | 1 hour before sex; will work for up to 4- 5 hours. | Starting at 10 mg is recommended for most men. Starting at 5mg is recommended often for men over 65. | Can be taken with or without food. Avoid anything containing grapefruit juice as it may worsen side effects. |
| vardenafil (Staxyn) | 1 hour before sex, it is a rapidly dissolving tablet (taken without water), a little more discrete than other ED meds. | 10 mg tablet, do not exceed 1 tablet per day. | Should be placed directly on the tongue and dissolved without chewing. Avoid taking it with any liquid. |
| avanafil (Stendra) | 30 minutes before sex; will work for up to 6 hours. Newest ED med on the market; available brand name only | Starting at 100mg is recommended for most men. | May be taken with or without food. It can be taken with a moderate consumption of alcohol. This means no more than 3 glasses of wine, or 3 shots of whiskey. Drinking more than that can lead to headaches, dizziness, heart racing, and lowered blood pressure. |
How to Save Money on Erectile Dysfunction Medication
For brand-name meds, if you’re buying from Canada or another international pharmacy, shop only at online pharmacies accredited in the PharmacyChecker Verification Program.
For generics, on the other hand, usually we suggest you compare your local pharmacy vs. international prices before looking abroad. Most popular generics come out to be cheaper at your neighborhood pharmacy. However, it appears that generic erectile dysfunction medications are cheaper abroad as well. Read further to learn how to order medicine internationally and safely.
If you prefer to shop at your neighborhood pharmacy, see our section below about the U.S. Prescription Discount Card at U.S. Pharmacies.
Can I safely order ED meds online?
Many men go online hoping to buy brand-name and generic ED medications without providing a prescription. We strongly urge that you do not go this route. There are many dangerous pharmacy websites that do not require a prescription. Why don’t they? In many cases, the operators of such websites do not really care about this safety standard and orders placed on those sites are not filled by licensed pharmacies or pharmacists. Even worse, some rogue sites intentionally sell counterfeit Viagra, and other ED meds, or steal your sensitive financial information.
Ordering Brand ED Medications Online
Fortunately, you can safely order ED meds online from licensed pharmacies in other countries with a valid prescription from online pharmacies accredited by PharmacyChecker.
You can compare prices among reputable online pharmacies using our website.
Cialis 20 mg is priced as low as $10.42 per tablet at an accredited international pharmacy—an 85% discount vs. Cialis sold in the U.S.
Levitra 20 mg is priced as low as $8.11 per tablet at an accredited international pharmacy—an 85% discount vs. Levitra sold in the U.S.
Stendra 200 mg is priced as low as $12.00 per tablet at an accredited international pharmacy—an 81% discount vs. vardenafil sold in the U.S.
Ordering Generic ED Medications Online
Tadalafil 20 mg is priced as low as $0.23 per tablet at an accredited international pharmacy—a 99% discount vs. tadalafil sold in the U.S.
Vardenafil 20 mg is priced as low as $0.48 per tablet at an accredited international pharmacy—a 97% discount vs. vardenafil sold in the U.S.
U.S. Prescription Discount Card at U.S. Pharmacies
If you prefer shopping locally, be sure to get great discounts by using PharmacyChecker’s U.S. RX discount card. PharmacyChecker offers a discount card that you can use at independent pharmacies in your area or even CVS, Walgreens and Walmart. You can compare ED medication prices, as well as those of other drugs, and then print the U.S. Prescription Discount Card to use at your local U.S. pharmacy.
When you choose a pharmacy, click "GET DISCOUNT." Then, click "Print this Card" and you are all set to obtain your discount at the pharmacy of your choice.
Where are ED meds manufactured?
Here are the manufacturing locations of some commonly-prescribed ED medications.
According to representatives of Eli Lilly, the Cialis sold in the U.S. is manufactured in Puerto Rico.
Packaging of Levitra sold in the U.S. shows that it is made in Germany.
Packaging of Stendra sold in the U.S. shows that it is made in France.
Read more on Ask PharmacyChecker
How can I get Viagra without a prescription?
Do you have any information on the generic Viagra, Cenforce, made in India?
How can I talk to my doctor about erectile dysfunction meds?
Do you have questions or concerns about ordering your erectile dysfunction medicines online? We’re here to help.
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