HomeNews

Viagra, Levitra or Cialis – what to choose?

How and when erection tablets are used and what is the difference between Viagra, Cialis and Levitra? 

Erection tablets belonging to PDE inhibitors group are medications of the first choice for any form of erection disturbance. They are to be taken immediately before a sexual intercourse in a span of time from 30 minutes through 1 hour before a planned sex. In some cases medications are prescribed regularly before each sexual intercourse, sometimes it is recommended to take them only in case when the patient thinks that there is the most chance of failure. The medications have differences: it is useful to know them.

Viagra - has the biggest clinical experience, as it is in use from 1998. This medication has already helped to more than 16 million of men in entire world, and it is the most studied erection tablet. Viagra should be taken 1 hour before a sexual intercourse, it works up to 4 hours and after its intake side effects in comparison with new creations are likely to occur more often. Before using Viagra one should not take abundant and fat food, as it impairs the effectiveness of the medication.

Levitra - may be taken 15 minutes before a planned sex, durability of its action is a bit more than that of Viagra, and frequency of side effects is lesser.

Cialis - is to be taken 30 minutes before a planned sexual intercourse and fat food does not influence its activity, it may act up to 36 hours, sometimes more. Because of this Cialis is called a week-end tablet, as one tablet helps to be “in tonus” during all week-end.

Are Generic Drugs Safe?

TA generic drug is identical, or bioequivalent to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.  Although generic drugs are chemically identical to their branded counterparts, they are typically sold at substantial discounts from the branded price. According to the Congressional Budget Office, generic drugs save consumers an estimated $8 to $10 billion a year at retail pharmacies.  Even more billions are saved when hospitals use generics.

Drug companies must submit an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for approval to market a generic product.  The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, more commonly known as the Hatch-Waxman Act, made ANDAs possible by creating a compromise in the drug industry. Generic drug companies gained greater access to the market for prescription drugs, and innovator companies gained restoration of patent life of their products lost during FDA's approval process.

New drugs, like other new products, are developed under patent protection.  The patent protects the investment in the drug's development by giving the company the sole right to sell the drug while the patent is in effect.  When patents or other periods of exclusivity expire, manufacturers can apply to the FDA to sell generic versions.  The ANDA process does not require the drug sponsor to repeat costly animal and clinical research on ingredients or dosage forms already approved for safety and effectiveness.  This applies to drugs first marketed after 1962.

Health professionals and consumers can be assured that FDA approved generic drugs have met the same rigid standards as the innovator drug. To gain FDA approval, a generic drug must:

• contain the same active ingredients as the innovator drug(inactive ingredients may vary)
• be identical in strength, dosage form, and route of administration
• have the same use indications
• be bioequivalent
• meet the same batch requirements for identity, strength, purity, and quality
• be manufactured under the same strict standards of FDA's good manufacturing practice regulations required for innovator products

FDA says impotence drug ad for Levitra makes unsubstantiated claims

The FDA has told Bayer and GSK to withdraw a 15-second television ad for Levitra, an impotence drug, because it makes claims which are unsubstantiated. The FDA referred to the 'My Man' ad in a letter.

The advert says that Levitra is superior to other drugs for erectile dysfunction (impotence). As the makers cannot substantiate this claim (says the FDA) they have been ordered to pull the ad.

The FDA, in a letter to Bayer, says the advert does not mention Levitra's side effects.

The advert has a woman in it who implies it is the best drug around (for treating impotence).

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction, sometimes called impotence, is defined as having a consistent problem getting and/or keeping an erection sufficient for you to complete sexual intercourse.

Many men have occasional or temporary erection problems, but that does not always mean erectile dysfunction will become a chronic problem. For the problem to be diagnosed as erectile dysfunction, it must happen on a regular basis. It may not occur every time a man wants to have sex, but it does occur repeatedly, over time.

Erectile dysfunction is not a disease itself. It is usually a symptom of some underlying medical condition.

Different men can experience different degrees of erectile dysfunction.