Vardenafil vs. Sildenafil (Levitra vs. Viagra): What Actually Differs
Vardenafil (the generic of the discontinued Levitra) and sildenafil (generic Viagra) are both as-needed PDE5 inhibitors with similar onset and a similar four-to-five-hour window. The differences that matter in practice are narrower than marketing suggests: strengths, a heart-rhythm caution that is specific to vardenafil's label, the visual side effect more associated with sildenafil, and price and availability, where sildenafil is far easier to find online. This comparison is drawn from the MedlinePlus patient sheets and the DailyMed prescribing information; it does not replace a prescriber's assessment.
| Feature | vardenafil | sildenafil |
|---|---|---|
| Brand history | Levitra (Bayer), discontinued 2019-2021; generic only | Viagra still marketed; generic since 2017 |
| Strengths | 5, 10, 20 mg tablets; 10 mg ODT | 25, 50, 100 mg tablets |
| When to take | About 60 minutes before activity, as needed | About 30-60 minutes before activity, as needed (30 minutes to 4 hours) |
| Typical duration | About 4-5 hours | About 4-6 hours |
| Food | High-fat meal reduces absorption per the label | High-fat meal delays onset |
| Label-specific caution | QT prolongation: avoid with congenital long QT or class IA/III antiarrhythmics | Visual disturbances (blue tinge, light sensitivity) reported more often |
| Shared contraindications | Nitrates, riociguat; alpha-blockers need an individualized plan | Same |
| Online availability | Few services: RedBox Rx ($3/tablet), Sesame visit + pharmacy, Marley Drug ($12/tablet); chewables at Hims/BlueChew are compounded | Nearly every ED telehealth service |
| Published online price | $3-$12 per approved tablet (Sept 2026) | $0.50-$10 per tablet across providers |
Choose vardenafil if...
Vardenafil is usually a considered second choice rather than a first one: men who did not tolerate sildenafil's visual side effects, or who took Levitra before and want the same molecule, or whose prescriber prefers it for a specific reason. It costs more, fewer services carry it, and it carries a QT caution that makes the medication list at the consultation especially important.
Choose sildenafil if...
Sildenafil is the default first PDE5 inhibitor for most men because it is the most studied, the cheapest and the most widely dispensed. If you have no history with either drug and no reason to avoid it, most prescribers start here and switch only if the result or the side effects are unsatisfactory.
The Verdict
Head-to-head, the two work through the same mechanism, act on a similar clock and share the same serious contraindications. Choose by tolerability and by what your prescriber recommends for your medicines and heart history, not by which name sounds newer. If price and convenience decide it, sildenafil wins on both. If you specifically need vardenafil, get the approved tablet from a service that requires a prescription; the compounded chewable is a different product.