Sildenafil Vs Viagra: Which is the best erectile dysfunction treatment?

07 September, 2020  |  Holy Winter - Healthcare Writer

Viagra, the famous little blue pill has been around for almost 20 years now.  Viagra produced by Pfizer is the brandname for Sildenafil – the chemical name for the active compound which treats erectile dysfunction or impotence.  Since 2013 Sildenafil has been available generically in a non-branded format and can no be produced by any pharmaceutical manufacturer.  Many people still prefer to take Viagra over Sildenafil largely due to brand recognition fear of taking a cheaper alternative, but is there any real difference between them?

Viagra: A trip back in time

Originally Viagra was developed for the treatment of heart disease but during clinical trials a rather unusual and unexpected side effect was discovered – sildenafil could treat erectile dysfunction. In 1996  Viagra was one of the first treatments launched to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) and it proved to be revolutionary.  Men who had been suffering for years with ED now found they only had to take one pill up to an hour before sex and could now achieve excellent results.

In 2013 Pfizer’s EU patent on Viagra expired meaning manufacturers could produce and market their sildenafil albeit with out the Viagra branding which only Pfizer can still use.  Now both Viagra and sildenafil are available simultaneously in the market.

The differences between Sildenafil and Viagra

Appearance

The only obvious difference between Sildenafil and Viagra other than the packaging is the shape and colour of the tablet.  Viagra tablets are a distinctive blue diamond shape whereas sildenafil is usually available as nondescript white round tablets.  This difference is purely cosmetic and makes no difference to the effectiveness of sildenafil which is chemically and medically identical to Viagra.

Effectiveness

Viagra is proven to be effective in over 80% of men with erectile dysfunction who have tried it.  The manufacturers who produce sildenafil have to put their generics through rigorous testing by European and British medical agencies to demonstrate that their sildenafil is bio-equivalent to Viagra ie it has the same potency and effectiveness as Viagra for those who take it.  Only when this has been demonstrated can the manufacturers obtain market approval for their generic sildenafil.

Price

Now that more than one company is able to produce sildenafil there is a constant competitive pressure to reduce the price of sildenafil.  While Pfizer continue to charge a premium for the branded Viagra,  sildenafil is now available as a substantial discount in comparison.

Conclusion

Sildenafil and Viagra are just as effective as each other.  Appearances aside the only real differences are the brand recognition factor of Viagra, and the substantially reduced price of sildenafil in comparison to Viagra.