There are currently eight different erectile dysfunction (ED) medications on the UK market. Viagra is certainly the most well-known, but Spedra may be a better choice for some men.
What is Spedra?
Spedra is a relatively new prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. It contains the active ingredient avanafil and is fast-acting compared to other ED medications like Viagra.
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What is Viagra?
Viagra is the oldest erectile dysfunction medication available in the UK. It works in a similar way to Spedra but takes longer to have an effect.
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How do they work?
Both Viagra and Spedra belong to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. Whilst Viagra and Spedra do contain different active ingredients, they both work in the same way. Erectile dysfunction is often caused by an insufficient blood supply to the penis. This prevents an erection.
Spedra and Viagra cause the blood vessels in the penis to relax and widen. This means that more blood flow can get to the penis to produce an erection. However, neither Spedra nor Viagra will produce an erection on their own. They make the erection possible by improving blood flow, but sexual stimulation is still needed to get an erection.
Spedra vs Viagra – The key differences
How quickly do they work?
The biggest difference between Spedra and Viagra is the time they take to work. If you take Viagra, you may need to wait 30-60 minutes before you can get an erection. However, Spedra can work in as little as 15 minutes, making it a great option for people who want to have more spontaneous sex.
How long do they last?
Although Spedra works much more quickly than Viagra, they both last for a similar amount of time – around 4-6 hours. This does not mean that you would have an erection that lasts for 4-6 hours, it means that you should be able to get an erection within 4-6 hours of taking the medication.
What are the side effects of Viagra vs Spedra?
Despite their similarities, Spedra is actually a more targeted drug than Viagra so it produces fewer side effects. Headaches, flushing and nasal congestion are common side effects of both Spedra and Viagra. However, Viagra can also commonly cause indigestion, nausea, dizziness and changes to your vision. If you experience these side effects when taking Viagra, Spedra may be a more suitable option for you.
How effective are Spedra and Viagra?
A recent clinical trial from 2022 directly compares the effectiveness of Spedra (avanafil) vs Viagra (sildenafil). Patients taking Spedra or Viagra both experienced an improvement in their erections over the 12 weeks of the trial. However, there was a greater improvement for those taking Spedra.
64.8% of the Spedra group regained normal erectile function, compared to just 36.9% of those taking Viagra. Those taking Viagra were more likely to still experience some mild erectile dysfunction, but they still reported successful sex in 68% of cases. Successful sex was reported in 75.1% of cases in the Spedra group.
With this in mind, Spedra is considered to be the more effective treatment, however, Viagra is still likely to offer a significant improvement in ED symptoms. Other factors, such as side effects and cost, may also influence the decision over which treatment to take.
Is there a difference in cost?
Cost is another key difference between Spedra and Viagra. As Viagra is an older drug, its patent has expired. This means that other manufacturers can produce their own version of Viagra with the same active ingredient.
Viagra is the brand name for the drug produced by Pfizer. The generic version of Viagra is called sildenafil and can be produced by several different pharmaceutical companies. Viagra and sildenafil contain the same active ingredient and work in exactly the same way, however, sildenafil is usually significantly less expensive than the branded Viagra produced by Pfizer.
Spedra, on the other hand, is a relatively new drug. For this reason, it is still under patent and can only be produced by the Menarini pharmaceutical company. The patent is not expected to expire until at least 2025, so it could be some time before a cheaper generic version of Spedra is available on the market.
Can you get Spedra or Viagra over the counter?
Spedra is currently only available on prescription, however, Viagra is available in 50mg tablets over the counter under the brand name ‘Viagra Connect’. 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets of Viagra are available on prescription. You can request to buy Spedra or Viagra online from Simple Online Pharmacy.
Which is stronger – Spedra or Viagra?
Viagra is a slightly more potent drug than Spedra. This means that you need less of the active ingredient to achieve the same effects.
Both Viagra and Spedra tablets are available in different doses which can be adjusted to maximise effectiveness and reduce side effects. Spedra 200mg is the maximum dose, but 100mg and 50mg doses are also available. The maximum dose of Viagra is 100mg, but 25mg and 50mg tablets are also available.
Summary
Viagra and Spedra are both highly effective ED medications. If you prefer something that acts quickly or has fewer side effects, Spedra may be the better option for you. If you are more concerned about cost, a generic Viagra (sildenafil) may be the right choice.
It is also worth remembering that it can take a while to find out exactly which ED medication is right for you. There are several different treatments to try and they are available in a range of different doses. If you find one treatment doesn’t work, you should speak to your doctor about increasing the dose or trying a different medication.
