Safety is an essential factor to consider before using any type of medication, and treatments for ED are no exception. Luckily, erectile dysfunction is a treatable issue with a number of well-known options such as sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®) and newer, second-generation ED treatments such as avanafil (Stendra®).
All of the FDA-approved ED medications on the market right now are safe for most men to use on a regular basis. However, there are some side effects and drug interactions that you should be aware of if you’re considering using any type of medication for ED. These side effect rates can differ from one medication to another, meaning one may be a more effective option for you than its alternatives.
Below, we’ve explained how ED medications work, their potential side effects, drug interactions and other key safety data that you should be aware of before using medication to treat ED, and how to determine the right and safe option for yourself.
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common form of sexual dysfunction that affects an estimated 30 million men in the United States alone, of all ages.
In fact, findings from large-scale studies suggest that as many as 40 percent of all men will deal with some level of erectile dysfunction by the age of 40 — a number that increases with age.
So you can imagine what it must have been like for guys before treatment options (like Hims) offered medication for ED.
Erectile dysfunction medication has been around since the late 1990s, when the FDA approved Viagra as the first pill for treating ED (here is a guide on where to buy Viagra). Currently, there are four different oral medications available to treat ED that have received FDA approval. These “safe ED pills” according to the FDA are:
Sildenafil. The active ingredient in Viagra, sildenafil is the most well-known medication for erectile dysfunction. It’s designed for use at least approximately one hour before sex and is capable of providing relief from ED for approximately four hours per dose. Sildenafil is available as brand name Viagra and as a generic medication. It’s a popular choice that works well for most men affected by ED.
Tadalafil. The active ingredient in Cialis®, tadalafil is a long-lasting ED drug that offers relief from erectile dysfunction for up to 36 hours per dose — a duration of action that’s earned it the nickname, the “weekend pill.” Tadalafil is available as brand name Cialis and as a generic medication. It can be used as needed before sexual activity or taken daily at a reduced dosage to provide ongoing ED relief.
Vardenafil. The active ingredient in Levitra®, vardenafil works similarly to sildenafil but has a slightly longer half-life, meaning it remains active in the body for longer. It’s sold as Levitra and is also available as a generic medication.
Avanafil. The active ingredient in Stendra®, avanafil is a second-generation medication for ED. It’s more selective in its effects than older ED drugs, starts working in as little as 15 minutes and is less likely to cause some side effects. Currently, it’s only available as the brand-name medication.
There are other ED medications besides these oral ones. Alprostadil (Caverject®) is FDA approved for ED and comes as an injectable medication. Alprostadil can also be used intraurethrally (inside the urethra). Compounded medications like BiMix, TriMix, and QuadMix can also be used for ED and are given by injection or intraurethrally.
All four of the oral medications listed above belong to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors, which work by inhibiting the effects of the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). PDE5 is found inside the smooth muscle cells of your blood vessels and is responsible for regulating blood flow to the penis.
Erections are all about blood flow. When you’re aroused, nerve signals trigger the flow of blood to the corpora cavernosa — a pair of sponge-like erectile tissues inside your penis.
By blocking the effects of PDE5, oral ED medications like sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil dilate the blood vessels that supply your penis, improving blood flow and making it easier to get and maintain an erection.
The other treatment options for ED work through a variety of different mechanisms, from dilating the blood vessels in different ways, to stimulating the nerves of the penis, to pulling more blood into the penis with negative pressure.
However, these treatments don’t treat the psychological side of ED, meaning they won’t cause you to feel more sexually stimulated or increase your libido.
Erectile dysfunction can have physical and psychological causes. Physical causes include heart and blood vessel disease, diabetes, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries) and damage to the penis or surrounding tissue, which can affect nerve function and blood flow.
Psychological causes may include depression, feelings of guilt, sexual performance anxiety and stress. Although these don’t physically reduce blood flow, they can affect a person’s comfort in sexual situations and interest in sexual stimulation.
There is no one safest ED drug. Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil), Stendra (avanafil) and Caverject (alprostadil) are all FDA-approved for the treatment of ED and safe for most men to use.
These medications for erectile dysfunction underwent extensive clinical testing to check that they’re safe and effective before they were approved by the FDA.
This testing process involved multiple phases of clinical trials and thousands of participants. The FDA reviews the findings from these studies to check that drugs aren’t just effective, but also that they’re safe for patients to use.
All FDA-approved ED medications have passed this process, meaning the FDA has determined that they’re safe and effective for their intended use — in this case, treating erectile dysfunction.
The safest one for you, specifically, depends on your specific health history, needs, and other factors. You can work with a healthcare provider to figure out which medication is best and least likely to cause side effects for you.
If you’ve searched for information about treating erectile dysfunction, you may have seen certain products marketed as over-the-counter alternatives to prescription ED medications.
Some of these products, such as Rhino pills and other “herbal” products, are perceived as safer than prescription drugs (the only real safe sex pills), since they’re sold in gas stations and other stores with no need for a visit to the doctor.
The reality is that these products are almost always significantly less safe than FDA-approved prescription drugs used as treatments for erectile dysfunction.
Over the years, the FDA has investigated many of these products and found that they often use unlabeled, hazardous ingredients. Some contain the same ingredients as prescription erectile dysfunction pills in either unusually low or dangerously high amounts.
The FDA maintains a list of tainted sexual enhancement products that includes recent products found to contain unlabeled and/or dangerous ingredients.
Because they’re not held to the same standards as real medications, these “ED pills” may cause side effects, interactions and other issues even in healthy individuals.
Our guide to over-the-counter ED “medications” goes into more detail about these products and why they’re best avoided for your sexual health and general well-being.
Is there a best medicine for erectile dysfunction without side effects? Not really.
Like all medications, ED drugs like sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil do have the potential to cause side effects, and while they may be mild or nonexistent for some users, others may see more intense effects.
Most of the side effects associated with oral erectile dysfunction drugs are mild and temporary. The most common side effects of these oral medications include:
Headaches
Muscle aches
Nasal congestion
Dizziness
Facial flushing
Indigestion/heartburn
Nausea (upset stomach)
Visual disturbances
Side effects of other ED medications differ.
The rate of side effects can vary from one ED medication to another, but most issues affect a small portion of users and subside quickly.
For example, headache — the most common side effect of most oral ED medication — was reported by 21 percent of men who used sildenafil citrate in clinical trials at a 50mg dosage. In clinical trials of tadalafil and vardenafil, headaches were reported by 11 and 15 percent of men, respectively.
For most men who use ED medications, these side effects aren’t serious. Our guides to the side effects of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra discuss these issues in more detail.
As a newer, more selective medication for ED, avanafil (Stendra) is less likely to produce certain side effects than other ED medications.
For example, in trials of avanafil, only 6.9 percent of men reported developing headaches while using the medication at a typical starting dosage of 100mg. Other side effects only occurred in a small percentage of users, even at the maximum 200mg dosage.
If you’re worried about side effects from ED medications, you may prefer avanafil to older drugs such as sildenafil or tadalafil.
Although uncommon, ED medications can cause more serious side effects, including temporary vision loss, sudden decrease or loss of hearing and priapism — a painful, persistent erection that lasts more than four hours and requires medical attention.
If you develop any serious or concerning side effects after taking ED medication, it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider. In the event of an emergency, seek urgent medical attention.
Overall, side effects — both mild and serious — are rare with ED medication. The vast majority of men with ED are able to safely use all FDA-approved medications as directed without major issues, with few reporting more than mild, transient adverse effects.
While oral ED drugs are safe for most men, there are certain medications that shouldn’t be used with them. These include several medications prescribed for angina (chest pain caused by low blood flow to the heart), heart failure, high blood pressure and other conditions.
Interactions can potentially happen with all ED medications, including newer, second-generation oral ED meds such as avanafil (Stendra).
In particular, oral ED medications can interact with nitrates and nitroglycerin used to treat angina and cardiovascular disease and other heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure (CHF).
When taken with nitrate drugs, prescription medications for ED can trigger a dangerous drop in blood pressure that may cause dizziness, fainting or life-threatening cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction (heart attack) or stroke.
Other medications that can interact with oral ED medicine include alpha blockers used to manage hypertension (high blood pressure) and other anti-hypertensive medications. They should only be combined with proper medical advice.
To use ED drugs safely, make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all medications, herbal supplements and/or other substances you currently use or have recently used before discussing any treatment for erectile dysfunction.
It’s important to take caution with ED medication if you have any type of cardiovascular health condition, such as heart disease, congestive heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure) or a heart valve issue.
It’s also important to exercise caution before using ED medication if you’ve ever suffered a heart attack, stroke or undergone heart surgery within the last six months.
These conditions may increase your risk of experiencing side effects or safety issues from some ED medications. To keep yourself safe, make sure to inform your healthcare provider about any of these medical issues before using any medication for ED.
Other conditions that may affect ED medication include:
Injuries to or deformations of the penis
Blood cell disorders, such as sickle cell anemia
Blood or bone marrow cancers, such as leukemia or multiple myeloma
Eye disorders, such as retinitis pigmentosa
Previous cases of priapism (long-lasting, painful erections)
Liver or kidney problems
Stomach ulcers or a history of stomach ulcers
Bleeding problems
The best way to keep yourself safe while using ED medication is to tell your healthcare provider about your full health history, including any current medical conditions and issues that you have experienced in the past.
You may also wish to get medical advice on what lifestyle changes might be helpful in restoring erectile function.
They’ll be able to assess your risk of issues from ED medication and recommend a treatment plan that’s both safe and effective for you.
The safest ED medication is the one your healthcare provider recommends. All of the ED medications approved by the FDA are safe for most men to use.
However, just like other medications, ED medications do have the potential to cause side effects and drug interactions in certain situations.
As the newest ED medication, avanafil (Stendra) has a more selective effect on blood flow than older erectile dysfunction drugs, meaning it may be worth considering if you’re concerned about side effects.
We offer several FDA-approved ED medications online, following a consultation with a licensed healthcare provider who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.
You can learn more about using medication to treat ED in our guide to what to expect from common erectile dysfunction medications. We also have a guide for fast acting erection pills if you are looking for a more instant solution.
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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. Learn more about our editorial standards here.