There are four main oral drugs to treat ED these days. These are:
- Tadalafil (Cialis)
- Valdenafil (Levitra)
- Sildenafil (Viagra)
- Avanafil (Stendra)
More and more men between 40-70 years of age are taking these pills regularly. The reason for the increasing prescription of these drugs is the fact that erectile dysfunction is on the rise.
Why are ED cases rising?
The official reports on worldwide ED cases paint a scary picture. The absolute numbers on how many men are actually suffering from prolonged ED may vary but the underlying message is clear. Far too many men are having problems maintaining an erection. The Urology Care Foundation, for instance, puts the figure at about 30 million men in the US.
Here’s why ED cases are on an upswing trajectory:
1. Sedentary lifestyle:
The modern lifestyle has spawned a sedentary lifestyle. The rise in the standard of living, gadget addiction, and a home delivery service for virtually everything has made mobility an alien concept. Such a lifestyle is pacing up muscle atrophy and its effect on sex life has been an adversary.
2. Irregular diet and smoking:
The sedentary lifestyle has normalised the cult of fast food. The profits of fast food chains are through the roof. Add sugary drinks and smoking to the mix and it’s the troika of erection destruction! Cholesterol and tobacco in the blood are a detriment to sustained erection.
3. Historical drop in testosterone levels:
The “low T” jibe is not just an insult anymore. It’s the living reality of most men these days. Stressors – physical, mental, and environmental have led to a historical drop in testosterone levels. Multiple studies have confirmed this drop. It is killing sex drive in general.
4. Stress:
As jobs are getting more service-oriented, it is further cementing the sedentary lifestyle. Longer work hours are becoming common these days and moonlighting (working for multiple employers) is a serious debate. The result is increasing stress and hypertension among young males. The stress is affecting their sex lives too.
5. Lack of sleep:
All the above factors mentioned above have culminated to disturb the body’s circadian rhythm. An average man’s REM sleep duration is a lot less than the previous generation. The disturbed sleep patterns are causing problems in tissue repair. Good sleep is a prerequisite for good sex.
Considering the alarming increase in global ED cases, pharmaceutical companies have their tasks cut out. They are relentlessly pursuing the manufacturing of oral pills to make the erections last longer. Earlier, there was only sildenafil. However, the emergence of drugs like Tadalafil and Valdenafil has changed the course of ED treatment.
So, let’s take a look at each of these drugs and see which is more effective.
Cialis and Vardenafil: What they are and what they do
Tadalafil is commonly sold OTC as Cialis. Similarly, Valdenafil goes by the name Levitra. Both these drugs belong to a class of medicines called PDE-5 inhibitors. They mainly work by blocking the Phosphodiesterase or PDE-5 enzyme. By blocking the PDE5 enzyme they enable the penis muscles to relax. When the said muscles relax, blood flows more freely through the penile arteries. As the flow of blood is constant, the erection is sustained on sexual arousal.
What are the similarity and differences between Cialis and Levitra
Here are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two drugs:
Similarity
The major similarity between these two drugs as mentioned above is the drug classification. Both Cialis and Levitra are PDE5 inhibitor drugs.
Their dosage time is also similar. Both are taken 30 minutes before sex.
Both these drugs are more powerful than sildenafil or Viagra.
Difference
While both these drugs have certain side effects, Cialis seems to fare better. It doesn’t cause a blurred or tinged vision as observed with sildenafil or Valdenafil. Cialis may cause pain in the limbs but it doesn’t affect vision. Even Vardenafil doesn’t alter colour perception like sildenafil but it can cause blurriness.
Cialis vs Vardenafil: Difference in potency
Both these drugs are quite potent and research has found them to be more effective compared to sildenafil. Cialis is the most potent of them all and its effect lasts up to 36 hours. Sildenafil and Valdenafil remain in the body for 4-6 hours.
Since Cialis remains in the body for a long time, you can also take it in small doses (2.5 mg) to reduce the impact of any potential side effects.
Cialis also has another use. It’s used to treat enlarged prostate while Levitra is just to treat ED.
Key Takeaway
It’s a serious concern when 50% of men (between 40-70 years of age) in the world are suffering from ED. There’s a rising need for better ED treatment drugs. Sildenafil was the sole PDE5 to treat ED so far but it has its limitations. Newer entrants like Cialis and Valdenafil have emerged as better alternatives. However, Cialis with its dual function (enlarged prostate treatment) and better erection impact has a slight advantage over Levitra.
