ED Medication Comparison: Find the Right Treatment for You

When it comes to treating erectile dysfunction, a condition where a man can’t get or keep an erection firm enough for sex. Also known as impotence, it affects nearly half of men over 40 at some point. The good news? You have real options—and not all of them work the same way. Whether you’re trying ED meds for the first time or switching because one didn’t click, knowing the differences between sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil can save you time, money, and frustration.

These drugs all belong to the same class—PDE5 inhibitors—but their effects vary. Sildenafil, the original brand-name version is Viagra. Also known as generic Viagra, it starts working in about 30 to 60 minutes and lasts 4 to 5 hours. You need to take it on an empty stomach or it won’t work as well. Tadalafil, sold as Cialis, takes a bit longer to kick in—up to 2 hours—but lasts up to 36 hours.. Also known as the weekend pill, it’s popular for men who want flexibility without timing sex around a pill. Then there’s Vardenafil, the active ingredient in Levitra. It works in about 25 to 60 minutes and lasts 4 to 5 hours, similar to sildenafil, but some men find it works better with food. Each has different side effects too. Headaches, flushing, and upset stomach are common across the board, but tadalafil can cause back pain in some users, while vardenafil might affect vision slightly more often.

It’s not just about how fast or how long these drugs work. Your health history matters. If you take nitrates for heart problems, none of these are safe. If you have liver or kidney issues, dosing changes. Some men prefer daily low-dose tadalafil because it removes the pressure of planning sex. Others like sildenafil because it’s the cheapest and most studied. The real question isn’t which one is best—it’s which one fits you.

Below, you’ll find real comparisons based on user experiences, doctor insights, and clinical data. We’ve looked at how these meds stack up against each other in speed, duration, cost, side effects, and how they interact with food, alcohol, and other meds. No marketing fluff. Just what works, what doesn’t, and what you need to know before you take the next pill.