Viagra vs. Levitra Comparison

Before we compare Levitra and Viagra let’s understand what they are.

What is Levitra?

Levitra (vardenafil) is a prescription medication approved by the FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). The brand-name product is a Bayer product, and it is also available in generic by several manufacturers.

What is Viagra?

Viagra (sildenafil) is an FDA-approved prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. The brand-name product is a Pfizer product, and it is also available in generic by several manufacturers.

Levitra , also known by its generic name vardenafil, and Viagra, also known by its generic name, sildenafil, are both PDE-5 inhibitors. Both drugs are available in tablet form as brand and generic. Regardless of dose, these medications should not be taken more than once in a day in the treatment of ED. Levitra or Viagra needs to be accompanied by sexual stimulation in order to work.

Levitra and Viagra are indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Both drugs have been used off-label for Raynaud’s phenomenon or for female sexual arousal disorder. The form of sildenafil known as Revatio (NOT Viagra) is indicated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, only at the dose of 20 mg three times daily, and not at the doses Viagra is available in (25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg).

Condition	Levitra	Viagra
Treatment of ED	Yes	Yes
Raynaud’s phenomenon	Off-label	Off-label
Female sexual arousal disorder	Off-label	Off-label
Treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (WHO Group I) in adults to improve exercise ability and delay clinical worsening	No	Yes, but not as Viagra. Only when prescribed as Revatio (or its generic sildenafil), in doses of 20 mg three times daily

Levitra or Viagra Effectiveness

Both Levitra and Viagra have been proven effective. In a study comparing drugs for ED, Levitra was described as more potent than Viagra; however, both drugs were shown to be similarly effective in the treatment of ED. The only advantage Levitra had was that it did not alter color perception, which may occur with Viagra on rare occasions. Another study found both drugs to be well-tolerated, with Levitra being nominally better than Viagra.

The most effective drug for you can only be determined by your healthcare provider, who will take into account your medical history and condition(s), as well as other medications you are taking that could interact with Levitra or Viagra.

Coverage and cost comparison of Levitra vs. Viagra

Insurance coverage varies widely for Levitra and Viagra. Many insurance companies do not cover these drugs, or may have a quantity limit (for example, four tablets per month).

A standard prescription of 10, 10 mg vardenafil (generic Levitra) tablets cost about $450 to over $500 without insurance. You can use a SingleCare coupon to get a prescription filled for as low as $365.

A standard prescription of 10, 50 mg sildenafil (generic Viagra) tablets is comparable to Levitra but a SingleCare discount card can reduce the price to $150-$300 depending on which pharmacy you use

Common side effects of Levitra vs. Viagra

The most common side effects of Levitra and Viagra are headache, flushing, stuffy nose, and indigestion.

Other side effects may occur. You can consult your ED healthcare provider for medical advice.

Levitra and Viagra should never be used with nitrates, such as nitroglycerin. The combination is contraindicated (should not be used) because it could result in dangerously low blood pressure. Alpha blockers, such as alfuzosin, terazosin, or tamsulosin, can cause the same effect of low blood pressure when taken with Levitra or Viagra. Any antihypertensives (medications to lower blood pressure) in combination with Levitra or Viagra can also interact, causing low blood pressure.

Levitra or Viagra can also interact with azole antifungals, protease inhibitors, and macrolide antibiotics. Other drug interactions may occur; consult your healthcare professional for a full list of drug interactions.

• Levitra or Viagra should not be given with any nitrate medication (such as nitroglycerin), because the combination can lead to a dangerous decrease in blood pressure.
• Cardiovascular health should be evaluated. If a patient has certain heart/blood pressure problems, the medication may be unsafe. Consult your healthcare provider.
• Use with caution in patients with anatomical deformations of the penis.
• Rarely, prolonged erection (over 4 hours) or priapism (painful erection over 6 hours) may occur. If an erection lasts longer than 4 hours, seek immediate medical care. Failing to treat this immediately could result in permanent damage.
• Stop taking Levitra or Viagra and seek immediate medical care if you have a sudden loss of vision in one or both eye(s). Although rare, this could be a sign of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), which is a rare condition and a cause of decreased vision, which could lead to permanent vision loss.
• Stop taking Levitra or Viagra and seek immediate medical care if you have a sudden loss of hearing.
• Dosage adjustment is required for patients with moderate liver issues. Levitra or Viagra should not be used in patients with severe liver problems.
• Patients on dialysis should not use Levitra or Viagra.
• Because these medications do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STD), patients should use protective measures, such as condoms.
• Although both drugs are indicated in men, they are sometimes used off-label in women. However, there is no data on either drug in pregnant women. Therefore, Levitra or Viagra should not be used in pregnant women.

Both drugs are in the same category of medications and work in the same way. However, some patients prefer one over the other. Ask your doctor if one of these drugs is right for you.