The average prices of Cialis as-needed and tadalafil as-needed both increased in April 2020, perhaps reflecting a shortage of raw materials caused by COVID-19 disruptions to international trade.
The average prices of both Cialis as-needed and tadalafil as-needed, its generic equivalent, rose in April 2020. The former increased by 5.2 percent from $71.35 per 20 mg tablet to $75.05, according to Secure Medical’s monthly review of select prescription drug prices.
The price increase for tadalafil, however, was far more dramatic than that seen in its brand-name counterpart. The average price of a 20 mg tablet of tadalafil climbed 63.4 percent from $14.03 in March to $22.92 in April.
Trade Disruptions
While there was no public explanation for these price increases, it’s possible that current pandemic-related disruptions to international trade have led to shortages in the raw materials that go into the manufacture of these medications.
The price increases for Cialis and tadalafil seem a bit counterintuitive, given the current state of the ED drug market. From a purely competitive point of view, lower prices for both Cialis and tadalafil might have been expected given the impending entry of additional generic versions of Viagra. Pfizer’s final U.S. patents on Viagra expired in April 2020, opening the door to additional generic competition.
Focuses on As-Needed Drugs
This blog post focuses solely on the prices of higher-strength Cialis and tadalafil, which are designed to be taken as needed. However, lower-strength (2.5 to 5 mg) formulations of Cialis and tadalafil, designed primarily for daily use, are also available, . A separate blog post will address prices for those daily medications.
The recommended starting dose for the as-needed versions of Cialis and tadalafil is 10 mg. However, the prices quoted here are for the higher-strength 20 mg tablets, reflecting the growing popularity of splitting pills to save money.
The price per tablet for these drugs is the same regardless of strength, which makes it more economical to buy the higher-strength tablet and then split it in half to essentially yield two doses for the price of one. However, consumers should discuss this option with their doctor to see if it is appropriate for them.
Still Below Mid-’19 Levels
While the average prices for both Cialis and tadalafil climbed in April 2020, they are still below their levels from mid-2019. Cialis’s April price of $75.05 was 3.8 percent lower than its July 2019 price of $78.06. And tadalafil’s price of $22.92 in April was a whopping 39 percent lower than its July 2019 price of $37.60.
If raw material shortages are behind the price increases for Cialis and tadalafil, the short-term outlook for these prices is a bit gloomy. It’s unlikely that trade disruptions caused by the current pandemic will end quickly.
Benefits of Ordering Online
If the convenience and privacy of ordering your ED drugs online appeal to you, it’s time for you to check out all that eDrugstore.com has to offer. Based in Tempe, Arizona, eDrugstore is an online medical facilitator that’s served as a middleman between consumers, physicians, and pharmacies since the late 1990s.
If you don’t yet have a prescription for an ED drug, take advantage of eDrugstore’s convenient, complimentary online consultation service. This service includes a telemedicine consultation between you and a physician licensed to practice in your state. If the doctor finds that you’re an appropriate candidate for the drug, a prescription will be authorized. That prescription will then be sent by eDrugstore to one of its licensed U.S. pharmacy partners, which will fill the order promptly and ship it off to you. To learn more, visit eDrugstore’s Erectile Dysfunction page.
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