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Table 2

Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) Inhibitors: Product Comparison

Sildenafil (Viagra)Vardenafil (Levitra)Vardenafil ODT (Staxyn)Tadalafil (Cialis)Avanafil (Stendra)
ManufacturerPfizerBayer/GlaxoSmithKlineBayer/GlaxoSmithKlineEli LillyVivus
Year of approval19982003201020032012
Usual dosage25–100 mg/day5–20 mg/day10 mg/day5–20 mg/day (as needed);
2.5–5 mg/day once daily
50–200 mg/day
Administration time1 hour before sexual activity1 hour before sexual activity1 hour before sexual activityAt least 0.5 hours before sexual activity0.5 hours before sexual activity
Time frame of efficacy0.5–4 hours post doseUp to 36 hours post doseAs early as 0.25 hours post dose
Dosage adjustmentsRenal
CrCl < 30 mL/minute: starting dose 25 mg
Hepatic
Hepatic impairment: starting dose 25 mg
Drug Interactions
  • Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: starting dose 25 mg
  • Ritonavir: maximum 25 mg/48 hours

Other
>65 years old: starting dose 25 mg
Renal
Do not use in patients receiving hemodialysis
Hepatic
  • Moderate impairment: starting dose 5 mg; maximum 10 mg
  • Severe impairment: do not use

Drug Interactions
  • Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors: maximum 5 mg/24 hours
  • Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: maximum 2.5 mg/24 hours
  • Ritonavir: maximum 2.5 mg / 72 hours

Other
≥65 years of age: starting dose 5 mg
Renal
Do not use in patients receiving hemodialysis
Hepatic
Moderate/severe impairment: do not use
Drug Interactions
Moderate/potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: do not use
As-needed use:
Renal
  • CrCl 30–50 mL/minute: starting dose 5 mg/day; maximum 10 mg/48 hours
  • CrCl < 30 mL/minute or if patient is receiving hemodialysis: maximum 5 mg/72 hours

Hepatic
  • Mild/moderate impairment: maximum 10 mg/day
  • Severe impairment: do not use

Drug Interactions
Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: maximum 10 mg/72 hours
Once-daily use:
Renal
CrCl <30 mL/minute or if on hemodialysis: do not use
Hepatic
  • Mild/moderate impairment: use with caution
  • Severe impairment: do not use

Drug Interactions
Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: maximum 2.5 mg/day
Renal
Do not use if CrCl < 30 mL/minute or in patients receiving hemodialysis
Hepatic
Severe impairment: do not use
Drug Interactions
  • Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors: maximum 50 mg/day
  • Potent CYP3A4 inhibitors: do not use
Common adverse reactionsHeadache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, visual abnormalitiesHeadache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, visual abnormalitiesHeadache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, visual abnormalitiesHeadache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis, back pain, myalgiaHeadache, flushing, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, nasopharyngitis
Time required from last dose to administration of a nitrate (e.g., nitroglycerin)24 hours24 hours24 hours48 hours12 hours
AWP unit cost$22.49 (100 mg)$21.46 (20 mg)$13.98 (10 mg)$24.48 (20 mg)

AWP = average wholesale price; CrCl = creatinine clearance; CYP = cytochrome P450.

Data from prescribing information for sildenafil;8 vardenafil;9 tadalafil;10 avanafil;11 vardenafil ODT;12 and Red Book Online.36