Viagra is better or Levitra

Submitted by Jango on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 07:58.

Health

Both the drugs, Levitra and Viagra, work in essentially the same way and both bring on almost similar side effects. Levitra may work a little faster in some people and be less sensitive to food or alcohol intake. Viagra, on the other hand, has a proven safety track record.
Introduction
To date, no controlled studies have been conducted comparing Levitra directly with Viagra, which makes it difficult to compare their features directly. However, an overview has been provided on some of the issues pertaining to both Levitra and Viagra:
Levitra:

May work somewhat faster
Is more effective even on a full stomach (though an extremely fatty meal slows it down)
Is less likely to have visual disturbance side effect (Viagra sometimes causes a bluish tint to vision, a harmless side effect that wears off along with the drug)

Viagra:

Has been around for ages and is extremely well-tested and a well understood drug.
Viagra has been used by millions worldwide and Levitra in comparison is a relatively new entrant in the drug market.

Issues where neither drugs have an advantage:

Both have been found to be effective in about the same percentage of people (about 80%)
Both work essentially in the same way
Both have similar side effects
Both are sold at about the same price
Both have a similar lasting capacity in the body (3-4 hours)

How do both work?
There are only three oral drugs approved for the treatment of erectile dysfunction: Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra. All three, including Levitra and Viagra work by increasing the blood flow into the penis so that when a man is sexually stimulated, he can get an erection.
Levitra and Viagra work by a similar mechanism to cause erections. There are subtle differences in how long the drug works and how quickly it works. Levitra works a little longer than Viagra. They both take effect in about 30 minutes. With Levitra, the effects last for about 5 hours. With Viagra, the effects last for approximately 4 hours.
If one of these drugs is not effective for ED, you can try another but, because both these drugs have the same mechanism of action, it is highly unlikely that successful erection with another will be achieved where one has failed.
Which works faster?

One of Levitra's main claim to fame is that it is supposed to work faster than Viagra, allowing more romantic spontaneity. A study conducted by Pfizer shows that Viagra kicks–in in around 14-20 minutes, as a result of which Viagra looks equally viable.
Levitra is less sensitive to food or alcohol intake while, Viagra works fastest on an empty stomach.
Both Levitra and Viagra last for up to four hours, though some people report residual effects up to a full day later.

Which has fewer side effects?
As far as side effects go, Viagra results in more side effects than Levitra. Most of these side effects revolve around vision problems. Viagra has been known to create abnormal and blurred vision, double vision, ocular bleeding, difficult and painful urination and diarrhea to name a few. Viagra works best on an empty stomach.
Levitra seems to have fewer side effects. The reason lies in Levitra’s more specifically targeting the PDE-5 enzyme. Levitra cannot be taken by men who take certain high blood pressure medicines or those who have prostrate problems. Levitra works best when taken with food.
Even though Viagra results in more potential side effects, it is in fact the most studied drug of the three ED medications. However, most doctors feel that there’s little difference between Viagra and Levitra.
If I take both will it work better?
More is not better with drugs. In fact, every individual must aim to take the smallest effective dose possible. Because, lower doses generally result in fewer side effects. Taking too much may be potentially dangerous and result in increased or life threatening side effects. Both Levitra and Viagra should be taken once a day only.
What is the equivalent dose?
Viagra pills come in three doses: 100mg, 50mg and 25mg; the maximum dose being 100mg and the smallest being 25mg. it is not permissible to take more than 100mg in a single day and most people often get effective results with lesser potency dosages. However, it makes sense to buy 100mg pills and cut them into half or into four pieces using a pill cutter as this will turn out cheaper.
Levitra pills come in four dosages: 20mg, 10mg, 5mg and 2.5mg; the maximum dose being 20mg and the smallest dose being 2.5mg. It is not permissible to take more than 20mg in a single day and most people often get effective results with lesser potency dosages. However it makes sense to buy 20mg pills and cut them into half or into four pieces using a pill cutter as this will turn out cheaper.
Even if you are already taking Viagra, it makes sense to try Levitra which comes in relatively low doses and see how it works for you. You can even increase the dose to find the one that is right for you. Levitra is a more targeted drug than Viagra, so it is effective at lower doses.
Which costs less?
Levitra and Viagra are priced in almost the same range. At some pharmacies one may be slightly cheaper than the other, and at most other pharmacies the price may be identical. For instance, at one online website ten 100mg Viagra pills cost $134.50 while ten 20mg Levitra pills cost $130.00.
Price per pill of maximum dose of Viagra is $33.00/pill (100mg) and Levitra is $28.25/pill (20mg). The cheapest way to buy either drug is to buy the maximum dose (100mg for Viagra and 20mg for Levitra) and use a pill-cutter to cut the pill into smaller pieces.