Generic erectile dysfunction drug prices were lower in January 2020 than they’d been in months. Under FDA regulations, generics must provide the same clinical benefit as their brand-name counterparts.
If you’re thinking of stocking up on your favorite generic erectile dysfunction drug, now might be the perfect time to do so. The average prices of these drugs in January 2020 were down between 32 and 56 percent from where they stood in July 2019. How long they will stay at these depressed levels is obviously uncertain.
Generic versions are available for the Big Three brand-name ED drugs, namely Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. And Cialis itself is available in two distinct formulations, differing only in the amount of active ingredient each contains. Low-strength Cialis (2.5 to 5 mg) is designed to be taken daily, thus allowing users to get an erection whenever the moment is right.
Higher-strength Cialis (10 to 20 mg) is sold for use on an as-needed basis. That means it’s to be taken 60 to 120 minutes before the anticipated start of sexual activity. However, its effects last for up to 36 hours. Also designed for use as needed are Viagra and Levitra, although their duration of effect is four to six hours, much less than Cialis.
Sildenafil Is Generic Viagra
Viagra’s generic equivalent is sildenafil citrate, available to U.S. consumers since December 2017. Its average price in January 2020 was $22.85, 31.9 percent lower than its July 2019 price of $33.56.
Tadalafil Is Generic Cialis
The next generic to become available to American consumers was tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis. It hit the U.S. market in late September 2018 and is available in four strengths — 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg. This means that the proper-size dose of tadalafil can substitute for either Cialis daily or Cialis as-needed.
The average price of 20 mg tadalafil, which can be split to yield two 10 mg doses, was $18.01 in January 2020. That was 52.1 percent lower than its July 2019 price of $37.61. If you’d prefer the daily form of the drug, a 5 mg dose of tadalafil was priced at $4.18 in January 2020, down 45.1 percent from $7.61 in July 2019. That would yield two 2.5 mg doses of tadalafil daily at a cost of $2.09 per dose.
Vardenafil Is Generic Levitra
Vardenafil hydrochloride, the generic equivalent of Levitra, is sold in tablets of 10 and 20 mg. The recommended starting price is 10 mg, meaning that a 20 mg tablet can be split in half to yield two 10 mg doses for the price of one. That’s so because the price of 10 and 20 mg tablets of Levitra is the same.
The average price of vardenafil 20 mg in January 2020 was $21.51, 56 percent lower than its July 2019 price of $48.88. Split the 20 mg tablets in half, and you’ll pay only $10.76 per 10 mg dose.
The price comparisons are summarized in the following chart.
Future Price Trends Uncertain
It’s difficult to predict the future path of generic drug prices, because there are a host of factors that must be considered. Generally speaking, the greater the number of generics vying for a slice of the market, the greater downward pressure on prices is likely to result.
However, as noted, that’s only one of many factors that manufacturers must consider in pricing their products. The recent coronavirus scare emanating out of China is slowly but surely closing many doors to commerce with that country, at least temporarily. And the active ingredients for many prescription drugs are sourced from China because of its low costs of production. If China dries up as a source, raw material prices could rise, causing a similar increase in generic drug prices.
Consider Buying Online
Whether you prefer brand-name ED drugs or their generic equivalents, longtime online medical facilitator eDrugstore.com has got you covered. Its prices include not just the drugs you’re ordering but a number of time- and money-saving services as well. Such services include free shipping and complimentary online consultations with licensed U.S. physicians who can help you get a prescription when you don’t have time for a regular visit to the doctor’s office.
Calculated together to determine the total cost of acquiring a drug, you might find that you can get it more cheaply at eDrugstore than at your local pharmacy. To learn more, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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