The average prices of the Big Three erectile dysfunction drugs — Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra — and their generic equivalents seem to be bucking the overall upward trend in prescription drug prices. And you can save even more if you follow some of our tips.
Far outpacing the overall increase in consumer prices, prescription drug prices are expected to rise sharply once again in 2020. Kicking off the New Year in a somewhat foreboding manner, according to GoodRx.com, the prices of 619 prescription drugs — 604 brand-name and 15 generic — rose an average of 5.9 percent.
While the 604 brand-name drugs rose 5.2 percent in price, says GoodRx, the 15 generic medications rose a whopping average of 38 percent. This is particularly discouraging because it is the generic equivalent of brand-name drugs that most consumers turn to for savings.
Most ED Drug Prices Decline
In the face of this worrisome trend in overall prescription drug prices, ED drug users have some cause for celebration, at least in the early days of 2020. A comparison of average prices for Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, as well as their generic equivalents, between July 2019 and January 2020 reveals that all but one of these drugs were lower in price in early 2020 than they were in mid-2019.
Prices for Viagra/Sildenafil
Only Viagra rose in average price between July 2019 and January 2020, inching up 0.8 percent from $79.28 to $79.93 per 100 mg tablet. Sildenafil fell by 31.9 percent from $33.56 to $22.85 per 100 mg tablet.
Prices for Cialis/Tadalafil
Cialis 20 mg fell 4.2 percent from $78.06 in July to $74.75 in January, while tadalafil 20 mg plummeted 52 percent from $37.60 in July to $18.01 in January.
Prices for Levitra/Vardenafil
Levitra’s average price in January 2020 was $54.13 per 20 mg tablet, more than 14 percent lower than $62.98 in July 2019. The average price for 20 mg vardenafil dropped nearly 56 percent from $48.88 in July to $21.51 in January.
Should this trend continue throughout 2020, ED drug users will be able to reduce their spending on these drugs. However, savvy shoppers can find even more ways to increase their savings.
Opt for Generic Alternatives
The availability of generic alternatives to brand-name ED drugs is still relatively new. And it’s certainly been a factor in keeping the prices of ED medications under some semblance of control. In December 2017, Viagra became the first ED drug to face generic competition. It was almost a year later that generic alternatives to Cialis and Levitra hit the market.
Under FDA standards for generics, these drugs are required “to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand-name drug.” With that in mind, substituting a generic for the brand-name drug you’ve been taking is perhaps the easiest way to reduce your overall ED drug costs.
Switch to Another ED Drug
Yet another way to save money is by switching from one ED drug to another that’s less expensive. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and their respective generic equivalents all work in much the same way. They vary only slightly in chemical composition. If you are satisfied with the results produced by Viagra or sildenafil but would prefer to spend somewhat less, you can always try Levitra or vardenafil.
Split Pills to Save
Splitting pills is yet another way to cut the cost of ED drugs. Under current prescription drug pricing protocols, the price of tablets of varying strength is the same. That is to say that you’ll pay the same for a 100 mg tablet of Viagra as you would for a 50 mg tablet. This has encouraged users to buy the higher-strength tablets and split them in half to save money.
Benefits of Ordering Online
When one considers the “total cost of ownership” of a particular medication, it’s necessary to add to the drug’s price all the time and money that you spend to actually obtain the drug. Trips to and from the doctor’s office to get a prescription. Travel to and from the local pharmacy to get that prescription filled. Add in the value of the time you’ve wasted in the doctor’s waiting room or the pharmacy’s checkout line.
Many men have found that they can save time and money by ordering their ED drugs from eDrugstore.com, a longtime online prescription drug service. Ordering online spares you the bother of trips to and from the drugstore. If you don’t yet have a prescription, eDrugstore has the perfect solution for you.
Its complimentary online consultation service will match you up online with a physician licensed to practice in your state who will authorize a prescription if you’re an appropriate candidate for the drug. And shipping is free. To learn more about all the eDrugstore has to offer, pay a visit to its Erectile Dysfunction page.
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