Reviewed by Dr Samantha Miller MB ChB
(2017, University of Glasgow)
GMC number: 7561464
Information last reviewed 26/05/2021
An ED trial pack contains three of the most popular treatments for erectile dysfunction; sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil. It is designed to allow you to find the one that works for you before getting a larger prescription. Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil are more commonly known by their brand names Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. However, the generic versions contain exactly the same active ingredients, but are less expensive. For this reason, we currently only offer a generic ED trial pack with tadalafil, vardenafil and sildenafil so the pack does not contain any branded medication.
Sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil work by increasing the blood flow to the penis to assist in getting an erection. The active ingredient contained within each medication is called a PDE5-inhibitor. This blocks the PDE5 chemical in your body which can stop you from gaining an erection. The effects of sildenafil and vardenafil last for up to 4-5 hours. Tadalafil differs in that the effects can last for up to 36 hours. Sexual stimulation is still needed alongside the medication in order to gain an erection.
It can take some trial and error to find the right treatment for erectile dysfunction. What works for one person may not be successful for another. The ED trial pack gives you the opportunity to try three different formulations and discover which one suits you best.
Sildenafil and vardenafil take around 60 minutes to start working, tadalafil takes a little longer and reaches its maximum level at around 2 hours.
The effects of sildenafil and vardenafil last for four to five hours. Tadalafil is often referred to as the “weekend pill” as it lasts for up to 36 hours. This does not mean you will have an erection for these lengths of time, rather you will be able to achieve one in response to sexual stimulation during these time periods.
The active ingredient in sildenafil is sildenafil citrate. Each tablet also contains microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, lactose, triacetin, and FD & C Blue #2 aluminium lake.
The active ingredient in tadalafil is tadalafil. Each tablet also contains croscarmellose sodium, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hypromellose, iron oxide, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, talc, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.
The active ingredient in vardenafil is vardenafil. Each tablet also contains crospovidone, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose and colloidal anhydrous silica.
It’s recommended that you try one particular ED medication a few times before switching to a different type. There are many factors that can contribute to the medication not working as it should. This includes the underlying cause of your erectile dysfunction, if you’ve eaten a large meal, drank a lot of alcohol or experienced stress or anxiety. You should ideally leave a week in between stopping one medication and beginning another.
Always follow the instructions provided with the pack. It's recommended that you try each pill for a couple of days to give your body a chance to get used with the medication, ideally leaving a week between finishing one pill and starting another. A minimum of one day should be left after taking Viagra or Levitra and two days after taking Cialis.
Before you start taking ED medications, read over the instructions provided with each different type of pill. Sildenafil and vardenafil both start to work as soon as half an hour after taking it so you should take these around 30 minutes before you expect to have sex.
The first time you take tadalafil it's best to take it 2 hours before you intend to have sex. The medications may work differently for you so you may want to monitor how each one has an effect on you and how it works in your body. Eating a large, fatty meal or drinking significant amounts of alcohol beforehand can reduce the effectiveness of both sildenafil and vardenafil, but doesn’t affect tadalafil.
Sildenafil comes as a 50mg dose, 10mg is the usual starting dose of vardenafil and Cialis is recommended at 10mg. One tablet should be taken at a time.
You should keep your alcohol intake to a minimum while taking ED medication as it could cause your blood pressure to lower. If this happens you are likely to experience dizziness, a racing heart and feeling faint. Alcohol can also exacerbate erectile difficulties, and make it difficult to know if the ED medications are working.
The medications work in similar ways and therefore produce many of the same side effects. The most common side effects are:
For sildenafil:
For tadalafil:
For vardenafil:
If any of the following side effects occur then seek medical attention immediately:
ED medications may not be suitable if you:
Certain drugs can cause the blood pressure to drop too low if they are taken at the same time as ED medication. These tablets may not be suitable for you if you are taking:
Always consult your doctor first and inform them of any other medication you are taking, or are planning to take, to ensure that the combination is safe.
The ED trial pack gives you the chance to find the right ED medication for you, taking into account your schedule and whether or not you experience side effects. It's particularly useful if you've never taken medication for erectile dysfunction before.
The medications are all effective but there are slight differences in how they take effect. Sildenafil will have an effect 30 minutes after taking it, lasting up to 4–5 hours. Vardenafil also takes 30 minutes to start working and lasts for 4–5 hours. The effects of tadalafil can take up to 2 hours to manifest but the medication will last for up to 36 hours. With all these medications, you will not have an erection all this time, rather they encourage the blood to flow to the penis in response to sexual arousal to help you to perform sexually.
If stress and anxiety are a problem for you then talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or stress management courses can help you to manage this. Discussing any worries or issues within your relationship with your partner will also help to address what may be causing your erectile dysfunction. Cutting down on smoking and alcohol will also go a long way to overcoming erection problems.
This trial pack includes the three most popular types of ED medication: sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil. These contain exactly the same active ingredients as branded Viagra, Cialis and Levitra but are significantly less expensive.
The trial pack includes the three most popular types of medication: sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil.
There are other strengths and varieties of these medications available:
We recommend that you start by using the ED trial pack, but you may want to consider other options if you feel that they would suit your lifestyle better, or if you feel you need a stronger or weaker dose.
It's unlikely that you will have to take ED medications forever. Alongside taking these medications, it's recommended that you address the underlying cause of your erectile dysfunction. Emotional and relationship problems can have a significant impact as can stress, anxiety and depression. Exercise has also been shown to have a positive effect on erectile dysfunction.
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