Which alternatives to Viagra are effective?

Alex Perry Published : Mar 19, 2024 Last Updated : Mar 20, 2024

One of the most known ED treatments is Viagra. It is a sexual medicine that was introduced on the market in 1988.

It has worked for millions of men. That's why it is a safe and reliable treatment for erectile dysfunction.

The active ingredient present in Viagra is Sildenafil Citrate. Its active ingredient helps improve blood flow to the penis to fix your sexual function.

Earlier, only Viagra was used for ED. But now several new medicines have been launched. Some of the other medicines work faster than Viagra.

Other ED medicines that are new to the market are not all affected by food. They also don't cause such side effects.

So, all the available alternatives to Viagra are discussed here. This page provides complete information. Let's get started!

Alternative Medicines of Viagra

There are other ED treatments available that you can try if Viagra doesn't work for you. Some of the other erectile dysfunction pills to treat ED are:

Tadalafil

The brand name of Tadalafil is Cialis. It is taken 30 minutes before sexual intercourse. Within 15 to 30 minutes of its intake, it starts working and helps improve erectile function. The effect of Cialis lasts for about 36 hours in men.

For better sexual response, you may take Tadalafil daily. It is thus considered a daily pill for erectile dysfunction.

The reviews of Cialis proved it to be an effective ED drug. That's why it is considered the best alternative to Viagra.

It lasts for longer in the body than other ED pills. Tadalafil is not affected by different food items you intake, such as Viagra.

However, the only disadvantage of this drug is that it is expensive. However, the generic version is available at a lower price and offers equal effectiveness.

It is available in multiple dosages. A healthcare professional will examine the accurate dosage your body needs.

Vardenafil

The brand name of Vardenafil is Levitra. It is a slow-acting ED drug. The time it takes to start working is around an hour.

The Vardenafil effect may last for about 4-6 hours in men. It can be taken on an empty or full stomach.

To take Vardenafil, it is not important to be on an empty stomach. The effectiveness of the medicine is almost similar to Viagra.

However, the action duration lasts longer in the case of Vardenafil. It is an expensive medicine, but the generic version is available at cheaper rates.

Vardenafil takes more time to act in a body. That's why it is called a slow-acting ED drug. The side effects of Levitra are short-term and disappear in a week.

Avanafil

The brand name of Avanafil is Spedra. It is a fast-acting medicine for improving your ED symptoms. Avanafil takes just 15-20 minutes to start working.

The effect of Avanafil lasts for about 4 hours in men. It is only available as the brand name. Generic Avanafil is not available in the market.

It is a newly introduced drug but a reliable treatment for erectile dysfunction. Avanafil is a safe drug that the Food and Drug Administration approves.

It is an expensive drug. The cheaper version of Avanafil is not yet introduced. Dosages of Spedra are available.

It comes in 50, 100, and 200 mg dosages. The best time to take this ED drug is on an empty stomach.

Note: Avoid taking these oral medications for sexual dysfunction like ED with medicines used to treat high blood pressure. Interaction among these medicines may result in a severe drop in blood pressure, so be cautious.

Medical Alternative of Viagra for Treating Erectile Dysfunction

Other medical alternatives of Viagra are also available. Those are not taken by mouth in the pill form. The medical alternative can be taken only with a prescription. They are:

Alprostadil cream

The brand name of Alprostadil cream is Vitaros. It is a cream to apply at the opening in the penis top. It improves blood flow to the penis.

It takes about 5-30 minutes to start acting in men. The effects of the cream may last for about 2 hours.

The side effect of the Alprostadil cream is the pain in the penis. It is not to be used more than once a day. Each week, it should be used only three times, not more.

Alprostadil cream has no interaction with oral drugs. However, the effectiveness of this cream is not similar to the ED drugs.

Alprostadil injections

It is an injection given at the base of the penis. Alprostadil injections are not for self-administering. Your doctor or nurse will provide you with the injection.

It takes 15 minutes to act in a body. The effect may last for about an hour or so. Only one injection should be used in a day.

More than three Alprostadil injections are not recommended in a week. It contains the alprostadil hormone that helps with blood flow.

It is a painful ED treatment but is fast-acting. The price is high for Alprostadil injections. But are not effective like pills.

Penile implantation

Penile implantation is also known as penile prosthesis. This ED treatment is recommended for those who don't respond to any other.

Penile implantation is the process that involves surgery to fix flexible rods in the penis. These rods are filled with saline liquid.

There is a pump concealed in the scrotum. When one presses the pump, the saline solution travels to the device.

This increases the blood flow and gives an erection. The success rate of this treatment for ED is higher.

It is a painful erectile dysfunction treatment. Penile implants are also more expensive than any other treatment.

Natural Alternatives of Viagra

Natural herbal dietary supplements also work in Ed. If you want to avoid Viagra, these listed natural alternatives may work. All these are tested and approved for treating ED. The natural treatments are:

Ginseng

Ginseng is a natural supplement that is effective in treating erectile dysfunction. It contains chemicals that relax the smooth muscles in the body.

This helps to achieve erection in men. A study also proves that Ginseng is useful in treating sexual functioning.

For the short term, Ginseng is a supplement that works best. The side effects of this supplement are vertigo, insomnia, headache, and others.

Dehydroepiandrosterone

DHEA helps create sex hormones. The sex hormone most created with this supplement is testosterone.

Testosterone levels are responsible for erection. It is good for short-term use. In the long term, it may cause acne. A review by the National Library of Medicine on dehydroepiandrosterone and erectile function also mentioned its benefits for ED.

L-arginine

L-arginine supplements contain amino acids. Taking a high dose of this acid may stimulate blood vessels and improve blood flow. Thus, these supplements are found to be helpful in erectile function and treat Erectile dysfunction.

A recent 2022 study proves it to be an effective supplement for treating erectile dysfunction. The side effects of L-arginine are diarrhoea, nausea, cramps, and others.

Other Non-Medical Viagra Alternatives

Medical alternatives are okay, but what about non-medical alternatives? These changes can help you to solve ED and improve your sexual function:

Adapting a few lifestyle changes reduces the risk of ED development.
Try holding a healthy body weight.
Eat a healthy diet such as fruits, leafy vegetables, whole grains, etc.
Try natural remedies and herbal supplements
Do not smoke excessively.
Limit the alcohol intake.
Get a sleep of about 8 hours or so.
Take less stress and pressure.
Don't watch porn.
Do regular exercises, mainly pelvic floor exercises.
Get sex therapies.
A vacuum pump can be used.

Conclusion

If you aren't able to respond to Viagra, try choosing one of the alternatives discussed above. After that, if you still have erection problems, visit a healthcare provider.