ED Trial Pack (Sildenafil/Tadalafil/Vardenafil)

The ED Trial Pack is made for men with erectile dysfunction (ED) who want to compare the three most common types of ED medicine before choosing one. Each pack holds tablets of sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil, so you can try them one at a time.

All three belong to the PDE-5 inhibitor group of medicines and work in a similar way, but they differ in how fast they act, how long they last and how food affects them. Trying each in turn is a common approach when a first medicine does not suit.

These are prescription medicines. None of them is sold over the counter, so use them only as directed by a doctor.

What is in the ED Trial Pack?

The generic pack contains:

• four sildenafil tablets of 50 mg each, such as those sold as Cenforce;
• four tadalafil tablets of 10 mg each, such as those sold as Vidalista;
• four vardenafil tablets of 5 mg each, such as those sold as Vilitra.

Our own pack is built from Cenforce (sildenafil), Vidalista (tadalafil), Filagra Oral Jelly (sildenafil) and Vilitra (vardenafil). Check the exact strengths and quantities on the product page before you order.

The three medicines compared

Medicine	Strength in the pack	Usual onset	How long it lasts	Food
Sildenafil	50 mg	30 to 60 minutes	About 4 hours	A fatty meal can delay it
Tadalafil	10 mg	30 minutes or more	Up to 36 hours	Not affected by food
Vardenafil	5 mg	About 25 to 60 minutes	About 4 to 5 hours	A very fatty meal may reduce the effect

None has been shown to work better than the others across all men, so the best choice depends on your lifestyle, how you respond and which side effects you notice.

How to use the ED Trial Pack safely

1. Speak to your doctor before you start, and tell them about your health and medicines.
2. Try only one medicine at a time. Use all four tablets of one before starting the next, as one dose is rarely enough to judge.
3. Take no more than one tablet in 24 hours, and never take two different ED medicines on the same day.
4. Leave at least a day between different medicines. Tadalafil stays active far longer than the other two, so leave a longer gap after it and ask your doctor how long.
5. Take each tablet as directed on its pack, and have sexual stimulation for it to work.
6. Keep a note of how each one worked and any side effects.
7. Stop and speak to your doctor if you have side effects that worry you.

Guidance for doctors says a man should try at least two different PDE-5 inhibitors, over several doses each, before concluding that these medicines do not work for him. This pack is designed to make that comparison easier, though the doses in it are modest. See the erectile dysfunction management guidance for more.

Why do men get erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can have physical causes, psychological causes or both. Physical causes include heart disease, nerve disorders, liver or kidney disease, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and low testosterone. Psychological causes include stress, depression, fear and anxiety, and lifestyle factors such as heavy smoking and heavy drinking add to the risk.

How do ED tablets work?

When a man is aroused, the body releases nitric oxide, which raises a chemical called cyclic GMP in the penis. This relaxes the blood vessels and lets blood flow in. PDE-5 inhibitors block the enzyme that breaks cyclic GMP down, so blood flow stays higher and an erection can develop. They only work with sexual stimulation.

Precautions and interactions

Never take any of these medicines with nitrates used for chest pain, or with riociguat, because the combination can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Speak to your doctor first if you have:

• heart disease, low blood pressure, or a recent stroke or heart attack;
• liver or kidney problems;
• an inherited eye condition, or sudden vision loss in the past;
• a heart rhythm problem (important for vardenafil).

Also ask about alpha-blockers, other blood pressure medicines, HIV medicines such as ritonavir, and antifungals or antibiotics such as ketoconazole and erythromycin.

Side effects

All three have similar side effects, which are usually mild:

• headache
• dizziness and flushing
• indigestion, nausea or diarrhoea
• a stuffy nose
• muscle or back pain
• blurred vision

Get medical help straight away for chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, fainting, sudden loss of vision or hearing, or an erection lasting more than 4 hours.

ED Trial Pack FAQs

Do I need a prescription?

Yes. None of these medicines is available over the counter, so use them only as directed by a doctor.

Can I take all three in one weekend?

No. Never take two different ED medicines on the same day, and leave a gap between them, especially after tadalafil.

What should I do when the pack is finished?

Go back to your doctor. If one medicine suits you, they can prescribe it. If more than one did, they can help you choose between them, for example, single-ingredient products such as Fildena 100 or generic Cialis brands.