Getting Erectile Dysfunction Medications Online: What Are Your Options?

Onset times range between 15 and 60 minutes, depending on when you intend to have intercourse and on which treatment you choose.

Also remember that medications for erectile dysfunction don’t just “kick in” on demand.

A 5 mg dose of daily-use tadalafil (Cialis) works fastest to achieve your desired result, while an “as-needed” dose of the same medication (5, 10 or 20 mg, depending on your prescription) should be taken one to two hours before sex. A 5, 50 or 100 mg dose of sildenafil (Viagra), taken an hour before sex, should onset within 30 to 60 minutes, as will a 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 mg tablet of vardenafil. Avanafil, with a dosage of 50, 100 or 200 mg, should be taken 15 to 30 minutes beforehand, which is also how quickly it will take effect.

How long your ED medication lasts will also vary. Daily-use tadalafil doesn’t “wear off” as the effect is continuous, while “as-needed” usage can provide erections for 24 to 36 hours.

Sildenafil and vardenafil’s effects can last four to eight hours, while avanafil can deliver results for six to 12 hours.

Regardless of which medication you choose, just be aware that their performance takes a little time to onset and can require some stimulation/foreplay, so plan ahead. Also take into account some other important factors:

• Taking vardenafil or sildenafil during or just after a heavy or high-fat meal (13) may inhibit your body’s absorption of those drugs, thereby delaying the effects of your treatment and when you can engage in sexual activity.
• Avoid regularly consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice (14) while taking PDE5s inhibitors; depending on your treatment, grapefruit can either delay the drug’s desired effects or elevate its blood levels, which can result in or increase adverse side effects.

How Do I Legally Buy Erectile Dysfunction Medications Online Through Hone?

It’s perfectly legal to buy ED meds online and through Hone, provided:

• You have an active Hone membership subscription to receive medication
• New Hone members must complete their at-home hormone assessment, have their lab results reviewed during a scheduled, telemedical consultation with a Hone-affiliated physician, complete confirmatory testing and enroll in a membership subscription to receive medication.
• You meet the clinical requirements for the doctor to diagnose you with erectile dysfunction and recommend treatment.
• You agree to follow additional treatment options recommended by your doctor, including changes to diet, lifestyle and rest.
• You have a valid, legal prescription signed by your doctor.

One other important note: Existing Hone subscribers can not retroactively add ED medications to their current plan. They must wait for their next scheduled consultation to speak with the physician about adding ED meds.

In short, the process to get ED medications online through Hone is very much the same as going through an evaluation of your hormone levels. If you’re new to Hone, the process is very much the same as going through an evaluation of your hormone levels. For more details, go to Hone’s How It Works page. If you’re still not sure how to proceed, please feel free to reach out to us at support@appwwwprod-47c5ae5c64-fdb9hgg4e8b4cdg8.z01.azurefd.net.

Why Legal Procurement of ED Meds Matters

Should you decide to buy your oral ED meds elsewhere, bear in mind that, like purchasing testosterone online, it’s risky and potentially very hazardous to your health. Sildenafil and tadalafil’s brand names are among the most counterfeited drugs in the world (15).

Meanwhile, sites that offer nonprescription or herbal/natural ED meds are straight-up scamming you.

Please, be very careful about where you buy your online ED medications. Make sure any doctors and pharmacies you’re dealing with on the internet also have addresses based within the United States, and that you fulfill all clinical requirements for a legal, viable prescription of medication.

Will Insurance Cover My Online ED Medication?

At this time, Hone’s online medications and services are not covered by insurance. Many insurances won’t cover these costs. Most that do cover them will do so with copays that are similar to, if not higher than, the price you’ll pay at Hone.

If you’re new to Hone and have just ordered an at-home assessment panel, keep in mind that the cost also includes an online consultation with a Hone-affiliated physician, which you’ll need to have before you can get a prescription for ED medication.

Furthermore, your assessment, consultation and ED medications are all handled from the privacy and comfort of your home, which can save you considerable cost and time.

Another option to consider is that Hone also accepts Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) card payments. Such tax-advantaged accounts are in place to help you save for medical purposes, including online ED medications. If HSA and/or FSA elections are available to you, take advantage of them and save some money.

What Erectile Dysfunction Medications Can And Can’t Do

Obviously, drugs that treat erectile dysfunction do precisely what they’re engineered to do: They can help you get and maintain an erection whenever you’re sexually stimulated. They can also give you the boost you need when engaging in sexual intercourse.

There are several significant misconceptions about ED meds’ capabilities, including:

ED meds can boost your libido: FALSE.

A lot of the misunderstanding comes from the fact that many of us think that having erectile dysfunction is the same as having a lifeless libido. That simply isn’t the case.

ED is primarily a vascular disorder. Whereas trouble with your libido, or sex drive, is often the result of a hormonal imbalance, such as low testosterone. Yes, the two conditions often do go hand-in-hand, so to speak; if everything works properly, your body will generally respond to an urge for sexual intimacy with an erection. At the same token, when your libido loses the desire to have intercourse, your ability to become erect also suffers.

Medications intended for erectile dysfunction treat only the ED, however. They can’t increase your libido or your desire to have intercourse.

Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help boost your sex drive, and studies show it can improve erectile function in males with mild ED (16).

ED drugs can keep you erect even after you’ve climaxed: FALSE.

Sorry, gents. There’s no truth that being on ED medication can keep you going once you’ve “gone.” Once you ejaculate, your erection disappears and needs time to recharge.

PDE5 inhibitors can treat all men with ED: FALSE.

Some men’s conditions may be too severe for oral ED medication to help them. These drugs also can’t help males whose ED is the result of:

• Psychological causes
• Underlying health conditions
• Diabetes
• Post-prostate surgery or surgeries that may have caused nerve damage

ED medications can “cure” erectile dysfunction: FALSE.

Oral PDE5s that are prescribed can only treat and alleviate the symptoms of a man’s ED. They can’t completely eliminate ED. It’s an important distinction you should understand before deciding on treatment.

Do ED Medications Have Side Effects?

Most prescription medications come with potential side effects. Oral ED meds are no exception. And because they all work so similarly, it’s not surprising that they all have similar adverse effects.

Mild side effects commonly associated with ED medications can include:

• Headache
• Digestive issues, including dyspepsia (indigestion), bloating and/or diarrhea
• Reflux
• Dizziness
• Hypotension/lower blood pressure
• Flushing, ranging from skin blotches/redness to rashes
• Rhinitis — cold-like symptoms including congestion, runny or stuffy nose
• Fatigue
• Muscle pain, usually in the lower back
• Vision changes (blurriness, blue- or green-tinted vision, sensitivity to light)
• Shortness of breath
• Ringing in ears
• Allergic reactions

More serious side effects, though extremely rare, can also occur. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience either of the following:

• Priapism, or a prolonged, often painful erection that lasts longer than four hours
• Sudden vision or hearing loss

Who Shouldn’t Take ED Medications?

Before taking any oral medications to treat erectile dysfunction, make your doctor aware of any prescription medications you’re already on, and alert them to any pre-existing conditions you have beforehand.

The reason is simple: ED drugs may interact poorly with your other medications. They can also exacerbate symptoms of pre-existing conditions, or nullify the effects of medications used to treat those conditions.

Let your doctor know immediately if you take any of these medications:

• Nitrates — primarily prescribed for angina or chest pain, including nitroglycerin, isosorbide, “poppers” (amyl nitrite or amyl nitrate) and niroprusside
• Alpha blockers — often used in tandem with other medications to treat hypertension or prostate problems in males
• Riociguat — a drug used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)

Pre-existing conditions that should also be considered before your physician approves an ED medication include:

• Congestive heart failure
• Angina
• Heart attack over the past three months
• A stroke or heart rhythm problem over the past six months
• Aortic stenosis
• Low blood pressure
• Uncontrolled high blood pressure
• Penile deformities, such as Peyronie’s disease (curvature of the penis)
• Rare genetic eye disorders (e.g. retinitis pigmentosa)
• Sickle cell disease
• Leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Severe liver problems
• A kidney disease that necessitates dialysis

Be sure to also inform your doctor if you’re scheduled to undergo any surgeries in the near future, including dental procedures.

Is It Safe To Switch Erectile Dysfunction Medications?

Though their chemical mixtures may differ and can slightly vary in terms of their benefits and side effects, all PDE5 inhibitors contain the same key ingredients and work essentially the same way. Therefore, you can expect very similar results among them.

If you find that one of the milder side effects in your ED treatment doesn’t agree with you, you will want to ask your doctor whether another medication may offer less of those side effects. They will most likely approve a change in ED medication with little to no problem, so don’t make any changes to your treatment without their knowledge or medical consent.

Will I Have To Stay On ED Medication For The Rest Of My Life?

Is erectile dysfunction permanent, and if so, will you always need treatment? Honestly, it depends.

As we’ve previously stated, ED meds don’t “cure” your ED. They treat it, alleviating or relieving the symptoms associated with your disorder.

However, it’s all contingent on the cause of your ED. If it’s brought on by an unhealthy diet or lifestyle, alcohol, sleep or medications that can onset erectile dysfunction, then your ED can be reversible, or in this case “curable.” The impetus is on you to change your daily lifestyle habits.

If the cause of your ED is psychological or emotional, or the result of underlying health conditions, then your ED is more likely to be treatable rather than curable. Things like depression, low testosterone and anxiety are the source of your ED. Treat those maladies, and you can subside your ED. Stop taking your medication, and chances are your ailments return. The same goes for your ED.

Why Customers Should Trust Hone Over Competitors

Hone’s vision extends well beyond hormone optimization. We’ve dedicated ourselves to provide you with the latest and most reliable, science-backed treatments, as well as offer guidance on helping you improve multiple facets of your life, from diet and exercise to your mental and emotional wellbeing.

Every day, Hone’s hormone optimization plans help thousands of men rediscover the best versions of themselves. We want to help millions more with something that’s personally intimate to both you and your partner. Now we can do so with our offerings of clinical counsel and medication that can improve your erectile function, as well as your overall outlook on life.