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Generic Viagra (Sildenafil): Everything You Should Know
Apr 26, 2024
Fact Checked
Generic Viagra (sildenafil) offers the same effect of name-brand Viagra at a more affordable price. Learn more about the risks and benefits of taking sildenafil.
Oral medications for erectile dysfunction didn’t exist before Viagra hit the market in 1998. The first generic version of the “little blue pill” wasn’t manufactured until nearly 20 years later. Known as sildenafil, generic Viagra has the same active ingredients as name-brand Viagra but features a different color, shape, and imprint based on the manufacturer. Sildenafil is up to 99% more affordable than name-brand Viagra, making it the preferred option for many people.
Today, three other oral medications exist for ED: tadalafil (Cialis), avanafil (Stendra), and vardenafil (Levitra). Generic Viagra remains a popular choice thanks to brand recognition, but you should discuss all options with your doctor. This guide will help you prepare for that conversation by explaining how long generic Viagra lasts, when to take it, and what side effects to expect.
We’ll also introduce you to some of the best telehealth platforms that offer convenient ED diagnoses and prescriptions, eliminating the need for in-person appointments or trips to the pharmacy.
Best for generic Viagra: Hims
Hims
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Free, discreet shipping within five days
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Free consultations
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Providers respond within 48 hours
Special considerations: Erectile dysfunction medication for older adults
Viagra and Cialis may be ineffective or dangerous for some people based on their health history and potential interactions with current medications.
Some of the most common chronic conditions affecting older adults—including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes—can damage penile blood vessels and nerves, leading to new or worsening ED that doesn’t respond to Viagra or Cialis. Fortunately, several other ED treatments are available, including penile injections, vacuum erection devices, and discreet penile prosthesis.
ED can also appear as one of the first symptoms of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, anxiety, and other chronic health concerns. If you haven’t had a physical exam within the last year, don’t try to get ED medication online. Instead, visit your doctor in person to ensure any potential underlying conditions are diagnosed and treated alongside the ED.
Who shouldn’t take Viagra or Cialis
Viagra and Cialis shouldn’t be used by people taking medications for chest pain, high blood pressure, or lower urinary tract symptoms. Viagra should also be avoided in people taking protease inhibitors—a specific class of medications used to treat HIV.
Additionally, combining nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) or alpha-blockers with ED pills may cause a severe, life-threatening drop in blood pressure, which can result in dizziness, fainting, falling, and even death.
This is not a complete list of medications that should not be taken with Viagra and Cialis. Talk to your provider about everything you take—including vitamins, natural remedies, and recreational drugs—when discussing potential ED treatments.
Cialis and Viagra also shouldn’t be taken by people with low resting blood pressure, uncontrolled high blood pressure, inherited disorders of the eye or retina, uncontrolled heart disease, or who have had a recent heart attack or stroke. Cialis and Viagra may worsen abdominal pain in people with stomach ulcers.
Hims for generic Viagra
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Generic Viagra information
What is sildenafil?
Sildenafil citrate—often shortened to sildenafil—is the generic name of Viagra, and it’s the active ingredient. Because it’s generic, sildenafil is more affordable than name-brand Viagra. No other differences exist between Viagra and sildenafil.
Generic Viagra cost
Based on our analysis of more than 30 telehealth platforms, coupon sites, and online pharmacies, the cost of generic Viagra ranges from less than 25 cents per tablet to more than $13 per tablet. Local pharmacies tend to have more affordable prices compared to online telehealth platforms like Hims, which charges $4–$8 per tablet for generic Viagra.
We’ve seen some of the best deals through online pharmacies like Cost Plus Drugs (25 cents per 50 mg tablet) and coupon sites like Optum Perks (40 cents per 50 mg tablet through the Costco pharmacy).
Sildenafil always costs less than name-brand Viagra, which costs around $95 per tablet, on average. Medicare Part D plans are more likely to cover the cost of generic Viagra but not the name-brand version.
PDE5 inhibitors: how do they work?
Sildenafil is a type of medication known as a PDE5 inhibitor. Phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE 5) keeps the penis flaccid by binding to a compound called cGMP. cGMP is necessary for an erection because it relaxes the penile blood vessels, allowing them to fill with blood.
Sildenafil binds to PDE 5 to prevent it from binding to cGMP. This keeps more cGMP in play, resulting in a firmer and longer-lasting erection.
Sildenafil doesn’t cause a spontaneous erection, though, because it doesn’t affect arousal—the thoughts that trigger an erection. Once arousal dies down, so will the erection. You may need additional treatment for low libido if you don’t feel like engaging in sex but want to.
Generic Viagra side effects
According to our survey of 300 people using online platforms to get ED medication, sildenafil is more likely to cause side effects than Cialis (tadalafil) or Levitra (vardenafil). About 72% of those who reported taking Viagra or generic Viagra said they experienced side effects, whereas only 17% of those who took Cialis or generic Cialis reported any side effects.
Common sildenafil side effects include:
- Headache
- Flushed cheeks
- Nasal or sinus congestion
- Blue-tinged vision
- Heartburn
Some of these side effects may go away with repeated use of sildenafil.
“The next morning I’d have a big headache, a hangover-type headache. Now I can’t really recall the last time I had one, but definitely in the beginning [it happened] to where I wanted to stop using it sometimes because of that headache. It was really severe.”
Focus group participant on his experience with generic Viagra
These side effects require immediate care:
- Erection lasting four hours or longer
- Sudden vision loss or blurred vision
- Sudden hearing loss or tinnitus
- Dizziness or fainting
- Chest pain or shortness of breath
- Signs of an allergic reaction, such as swelling of the face, tongue, or lips, difficulty breathing, and itching
Deepti Pidakala, a pharmacist at Marley Drug Pharmacy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, told us that age can play a role in the type and severity of side effects people experience while taking sildenafil, as can the dosage. “Older adults may experience more noticeable side effects due to slower metabolism, increased likelihood of health conditions, medication interactions, heightened sensitivity, and age-related declines in organ function,” said Pidakala.
Talk to your provider about any side effects you experience while taking sildenafil, even if you don’t need immediate care. A different ED treatment may produce fewer or less severe side effects.
How we research and evaluate erectile dysfunction platforms
Based on our expert consultations, research, and testing, we determined the following factors to be essential for our readers when signing up for an erectile dysfunction medication platform:
- Ability to conduct live calls (video or phone) with prescriber
- Ability to message prescriber through the platform
- Ability to get an ED diagnosis through the platform
- Name-brand and generic prescriptions available
- Discreet shipping
- Affordable prices for medications and consultations
- Ease of use of the app or website
We had all of our reviews medically reviewed by an expert in the field to ensure the information is appropriate for NCOA readers’ needs.
Bottom line
Generic Viagra is an effective erectile dysfunction treatment that can improve your sex life. It’s the same as Viagra but manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies and available at significantly lower costs.
Whether you talk to your regular doctor in person or use a telehealth service, it’s critical to disclose all medications and chronic diseases when requesting generic Viagra. This medication can cause dangerous side effects—like low blood pressure—when combined with prescription and recreational drugs or when taken by people with certain chronic diseases.
Due to overdose risks, generic Viagra may not be the best ED treatment for you if you plan to use it daily. It can also cause uncomfortable side effects like headaches and nasal congestion. Your doctor may suggest trying generic Viagra and switching to a different ED medication if you experience intolerable side effects.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, generic sildenafil works the same as Viagra and is just as effective. Viagra is the brand name for sildenafil.
In 2016, Teva became the first company approved to manufacture generic Viagra tablets, which hit the market in 2017. A total of 16 pharmaceutical companies currently make generic Viagra.
Generic Viagra requires a prescription and can’t be purchased over the counter.
Generic Viagra starts working in 30–60 minutes for most people and continues to work for six to eight hours.
Taking generic Viagra with food, especially fatty foods, is not recommended. If you do take generic Viagra on a full stomach, the medicine will take longer to start working.
Generic Viagra should be taken no more than once every 24 hours, and online telehealth platforms typically don’t offer enough tablets for daily use. If you expect to have sex every day, Cialis (tadalafil) is a better alternative, as it’s safe to take daily.
Have questions about this review? Email us at reviewsteam@ncoa.org.
Sources
- Teva. Teva Announces Exclusive Launch of Generic Viagra Tablets in the United States. Dec. 11, 2017. Found on the internet at https://www.tevapharm.com/news-and-media/latest-news/teva-announces-exclusive-launch-of-generic-viagra-tablets-in-the-united-states/
- Mayo Clinic. Erectile Dysfunction. March 29, 2022. Found on the internet at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776
- McMahon, C. N., et al. Treating Erectile Dysfunction When PDE5 Inhibitors Fail. British Medical Journal (BMJ). March 11, 2006. Found on the internet at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1397768/
- National Health Service (NHS). Who Can and Cannot Take Sildenafil. March 2, 2022. Found on the internet at: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sildenafil-viagra/who-can-and-cannot-take-sildenafil/
- Huang, S. A., et al. Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) Inhibitors in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction. Pharmacy and Therapeutics. July 2013. Found on the internet at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3776492/
- Fink, H. A., et. al. Sildenafil for Male Erectile Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2002. Found on the internet at: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/211714
- National Health Service (NHS). Side Effects of Sildenafil. March 2, 2022. Found on the internet at: https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/sildenafil-viagra/side-effects-of-sildenafil/
- Verma, R. K., et al. Toxic Effects of Sexual Drug Overdose: Sildenafil (Viagra). ARC Journal of Forensic Science. April 2019. Found on the internet at https://www.arcjournals.org/pdfs/ajfs/v4-i1/3.pdf
- Drugs.com. Generic Viagra Availability. March 6, 2024. Found on the internet at: https://www.drugs.com/availability/generic-viagra.html