Revatio vs. Viagra: What's the Difference?
Dealing with sexual dysfunction problems can be an embarrassing yet frustrating experience for men and women because, well, no one wants to underperform in the bedroom.
Many guys deal with erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s actually one of the most common types of male sexual dysfunction, affecting about 30 million men in the United States.
Fortunately, ED is a treatable condition with the use of prescription drugs.
You’ve likely heard of Viagra® — who can forget those commercials? Containing the active ingredient sildenafil, this popular “little blue pill” is a medication prescribed for ED.
It’s not uncommon for Viagra to be confused with Revatio®. The latter also contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate. Then there’s generic Viagra, which is just called sildenafil.
Both Viagra and Revatio are manufactured and sold by the pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. The medications work in similar ways to increase blood flow to certain areas of the body. This means they can lead to the same effects when used as prescribed.
So what’s the difference? Read on for a detailed breakdown of Revatio versus Viagra.
Revatio vs. Viagra
What are the differences between these very similar medications? Well, the best way to separate Viagra and Revatio is by dosage and what they’re prescribed for.
Viagra is prescribed to men dealing with erectile dysfunction, while Revatio use is meant to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).
Below, we’ll go over how Viagra and Revatio differ from a functional perspective. We’ll also provide more information about which drug is most effective for treating ED and improving sexual experience.
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Similarities Between Viagra and Revatio
Before looking at how Viagra and Revatio differ, let’s dive deeper into how they’re similar.
Both Viagra and Revatio:
Contain the active ingredient sildenafil. Sildenafil is a medication used to treat ED and PAH. It belongs to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors (or phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors). These meds inhibit the PDE5 enzyme in the smooth muscle cells of blood vessels. This makes blood vessels widen, letting more blood flow to certain types of tissue.
Share similar common side effects. Viagra and Revatio can cause similar side effects, including headaches, nasal congestion, runny nose, flushing, indigestion and, in rare cases, blurred vision, loss of vision and temporary loss of hearing.
Can have sildenafil interactions. Both medications may cause drug interactions, including dangerous interactions if used with blood pressure medications such as nitrate medications and alpha blockers.
Require a prescription. When being evaluated for a prescription, it’s important to inform your healthcare provider about any medical conditions you currently or previously had.
While they’re both sildenafil medications, Revatio and Viagra aren’t taken in the same way. Revatio must be taken every day to treat PAH. On the other hand, Viagra can be taken ad hoc (when necessary or as needed for ED treatment) — but no more than once a day.
With this in mind, be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions on how to take Revatio or Viagra to avoid self-medicating or (possibly) overdosing.
Before we dive into how Viagra and Revatio are different, let’s discuss what Viagra does.
What Is Viagra and How Does It Work?
As noted, Viagra is a brand-name drug for erectile dysfunction. It comes in tablet form and is available in several doses. This medication is meant to be used as needed and taken 30 minutes to four hours before sexual activity.
After four hours, Viagra becomes less effective and may not provide a significant amount of relief from erectile dysfunction.
Research has shown that some men find sildenafil helps with their erections for as little as 20 minutes, while others may experience the effects for a whole 24 hours.
So, if you were wondering how long Viagra lasts, there’s your answer.
What’s interesting about sildenafil is that it wasn’t initially created to treat erectile dysfunction. Pfizer developed it in the late ‘80s as a treatment for angina (chest pain).
During early clinical trials, many participants reported erections while using sildenafil. Sildenafil gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998 for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Our guide to how Viagra works goes into more detail about the biological process of getting an erection, as well as how Viagra supplements can make it easier if you’re prone to ED.
Viagra Side Effects
Like any medication, you may experience side effects from taking this ED medication. But it’s better to know upfront, right?
Potential side effects of Viagra may include:
Headache
Flushing
Dyspepsia (indigestion/heartburn)
Nausea or upset stomach
Nasal congestion
Abnormal vision
Back pain
Myalgia (muscle pain)
Dizziness
Skin rash
Many of these side effects are more common when Viagra is taken at a moderate or high dose, such as 50 or 100 milligrams.
In rare cases, Viagra and generic sildenafil may cause other side effects, including prolonged or painful erections (referred to as priapism).
Priapism is an extremely rare side effect that requires medical attention. People diagnosed with sickle cell anemia, leukemia and multiple sclerosis have a higher risk of developing this condition.
What Is Revatio and How Does it Work?
Now you’re likely wondering: What is Revatio?
Revatio is the second brand name for sildenafil. But unlike Viagra, it’s not meant to treat erectile dysfunction.
Revatio is used for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension, a type of high blood pressure affecting the lungs’ arteries.
While Viagra entered the market in the late ’90s, Revatio was approved by the FDA in 2005 as a treatment for PAH.
This medication (and Revatio generic) contains a lower dose of sildenafil than Viagra. Each Revatio tablet contains 20 milligrams of sildenafil. In comparison, a Viagra tablet contains 25, 50 or 100 milligrams of the active ingredient.
So what does this all mean?
It means Revatio has about one-fifth the amount of sildenafil as the strongest Viagra tablet. Yet, despite the different strengths, these medications are essentially the same drugs producing the same effects in the body.
This also indicates that, to some extent, Revatio can be effective in treating erectile dysfunction alongside pulmonary hypertension.
While the amount of sildenafil per tablet is lower than Viagra, many men with mild or moderately severe ED find their condition is effectively treated with the 20-milligram dose found in Revatio.
So although Revatio isn’t typically prescribed for ED, it can increase blood flow to your penis, leading to an erection.
It’s important to note that the PDE5 enzyme (what sildenafil targets) isn’t only in the blood vessels that supply blood to your penis. It’s found all throughout the vascular system, including the lungs.
By enabling stronger blood flow between the heart and lungs, Revatio can not only help relieve pulmonary hypertension but also prevent potential heart damage over time.
Revatio Side Effects
Like Viagra, Revatio sildenafil has some adverse side effects you should be aware of.
Revatio side effects may include:
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Vision loss
Hearing loss
Priapism
Vaso-occlusive pain crisis (often seen in patients with sickle cell disease)
Keep reading to find out how Revatio and Viagra differ.
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Key Differences of Revatio vs. Viagra
We’ve extensively covered Viagra and Revatio, discussing what they treat, how they work and the potential side effects.
While these two medications are sort of the same, they’re actually different — are we making sense?
To help clear the air, here’s a rundown of the main differences between Revatio and Viagra:
Conditions treated. Viagra is primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction, whereas Revatio is most often prescribed to treat pulmonary hypertension.
Forms. Both medications are sold in tablet form. But despite only being FDA-approved as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, sildenafil can also be used off-label to treat premature ejaculation (PE), either by itself or with other drugs.
Dosage. Although both medications contain sildenafil, they’re dosed for different purposes. Since erectile dysfunction can vary in severity, Viagra dosage ranges from 25 to 100 milligrams per tablet. Meanwhile, Revatio is only available as a 20-milligram oral tablet.
How to Choose Between Revatio vs. Viagra
At this point, you may be wondering, Which medication is better for me? We’re not healthcare professionals, so we can’t provide a definitive answer or medical advice.
However, we can offer some key information to better prepare you for that conversation with your healthcare provider of choice.
From a purely functional standpoint, Viagra and Revatio can both be used to treat erectile dysfunction because they contain the same active ingredient. In fact, some generic sildenafil tablets have the exact 20-milligram dosage as one Revatio tablet.
Suppose you’re dealing with a severe form of erectile dysfunction. In that case, higher-dose Viagra tablets (50 or 100 milligrams) may be more suitable for treating your symptoms than the milder 20-milligram dose of sildenafil you’d get with Revatio.
Having said that, the higher the dosage, the more likely you’ll experience severe side effects of sildenafil.
We strongly recommend speaking with a healthcare provider about how much to take. They can suggest the best dosage to treat your erectile dysfunction symptoms while minimizing uncomfortable side effects.
Check out our guide on how to take Viagra for the best results for more tips and insight.
If you’re not trying to break the bank for ED medications, the generic version of sildenafil may be a good option. Buying generic drugs lets you access the same benefits for ED as brand-name medications, such as Viagra or Revatio, at a significantly lower price per tablet.
For example, we offer generic sildenafil pills through our online telehealth platform at a fraction of the cost of brand-name Viagra, as well as chewable ED hard mints containing sildenafil.
If you were thinking about skipping these prescription medications for something you can find online or in-store, think again.
The FDA advises people to avoid certain male-enhancement products sold through retailers like Amazon and eBay because they may contain dangerous drug ingredients.
You can visit the FDA’s MedWatch page to find the latest reports and safety alerts on prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, biologics, medical devices and other FDA-regulated products.
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The Bottom Line on Revatio and Viagra
From the looks of it, Viagra and Revatio are essentially the same medication. However, if you’re in the market for erectile dysfunction medication, Viagra is likely the better choice.
Of course, we can’t tell you which medication to go with. Reach out to your healthcare provider for advice on sexual dysfunction problems.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
Viagra and Revatio contain the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) and are manufactured by the same company.
The medications are brand names for the same generic drug but have FDA approvals to treat different medical conditions.
Viagra is used in specific formulations to treat ED. Revatio is used in specific doses and formulations to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension. However, the low dose of sildenafil used in Revatio may make it less suitable for those affected by moderate or severe ED.
Both Revatio and Viagra increase blood flow and have similar side effects.
Any medication that features sildenafil — and other PDE5 inhibitors, such as tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®) or avanafil (Stendra®) — has the potential to interact with other medications. This includes drugs for high blood pressure and heart disease.
ED medications the FDA doesn’t regulate should be avoided, as they may contain dangerous ingredients.
If you’re dealing with psychological ED caused by mental health conditions like anxiety or depression, we offer online therapy to help improve sexual performance anxiety.
Worried about erectile dysfunction? You’re not alone. Our detailed guide to the causes of erectile dysfunction and your options for treating it discusses how ED can develop and the steps that you can take to improve your erections and sexual function.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.