{"id":17988,"date":"2021-01-13T13:54:35","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T18:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=17988"},"modified":"2025-10-08T17:54:24","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T21:54:24","slug":"safest-drug-for-erectile-dysfunction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/safest-drug-for-erectile-dysfunction\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the safest erectile dysfunction pill?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get or keep an erection that\u2019s firm enough for sexual intercourse. For many men, erectile dysfunction is difficult and stressful to deal with both physically and emotionally. ED medications have been the saving grace for millions of men worldwide, but it can be overwhelming to find the <\/span>safest<\/span><\/i> erectile dysfunction pill. The most popular ED medications are Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra. Let\u2019s take a look at these popular brand names to answer: What is the safest drug for erectile dysfunction?<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

How does ED medication work?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Erectile dysfunction affects as many as <\/span>30 million men<\/span><\/a> in the United States, and it\u2019s usually caused by a combination of psychological and physical issues that affect the brain, hormones, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Erectile dysfunction medications help improve erectile function by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a chemical in the body that relaxes penile muscles. This in turn increases blood flow to the penis, which allows men to get and maintain an erection that\u2019s firm enough for sex. If used correctly by healthy individuals, ED medications are safe to use and can help men feel happier with their sex lives.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dosage<\/h3>\n

The main differences between the most popular ED medications\u2014<\/span>Viagra<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Cialis<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Levitra<\/span><\/a>, and Stendra\u2014are how much each drug costs, how they\u2019re taken, how long they last, and their side effects. For example, Viagra typically only stays in the body for about four to five hours before it wears off completely. Cialis, on the other hand, stays in the body for up to 36 hours and can help men get erections anytime during that time frame.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: How much does Cialis cost without insurance?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

When comparing how fast the different medications start working, both Viagra and Cialis take about 30 minutes to start working, whereas Levitra and Stendra may start working as soon as 15 minutes after ingestion. It\u2019s important to note that when treating erectile dysfunction with ED pills, sexual stimulation is needed to help the pills do their job. It\u2019s not enough to simply take a pill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the ED treatment medications can be taken daily instead of on an as-needed basis. Cialis is popular for this reason\u2014it allows men to have sex <\/span>anytime<\/span><\/a> because it continuously circulates in the bloodstream. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Viagra must be taken one to four hours before sexual activity and is taken at a much higher dose.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cost<\/h3>\n

The cost of each medication is also something to consider; erectile dysfunction medications aren\u2019t known for being cheap. Brand-name Viagra is quite expensive at about <\/span>$70<\/span><\/a> per pill, while the generic form is only around $40 per pill. Cialis costs about $12 per pill or <\/span>$360<\/span><\/a> for a month’s supply, and Levitra has an average cost of $111 per pill. Even though ED pills are expensive, many companies like SingleCare offer coupons for ED medications online.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All this to say that even though ED medications work to help men get and maintain an erection, they differ mostly in how they work and how much they cost. If you\u2019re interested in learning more about the specifics of how ED medications work or want to find the most cost-effective way to include ED pills in your life, it\u2019s best to talk with a medical professional.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Which ED medication has the least side effects?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Even though ED medications are effective and help millions of men worldwide, they still have the potential to cause side effects. Some of the ED medications will cause different side effects than others. The following table lists the most common side effects of each of the most popular ED medications:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Side effects of ED pills<\/span><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Viagra (sildenafil citrate)\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nCialis (tadalafil)\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nLevitra (vardenafil)\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\nStendra (avanafil)\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
    \n
  • Nausea<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Headache<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Flushing<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Stuffy nose<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Runny nose<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Blurred vision<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Muscle pain<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Indigestion\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Back pain<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Dizziness\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Rash\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Headache<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Indigestion<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Flushing<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Back pain<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Dizziness<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Nasal congestion<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Muscle aches\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n
    \n
  • Headache<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Flushing<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Stuffy nose<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Runny nose<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Dizziness<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Vision changes<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n
\n