PDE5 Inhibitors
SildenafilSildenafil Citrate
Sildenafil is a PDE5 inhibitor taken as needed for erectile dysfunction (generic Viagra) and, at a different strength, daily for pulmonary arterial hypertension (generic Revatio). Both are inexpensive generics.
This page is general information about a medication and how cash prices for it are set. It is not medical advice and does not replace the label, your prescriber or your pharmacist. How we handle medical information
All tablet strengths are generic from many manufacturers.
About Sildenafil
Sildenafil blocks an enzyme called PDE5, which prolongs the effect of nitric oxide on blood vessels. In the penis that supports an erection in response to sexual stimulation; in the lungs it lowers pressure in the pulmonary arteries. It does not cause an erection on its own and does not affect desire.
For erectile dysfunction it is taken as needed before sexual activity, works within about an hour and lasts several hours; a heavy or fatty meal delays absorption. For pulmonary arterial hypertension it is taken three times a day at a fixed lower strength. The two uses are labelled as separate products, but the molecule is the same, and prescribers sometimes write the lower-strength tablets for erectile dysfunction with instructions to take more than one.
It must never be combined with nitrates such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide or recreational poppers, because the combination can cause a dangerous fall in blood pressure. Headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion and temporary blue-tinted vision are the common side effects. Prolonged erection needs emergency care.
Why the cash price for Sildenafil differs from pharmacy to pharmacy
Generic sildenafil tablets cost pharmacies very little, but because erectile dysfunction is usually a cash-pay condition and many customers are embarrassed to compare, some pharmacies price it far above cost. Online telehealth companies also bundle the drug with a consultation at a fixed monthly fee, which can be more or less than a pharmacy fill depending on how many tablets you use.
The 20 mg strength is often priced lower per tablet than the erectile dysfunction strengths because it competes in the pulmonary hypertension market. Whether a prescriber is willing to write it for erectile dysfunction is their decision.
Ways to pay less for Sildenafil without insurance
- Ask the pharmacy for its cash price on the strength you have been prescribed, and compare against at least one independent pharmacy; the spread on this drug is unusually wide.
- If you are considering a telehealth subscription, work out the per-tablet cost against a pharmacy fill for the number you actually use.
- Ask the prescriber whether a scored higher-strength tablet could be split for your dose.
- Buy only from a licensed US pharmacy. Counterfeit sildenafil is one of the most common fake medicines in the world.
- Upload your prescription to Script Unlock so licensed pharmacies can quote their cash price. You pay the pharmacy directly.
How Script Unlock gets you a cash price for Sildenafil
Prices on this site come from pharmacies responding to a real prescription. We do not publish estimated, average or "typical" prices, because none of those would be your price.
- 1You upload your prescription
A photo of your Sildenafil prescription is enough. Nothing is sold on the site; you are asking pharmacies to quote.
- 2Licensed pharmacies respond
Pharmacies that Script Unlock has verified see the request and each can reply with its own cash price for your exact drug, strength and quantity.
- 3You choose and pay the pharmacy
You compare the responses, pick a pharmacy, and pay that pharmacy directly when you collect. Script Unlock never takes a patient payment and never sets the price.
Questions to ask your pharmacist about Sildenafil
- 1.Do any of my medicines contain nitrates or interact with sildenafil?
- 2.How long before activity should I take it, and does food matter?
- 3.What is the maximum in a day?
- 4.What side effects need urgent attention?
- 5.Is tadalafil a better fit for how I plan to use it?
Related medications
Sources
Script Unlock is a marketplace that lets licensed pharmacies quote a cash price on your prescription. It does not prescribe, dispense or sell medication, does not process patient payments, and does not give medical advice. Always follow the instructions of your prescriber and pharmacist and read the medication guide supplied with your medicine.