Alternatives or Generics for Viagra and other Erectile Dysfunction Medications: What is Available?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs when a man can't get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex.  There are several prescription medications on the market now that treat this condition: sildenafil (Viagra), verdenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), tadalafil (Cialis), and avanafil (Stendra). These prescription medications for ED are almost the same price and Viagra is one of the more popular choices.

Since most insurance companies do not include this medication in their drug formulary, patients have had to pay of pocket for Viagra and in recent years, prices for all the ED medications have skyrocketed. Many people feel like they cannot afford to pay such a steep price tag to treat their erectile dysfunction. Prices are now well over one thousand dollars for an entire bottle. With prices like this, regular people can hardly afford to spend their money on something that most, if not all, insurance companies deemed unnecessary for maintaining overall health. That is where some people start to look into supplements to try to cope with their ED. Herbs and supplements such as DHEA, L-arginine, Ginseng, Propionyl-L-carnitine, Yohimbe, Gingko Biloba, and Horny Goat Weed have been used by people as alternatives to try to treat their ED. However, because these supplements have not been widely studied, their effectiveness is uncertain. Also, because supplements are not monitored as stringently by the FDA, the amount of active ingredient can vary greatly depending on the manufacturer. These supplements can even cause serious side effects or interact with other medications, so before you try any supplement, talk to your doctor first.

If you are one of the people feeling like you cannot possibly keep up with these ridiculously high prices and you question the safety and effectiveness of supplements, perhaps you have tried to search for generic Viagra to lower your expenses. There is currently no generic available for Viagra in the United States; however, the FDA recently approved Teva Pharmaceuticals' generic version of this popular erectile dysfunction drug in March 2016. The generic version of Viagra is slated to be in pharmacies as early as December 2017; however, it is possible that even with generic Viagra available on the market, prices for it may still be quite high. In recent years generic medication costs have risen astronomically, with some generics almost matching the prices of their brand name counterparts.

Until a generic Viagra becomes available or until the price for said generic become low enough to be affordable, there is a medication (Revatio which contains 20mg of sildenafil) which is used for pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) that perhaps you can discusss with your doctor. Revatio and its generic versions contain the same ingredient as the one found in Viagra, just at a lower dosage. The best part is that Revatio, unlike Viagra, does have several manufacturers currently producing the generic form of the medication, so the costs are much lower.

If this is something you are struggling with, you can talk to your doctor to decide whether or not generic Revatio (sildenafil 20mg) is right for your condition. It can lower your costs from a few hundred dollars to potentially under fifty dollars. Also, keep in mind that whether you end up getting Viagra or the generic Revatio, make sure you are filling the prescription at a licensed pharmacy whether it is in store or online.