What Are The Best Viagra Alternatives? Your Top 5!

Research indicates that erectile dysfunction currently affects at least 12 million men in the United States. Even though the prevalence of this condition tends to increase with age, it’s not confined to older adults. Younger men experience erectile dysfunction symptoms as well.

A range of treatments and strategies can either reverse or improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. The options may include medications and other medical treatments, alternative approaches as well as lifestyle changes.

When you think of the best erectile dysfunction, you probably think of Viagra. That’s because the little blue pill was the first oral drug developed to treat ED and approved by the FDA in 1998. And while Viagra can be very effective in treating ED, there are numerous alternatives to Viagra. For whatever reason, you may want to try other ED drugs. Continue your reading and learn more about the available Viagra alternatives.

1. Are there other drugs that work like Viagra?

As already explained, there are several medications that can help with having erections. However, it’s worth noting that Viagra is a highly effective drug for treating erectile dysfunction, and there are no other ED pills that are guaranteed to work better!

However, some medical devices such as penis pumps and penile implants may work better compared to Viagra for some male ED patients. Below are a few drugs that work the same as Viagra:

• Sildenafil: This is the generic version of Viagra. They both feature sildenafil citrate, which is the active ingredient. But because sildenafil isn’t branded, it’s usually fairly more affordable than Viagra.
• Spedra: This is another ED pill, which has been shown to work relatively faster compared to Viagra. However, there is currently no Spedra alternative.
• Viagra connect: This is an over-the-counter Viagra alternative and is commonly available in pharmacies.
• Levitra and vardenafil: These two contain vardenafil as the active ingredient. Levitra is the branded pill whereas vardenafil is the cheaper generic version.
• Cialis, Tadalafil, and Cialis Daily: All these drugs feature tadalafil as the active ingredient. Cialis is the branded tablet whereas tadalafil is the cheaper generic version. Cialis daily is a once-daily drug that you don’t need to take before intercourse like the other ED medications.

2. Are there other medical alternatives to Viagra?

What Are The Best Viagra Alternatives? There are a number of other medical alternatives to Viagra, including:

• Penile self-injections: Medications such as phentolamine, papaverine, and alprostadil can be injected directly into either the base or side of the penis. And this can potentially help one achieve and maintain an erection for up to 40 minutes. They work by dilating your blood vessels.
• Urethral suppositories: You can also use a special applicator to insert very small alprostadil suppositories into your urethra. And after about ten minutes, this may stimulate an erection that can potentially last for up to 60 minutes.
• Testosterone replacement: While testosterone isn’t the sole fuel for a man’s libido and performance, low testosterone levels can impact your ability to have a satisfying sex life. Erectile dysfunction issues can result from low testosterone levels. And if low testosterone is the suspected cause, testosterone therapy may help treat it. This can be administered through pills, injections, or patches.
• Penile implants: This is usually the last resort when no other treatment options are either effective or suitable. These are simply pumps that are inserted into your penis through surgical operation. The implant is then manually inflated before intercourse.

3. What non-medical alternatives to Viagra are available?

• Penis pumps: Also known as vacuum erection devices, penis pumps are usually attached to a hand- or battery-powered pump and function by drawing blood into your penis. The person can then sustain the erection with a tension ring.
• Pelvic exercises: Research has shown that strengthening the muscles responsible for erections may help boost blood flow and make erections easier to achieve and maintain.
• Losing weight! In case you didn’t know, most erectile dysfunction patients are overweight. Being obese can lead to erectile dysfunction, so shedding a few pounds may help ED patients improve their erections.
• Lifestyle changes: There are a few lifestyle changes that may help improve erectile dysfunction symptoms, including eating a healthy, balanced diet, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, avoiding heavy alcohol consumption and illegal use of substances, and perhaps seeking assistance from mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

4. Non-medical treatment alternatives that are not proven by the FDA to work:

• Penis rings: These are medical equipment that are attached around the penis and testicles. While they haven’t been proven to work on their own, they are usually used after penis pumps to keep blood in the penile region to try and boost erections.
• Acupuncture: This technique is believed to help enhance blood circulation in the penile region as well as other parts of the body. However, no clinical evidence currently suggests that it works.
• Jelqing: This is a unique type of penis massage intended to boost both penis size and erections. However, just like its acupuncture counterpart, no evidence proves it works.
• Herbal pills: Today, there are numerous herbal pills out there on the market sold as Viagra alternatives that are intended to work like Viagra. However, it’s imperative to note that these pills are not authentic and have not been proven to be either safe or effective.
  However, if you do choose to try them, you must ensure that the herbal pill you are taking is safe and properly controlled by the Traditional Herbal Registration Scheme. The most common herbal remedies for ED include DHEA, maca, horny goat weed, red ginseng, melatonin, zinc, melatonin, propionyl-L carnitine, arginine, and vitamin, among others.

5. So, what are the most effective Viagra alternatives?

As already explained earlier, Viagra is arguably the most effective medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. This simply implies that there are no other ED pills that are guaranteed to provide better results. However, research has shown that some medical devices, particularly penis pumps might offer slightly better results.

In this regard, penis pumps can provide highly promising results, with 82-89% of men together with their counterparts reporting significant results after using penis pumps. Penis pumps may also be used alongside Viagra to boost the rate of success.

If for whatever reason Viagra doesn’t work for you, you can consult your urologist to recommend other ED pills. Everyone’s body is different, so what works for other patients might not work for you. Just remember that you can use two different ED pills together because this can cause serious side effects such as priapism and stroke!

To help enhance your success chances, your doctor may recommend a combination of ED treatments, provided it doesn’t involve mixing two drugs. For instance, you could use a combination of Viagra and pelvic floor exercises, or a weight loss regimen.

Which Viagra substitutes work faster?

Usually, Viagra takes between 30 minutes and 60 minutes to start working in your system. Spedra is arguably the fastest working ED medication because it usually starts working within 15 minutes after taking it.

Cialis Daily takes no time to start working in your body because it’s always in your body! Taking this drug daily implies you are always ready for intercourse. In general, any ED treatment that guarantees long-lasting benefits, including lifestyle changes, therapy, or workouts can help you achieve an erection at any given time without an urgent need to plan.

Which Viagra alternative lasts longer?

On average, Viagra will stay in your system for 4 hours. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you should contact your doctor should you experience an erection that lasts more than this timeframe. Cialis is the longest-lasting ED medication you can take before intercourse. To be more precise, it can stay in your system for up to 36 hours! This is why it’s popularly known as the weekend pill!

Are there any cheaper alternatives to Viagra?

When you are looking for the best ED medications, the price will inevitably play a huge role. And while Viagra remains the most effective ED treatment drug, it can be a bit expensive for some patients. Sildenafil is the unbranded version of Viagra and is often called generic Viagra. Both Viagra and sildenafil feature the same active ingredient, so there is no clinical difference between them. But because sildenafil is not branded, it is usually fairly affordable. Tadalafil and Vardenafil are the other cheaper Viagra alternatives. Like their sildenafil counterpart, they are also not branded.

Are there any Viagra alternatives you can get without a prescription?

Viagra Connect is the only available over-the-counter erectile dysfunction medication. Viagra Connect features the same ingredients as its Viagra counterpart. However, you don’t need a doctor’s prescription to get Viagra Connect. It is available in most pharmacies, where you only need to talk to a pharmacist who will evaluate your symptoms to tell whether the drug could be right for you.

The bottom line – What Are The Best Viagra Alternatives?

As you may have realized, there are plenty of Viagra alternatives out there on the market. And a few are fairly effective at treating ED, especially the PDE-5 inhibitors such as Tadalafil, Viagra Connect, and Sildenafil. However, most of them don’t have any scientific backing while others can be downright harmful.

As a general rule, a healthy lifestyle that includes routine exercise, proper diet, getting adequate sleep, and being free from alcohol consumption and smoking can give you an edge in your battle with erectile dysfunction.