Fast-Acting ED Medication: What Are My Options?

If you’ve ever been on the hunt for fast-acting erectile dysfunction (ED) medication, you’ve likely come across a range of “instant male enhancement” pills. But beware that these products are not identical.

Many of these over-the-counter products and supplements contain herbal ingredients marketed as treatments for ED, premature ejaculation (PE), and other common sexual issues. Some also claim to make your penis larger, enhance your semen volume, and offer other benefits. But can you actually buy pills over the counter that help you get hard fast? And, regardless of their supposed efficacy, are they even safe to take?

Unfortunately, most of the claims made about male enhancement products aren’t supported by scientific evidence. However, real, science-backed ED medications and PE treatments are available—and they work. Below, we’ve explained what’s available, as well as which options offer the fastest relief and biggest sexual health benefits.

“Male enhancement products” refers to a vague category of offerings that some may mistakenly associate with medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), like Viagra^®. It’s all a bit confusing, so here’s a cheat sheet to understanding what’s being marketed to you:

• The term “male enhancement” is used to promote a range of different products. The products include pills that claim to improve erections, stop premature ejaculation, and promote penis enlargement. These supplements may claim to improve your sex life in general.

• There’s not enough evidence that they work. As we’ve discussed in our guide to the best male enhancement pills, most of the male sexual enhancement supplements available online and over-the-counter (like Extenze, ProSolution Plus, or VigRX Plus) aren’t backed up by scientific research.

• These male enhancement pills may actually harm you. Investigations have also shown that many over-the-counter pills may include unlabeled ingredients that could pose danger to you, depending on your health profile and potential interactions with other medications you take.

• There are better options available. If you’d like to treat erectile dysfunction and improve your sexual health, the best options are science-based, FDA-approved ED medications such as sildenafil (Viagra^®), tadalafil (Cialis^®), avanafil (Stendra^®), and others.

• FDA-approved ED medications work quickly. They typically start working in less than an hour, and some even begin working in as little as 15 minutes.

• ED medications require a prescription, but they’re available online. At Hims, we offer access to a range of ED medications online following a consultation with a healthcare provider.

Instant erection pills and male enhancement supplements can seem appealing based on their bold claims about intense orgasms, revved-up sexual desire, or an increase in penis size. Sometimes, they even come with a money-back guarantee.

They’re also available without a prescription, making them seem easier to access than FDA-approved ED medications. But behind the suggestive ads and online testimonials, the reality of “sex pills” is that very few are backed up by science.

It’s important to understand that most of these products are dietary supplements, not medications or prescription drugs. They contain natural ingredients such as horny goat weed, maca, tribulus terrestris, or ginseng.

This means that they’re regulated by the FDA as food and, unlike medications, don’t need to back up their marketing claims with evidence from clinical trials and other tests. (For more intel on this topic, check out our guide to FDA-approved male enhancement pills.)

This doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to enhance your sexual performance or treat issues like erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation. In fact, science-based treatments for these issues are available, and many have been on the market for a long time. 

However, those options are medications, not supplements. This means that you’ll need to talk to a licensed healthcare provider and attain a prescription in order to purchase and use them.

Read on to learn more about treating sexual performance issues such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and low sex drive.

Currently, the FDA has approved four prescription medications for erectile dysfunction, all of which belong to a class of drugs known as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, or PDE5 inhibitors. These erectile dysfunction pills include:

• Sildenafil

• Vardenafil

• Tadalafil

• Avanafil

Sildenafil

Sildenafil is the active ingredient in brand-name Viagra. It’s available as a generic medication and typically works for about four hours per dose. Research shows that sildenafil starts working in 30 minutes for most people.

Vardenafil

Vardenafil is the active ingredient in Levitra^®. Like sildenafil, this ED pill is also available as a generic medication. Research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine has shown that vardenafil may start working in 30 minutes or less.

Tadalafil

Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis. It’s also currently available as a generic medication.

Tadalafil is a long-lasting ED drug that can provide relief for up to 36 hours per dose. Studies show that tadalafil is slower-acting than other ED medications and may take as long as two hours to start working.

Avanafil

This is the active ingredient in Stendra. It’s a relatively new ED treatment, so its generic version isn’t yet available. As a newer medication, avanafil is less likely to cause some side effects than older medications used to treat ED. Avanafil is currently the fastest-acting medication for ED — research published in the Journal of Urology suggests that it can start working in as few as 15 minutes. 

How ED Medication Works

ED medications enhance the effects of nitric oxide, which increases blood flow to the blood vessels in your penis, making it easier for you to get and maintain an erection with sexual stimulation. 

These medications are easy to use and ideal if you often find it difficult to get or maintain a firm enough erection for satisfying sex. However, you shouldn’t mix the meds with nitrates like nitroglycerin, alpha-blockers, or other blood pressure or chest-pain medications. Combining these drugs can lead to serious side effects like dangerously low blood pressure.

If you want to find out if you’re a good candidate for ED medication, get medical advice from a healthcare professional today. Our guide to what to expect from ED medication explains more about how these medications work and their most common side effects, which include:

• Headaches

• Upset stomach

• Nasal congestion

• Dizziness

• Back pain

• Facial flushing

• Vision issues

Many male enhancement pills claim to increase your sexual stamina, allowing you to have sex for longer before you reach orgasm. 

Just as is the case with ED, there’s very little evidence to support the notion that the herbal pills sold in gas stations, convenience stores, and online have any effect on the amount of time that passes between the start of sex and ejaculation. 

There are, however, several science-backed medications available that can treat PE and allow you to have sex for longer. These include:

• Sertraline

• Topical anesthetics

Sertraline

Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It's mostly used to treat depression, but is also an effective off-label treatment for PE. Numerous studies have found that sertraline helps to delay ejaculation.

In one study, a small group of 46 men affected by PE increased their average time to ejaculation during sex from only one minute before treatment to 13.1 minutes with a 50 milligram (mg) dose of sertraline.

You can find out more about how sertraline and other premature ejaculation medications work in our detailed guide to premature ejaculation pills.

Topical Anesthetics

While not male enhancement pills per se, several topical sprays, creams, and wipes are available that may reduce your penis’s sensitivity level and allow you to last for longer in bed.

These topical products for PE use ingredients such as lidocaine and benzocaine, which are absorbed quickly by your skin and can provide fast, noticeable effects. This makes them a good option for as-needed use if you suffer from PE.

Our Clockstopper Climax Delay Wipes, which contain the active ingredient benzocaine, can be used five minutes before sexual activity to help you last longer.

As a man, testosterone plays a major role in your physical and mental well-being. It’s also one of the most vital hormones for promoting a healthy sex drive.

Many male enhancement pills claim to rapidly increase your testosterone levels and strengthen your libido.

There’s some evidence supporting the notion that certain herbal ingredients, such as zinc, ashwagandha, and others, may boost testosterone. We’ve discussed these more in our detailed guide to increasing testosterone levels. 

However, none of these ingredients are fast-acting, meaning you won’t be able to take a pill just before sex and experience an immediate testosterone boost. 

If you have clinically low testosterone, you may be able to increase your testosterone levels via testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). This involves using pills, patches, gels, or an injectable form of testosterone to supplement your body’s own testosterone production. Our guide to TRT outlines the side effects and other cautions of TRT in more detail. 

There are always risks involved when using medications or supplements, so it’s important to do your research before you try anything new.

But because there’s a great deal of misinformation out there regarding the safety and efficacy of male enhancement pills, we strongly caution against taking them. 

Here are some of the potential risks associated with male enhancement pills:

• Unknown ingredients

• Unclear ingredient concentrations

• Potential drug interactions

• Dangerous side effects

Unknown Ingredients

Many male enhancement supplements make generic claims linked to specific ingredients, but they may not list all of the ingredients in the product. You should always exercise caution when taking supplements because they could contain ingredients you’re allergic to or ingredients the FDA has deemed unsafe.

Unclear Ingredient Concentrations

An FDA report revealed that many male enhancement supplements on the market contain the active ingredients found in ED medications like Viagra and Cialis. However, because these supplements don’t disclose the concentration of those ingredients, it could lead to negative reactions, depending on other health conditions you may have.

Potential Drug Interactions

Not only can some of the ingredients in male enhancement pills be dangerous, but they could also interact with other medications you’re taking. Many online manufacturers don’t clearly list the active and inactive ingredients. If you’re already taking medication for other health issues, it’s very risky to add a supplement unless you know exactly what it contains.

Dangerous Side Effects

Some male enhancement supplements may not be clear about their ingredients and manufacturing methods, so it’s hard to assess the risk of side effects. Suffice it to say that if you don’t know what’s in the product, you can’t predict how your body will react, and it’s probably better not to take the risk at all.

Generally speaking, the risks do not seem to outweigh the potential benefits when it comes to male enhancement supplements.

Regarding FDA-approved medications, however, there’s enough evidence out there to support having an informed discussion with your healthcare provider who can weigh the pros and cons in your situation.

A disclaimer: Not only do over-the-counter male enhancement remedies come with a risk for negative side effects, but some of the products out there are more than a little sketchy.

If you’re thinking about trying male enhancement pills, we encourage you to exercise caution.

But, how do you know whom to trust? What can you do to avoid falling for a scam?

Look for the following red flags when shopping for on-demand male enhancement products to avoid falling victim to a scam that, at best, doesn’t produce the desired result and, at worst, could harm you:

• Promises of immediate results

• Not made in the USA

• Spammy advertisement methods

• Marketed as an alternative to Viagra

• Incomplete list of ingredients

Promises of Immediate Results

You should always regard promises of immediate results with a healthy dose of skepticism, regardless of the product. When it comes to male enhancement, consider that it takes time for a supplement to enter your bloodstream and produce the desired result. It simply isn’t practical to expect an over-the-counter male enhancement product to deliver results in under an hour, let alone within minutes.

Not Made in the USA

This is not a red flag you should ignore. If the product isn’t made in the USA, that means it isn’t subject to FDA regulations. It may contain dangerous ingredients, and the production methods could be substandard.

Spammy Advertisement Methods

If you only heard about the supplement because you received a spam email, it’s probably not a product you should trust. Stick to companies that operate with transparency and that don’t rely on tricking consumers into buying their products.

Marketed as an Alternative to Viagra

When you come across a male enhancement product marketed as an alternative to FDA-approved drugs like Viagra, you should ask yourself why, if the product is so effective, the company hasn’t applied for approval.

Incomplete List of Ingredients

You should never put something in your body unless you know exactly what it is. Don’t trust a natural male enhancement supplement that doesn’t include a full list of ingredients, and be sure to check the list for ingredients deemed unsafe by the FDA.

Checking for red flags is an important step in avoiding scams and potentially dangerous products, but it’s important to know exactly what you’re buying as well.

Remember: 

• Male enhancement pills aren’t the same as ED medication. Enhancement products like “instant erection pills” often contain herbal ingredients and are sold over the counter. FDA-approved ED medications are only available with a prescription.

• Male enhancement pills lack scientific evidence. There isn’t enough proof to support the use of supplements to physically increase the length or girth of the penis, help you last longer, or boost your libido.

• There are fast-acting ED medications out there. If you’re struggling to achieve and/or maintain an erection, medically approved treatments could help. FDA-approved ED medications like Viagra can work within an hour. Stendra can work in as little as 15 minutes.

Explore more ED and PE medications and other sexual health products here.

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