What Is The Difference Between Branded And Generic Vardenafil?

Written by the UPGUYS Editorial Team

Published on April 05, 2022

Even though they usually come with a higher price tag, brand-name products account for more than 27% of Canadian prescriptions. Many of those brand-name products people purchase are Levitra oral tablets for erectile dysfunction. 

The question is, what is the difference between Levitra and vardenafil, if there's a difference at all? 

If you want to know the answer to this question about Levitra vs vardenafil, this guide is for you. Let's take a look at the difference between branded and generic vardenafil!

Table of Contents

If you're looking for answers to specific questions, just use our table of contents to jump to the right section!

-What Is Vardenafil?

-What Is Levitra?

-Are They Different and How?

-Branded Medicine vs Generic Medicine

     -Inactive Ingredients

     -Price

     -Manufacturer

-Final Words: How to Know Which One is Best for You

What Is Vardenafil?

Vardenafil is used to help put a stop to male sexual function problems. Vardenafil is a substance that's known as a PDE-5 inhibitor, which helps increase the amount of blood flow to the penis.

The way this works is that when a man gets an erection, the body produces something called cGMP. cGMP is what signals the blood vessels entering the penis to expand while those exiting the penis contract.

Read more: The Most Common Vardenafil Interactions

As a result, blood rushes to (and stays in) the penis, making for an erection. When the erection finishes, PDE-5 molecules attack the cGMP molecules and break them down so that the man becomes flaccid again. 

Some men have too many PDE-5 molecules in their penises, which can prevent them from keeping and maintaining an erection. Vardenafil works by preventing the function of PDE-5 molecules so that men's cGMP count can stay high. 

What Is Levitra?

Levitra is the brand name for generic vardenafil. Levitra is a drug that contains vardenafil and works to help relax blood vessels in the penis. 

Since Levitra is essentially the same as vardenafil, it works in the same way. This PDE-5 inhibitor prevents PDE-5 molecules from attacking cGMP molecules, allowing men who take it to get over ED issues. 

Levitra is a prescription medication. Doctors can either prescribe it at in-person visits or via virtual appointments through online pharmacies. 

Are They Different and How?

Although some people might think that Levitra and vardenafil are different, they're actually the same drug. Both are PDE-5 inhibitors that use vardenafil to help men get and keep erections for longer. 

The only real difference between vardenafil and Levitra is the name. Vardenafil is the name of an active ingredient and can be found in other medications.

The only real difference between vardenafil and Levitra is the name and the price.

On the other hand, Levitra is the name of a specific drug that contains vardenafil. In essence, Levitra is the same thing as vardenafil. 

It's also important to note that the price between Levitra and vardenafil generally varies. You can often find generic vardenafil for a few dollars less than Levitra pills. 

Branded Medicine vs Generic Medicine

Okay, so we know that Levitra and vardenafil are the same things. However, do we know the real difference between branded medicine and generic medicine?

To help you better understand branded medication versus generic medicine, let's take a look at a few of the key differences. This will help you get an idea of which is the right choice for you. 

Inactive Ingredients

If you look at the labels on brand-name drugs and generic drugs, you'll find that the main difference lies in the inactive ingredients. 

Regulatory agencies are extremely particular about the active ingredients in drugs. However, they're not as particular about the inactive ingredients in drugs. 

If you look at brand-name drugs, you'll generally notice that there are a few additional or different inactive ingredients. Make sure to read these labels to see whether Levitra or vardenafil contains additional ingredients that might not be good for you.

Price

Another major difference between generic drugs and brand-name drugs is the price. For the most part, you'll find that generic drugs cost less than brand-name drugs.

That's true regardless of whether you're purchasing pills with insurance or entirely out of pocket. 

The costs can actually be pretty staggering, too, with the price difference between Levitra vs vardenafil oral tablets, for example, ranging from 20% to 80%.

The reason why the prices are so drastically different is that the companies do not have the same investment costs. Brand name companies have to pay more for marketing and branding, hiking up the costs. 

Read more: Vardenafil Warnings and Precautions Men Need to Know

Manufacturers

Another major difference between branded and generic drugs is the manufacturer.

With a generic drug, a variety of different manufacturers may produce your drug. You won't be able to select your manufacturer but will instead be stuck with whatever your pharmacy has in stock.

Different manufacturers can produce the generic drug. Whereas, the branded drugs are produced and sold by the brand on the labels.

On the other hand, with a brand-name prescription, the product is made and sold by the brand that's on the label. You know exactly who made your prescription.

Knowing the manufacturer of your generic vardenafil vs branded can be helpful for anyone who trusts a specific company. That way, they know exactly what medication they're getting and can guarantee the quality. 

Final Words: How to Know Which One Is Best for You

When it comes to Levitra vs vardenafil, there's not a whole lot of difference. Both contain key ingredients for helping men deal with erectile dysfunction.

If you're dealing with this issue and are ready to put it behind you, UPGUYS can help! Browse our sex products to find one that works well for your needs.