Men who suffer from erectile problems are very likely to resort to special ED medications that can help them perform better in the bedroom. The most prominent ED drug is Viagra, also known as “the little blue pill”. While its efficiency and safety have definitely stood the test of time, Viagra is also ridiculously overpriced. Consequently, it is no wonder that generic versions of Viagra are rapidly gaining popularity among ED patients all over the world. In this article we’ll take a closer look at generic Viagra and the most reliable manufacturers of this drug.
What Is A Generic Medication?
In case you haven’t heard of generics yet, you may assume that they are a poor-quality imitation of the original drug. After all, there must be some good reasons for the pharmaceutical companies to charge you so much for their original, branded products. In reality, one of the main reasons behind the sometimes inexplicably high drug prices are extensive marketing campaigns. You are basically paying extra to finance the current and future marketing endeavors, which isn’t a very good investment of your hard-earned money. As is explained by technician Mark Henderson of Skyline Urology, the portal dedicated to Viagra, major providers of low-cost generics are based in India, and not surprisingly so: other than having cheaper workforce in the country – against the background of internationally high quality standards – India has a different way of patenting. Its patent protection is aimed at the process, not the formula itself. The diversified competition creates favorable environment for truly affordable prices of drugs.
With generics, you are only paying for the most essential aspects associated with the production of a pharmaceutical: manufacturing and distribution. This excludes the rather high costs that come with drug research and development, and of course, there are no marketing campaigns striving to make generic medications a household name. The affordable price turns out to be a much more effective marketing tool, allowing the manufacturers to achieve high turnovers all while keeping the prices as low as possible.
Why Can’t I Buy Any Generic Viagra Product?
Unfortunately, you need to watch out for dishonest manufacturers when shopping for generic analogs of most drugs, and particularly the highly in-demand Viagra alternatives. These manufacturers often try to lower the cost of their products even further, and since most expenses have already been cut anyway, the only way to achieve lower self-cost is to purchase cheaper drug ingredients. Some third-party drug producers even try to cut down on manufacturing costs by using poor quality equipment and speeding up the manufacturing process, often to the detriment of quality.
Fortunately, these manufacturers are never able to pass the inspections and assessments conducted by the respective authorities in your country. Consequently, they are not on the official list of the approved manufacturers and shouldn’t be trusted by consumers. Be sure to check for updates to this list on a regular basis and only get your generic Viagra medications from the approved companies. If you can’t find information regarding the manufacturer on an online pharmacy website, don’t hesitate to contact customer support and find out who produced the medication you’re about to buy.
Those who want to stay on the safe side and don’t mind some compromises can always resort to buying generic Viagra from the two manufacturers discussed below. They may be a little more expensive than your average generic and not come in so many varieties, but they come from well-known companies that surely wouldn’t risk their reputation trying to sell low-quality Viagra knock-offs.
Revatio: A Viable Alternative With Some Caveats
Viagra is only as effective as it is thanks to its main active component sildenafil citrate. All high-quality generic Viagra alternatives contain sildenafil and possibly some minor additional components to minimize the risk of side effects. Thus, it is possible to use other medications that contain sildenafil and achieve results similar to those brought on by Viagra.
Revatio is a medication that is normally used to treat pulmonary hypertension. However, in its essence it is very similar to the famous Viagra, and is available at a fraction of the cost. Those who are afraid of buying a low-quality Viagra knock-off instead of a quality generic will appreciate the fact that Revatio is actually produced by Pfizer, the same company that developed and successfully marketed Viagra. If you want to try using Revatio as a cheaper alternative to Viagra, all you have to do is explain the situation to your healthcare provider and you’ll likely get a prescription for Revatio even if you don’t suffer from pulmonary hypertension.
When using Revatio as a generic Viagra alternative, it is important to remember that Revatio contains less sildenafil than an average Viagra pill. While a single Revatio tablet only contains 20mg of sildenafil, most Viagra versions (including the original one) normally come with 50mg or as much as 100mg of sildenafil inside. If the 20mg dosage is too small for you, you may take multiple Revatio pills at once. Be sure to discuss this use scenario with your doctor, who will be able to determine whether it is safe for you to take higher doses of Revatio.
Teva Generic Viagra: Safe and Reliable
Tevapharm.com is a big name in the world of pharmaceuticals, and you can be sure that the medications produced by this company are as safe and effective as their branded analogs. Teva started producing generic Viagra for sale in a number of countries in 2010, which eventually led to a court dispute over patent infringement. After some time, both companies involved reached a settlement and Teva had to halt its generic Viagra production. Fortunately for ED patients all over the world, Pfizer’s original patents in different countries started to expire after 2010. In 2017, Teva became officially approved by the FDA.gov as a generic Viagra manufacturer in the United States. FDA approvals are notoriously difficult to obtain, so you can be sure that generic Viagra purchased from Teva contains high-quality ingredients and is manufactured according to the leading industry standards.
Bottom Line
Depending on where you live, the number of reliable generic Viagra manufacturers will vary. US residents can currently purchase high-quality generic Viagra products from at least 15 manufacturers, but the list of approved companies is subject to change. Thus, it is your responsibility as a consumer to find the respective list in your country and make sure you only purchase generic Viagra from the approved manufacturers. If you’re unable or unwilling to do that, the least you can do is avoid websites that sell generic Viagra products at suspiciously low prices (even compared to other generics), as those pills are very likely counterfeit.