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Stendra (Avanafil) Prices & Savings Tips

Mike Bohl, MD, MBA, MPH, MS, ALM

Reviewed by Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM

Written by Geoffrey C. Whittaker

Published 09/27/2020

Updated 04/06/2024

If you’re one of the tens of millions of men affected by ED, you may have looked into treatment options, including Stendra®, a relatively new ED medication on the market. 

You’re probably curious about what the best Stendra price you can get, and how you can get it.

Below, we explore those questions around the average Stendra price, examining why Stendra is so expensive and offering tips for getting the lowest price. We also share some other options you may consider if you’re looking for a safe, reliable way to treat erectile dysfunction and improve your sexual health.

A large part why Stendra, the brand name for avanafil,  is so expensive is that there is not yet a low-cost, generic version of it on the market. Rather, you can only buy the brand name.

Because no generic form of Stendra is available, the price of Stendra is higher than the prices of sildenafil and tadalafil, the generic versions of Viagra® and Cialis®. Generics contain the same active ingredients and provide the same clinical benefits as brand-name drugs, but they are generally available at a fraction of the original medication’s price.

Another reason for avanafil’s price is that most insurance companies will not cover it because they don’t deem it medically necessary. 

Short of purchasing Stendra from an online pharmacy (like those in Canada), you can’t typically get it for much below the market price (and you shouldn’t buy from Canadian pharmacies, for reasons we’ll address shortly). 

A 30-day supply of Stendra could cost close to $2,000, without accounting for the impact of taxes, discounts, coupons or other individual factors, such as the dose of Stendra your healthcare provider prescribes (for example, Stendra 200 mg cost is likely to be higher than the 50 mg cost).

In comparison, you can get sildenafil, the generic form of Viagra,  for as little as $4 per use through our online platform.

While it’s understandable to want to save, it’s important not to cut corners when it comes to medication, as it can impact your health and well-being. 

For instance, while the Stendra 200 mg cost may be lower by weight than the 50 mg pill, buying these pills through a “pharmacy” that sells them without needing a prescription and trying to break up doses later is dangerous and unreliable. Opt for a valid prescription instead.

Still, if the Stendra price is too high for your budget, you do have options for getting Stendra safely, and more affordably:

  • Price shop reputable retailers. Because CVS, Walgreens and other similar retailers in the U.S. can sell prescription medications safely and legally, the Stendra prices at these retailers likely are your best option.

  • Look for discounts. Manufacturer coupons are common in the world of medication. See if you can get a discount card or a free coupon that could save you money the first time you buy Stendra, or even regularly.

  • Set price alerts. Look for ways to get notified when drug prices drop. Many online resources help you stay informed if and when an avanafil price drop happens, though those are generally rare.

Prescription drugs other than Stendra can help with ED. Alternatives you may consider include oral medications like sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil, as well as options like alprostadil, a penile injection that helps to improve blood flow and produce an erection. Talk to a health care professional to figure out what might be right for you.

If you’re weighing your options, it’s helpful to know what to expect from ED medications. Often, the risks of these medications include drug interactions with nitrates and alpha blockers and other medications. There’s also the chance of some rare serious side effects like vision loss, hearing loss and priapism (an erection that lasts more than four hours). 

If you experience any of these side effects or think you may be, seek medical attention immediately.

Medication might not be the answer either — if you think your erectile dysfunction could be caused by a psychological issue, you may benefit from taking part in therapy.

In addition to options like medication and therapy, simple changes to your lifestyle, such as keeping yourself physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, limiting your alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and avoiding illicit drugs, can all help to improve your erections and sexual health. We discuss these methods in more detail in our complete guide to naturally protecting your erections.

As mentioned, Stendra is the brand name for avanafil, a prescription PDE5 inhibitor that’s used to treat erectile dysfunction. The active ingredient in Stendra, avanafil, works by blocking the effects of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), an enzyme that’s present in the smooth muscle cells of certain blood vessels, including the blood vessels that supply blood to the erectile tissues of your penis.

By doing this, avanafil causes the smooth muscles of the blood vessels to relax. This expands the blood vessels and thus increases blood flow to your penis, making it easier to get and keep an erection during sexual activity.

Stendra is admittedly more expensive than generic medication options like sildenafil or tadalafil. However, it also offers benefits that other ED medications don’t. 

You can learn more about Stendra and its specific advantages in our Stendra 101 guide, which covers everything from how Stendra works to its efficacy and common side effects, so you can decide if it’s the right option for you. And if it is, you’ll already know how to save. 

10 Sources

  1. Selvin, E., Burnett, A.L. & Platz, E.A. (2007, February 1). Prevalence and Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction in the US. The American Journal of Medicine. 120 (2), 151-157. Retrieved from https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(06)00689-9/fulltext
  2. STENDRA™ (avanafil) tablets, for oral use. (2012, April). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2012/202276s000lbl.pdf
  3. Dhaliwal, A. & Gupta, M. (2021, June 25). PDE5 Inhibitors. StatPearls. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549843/
  4. Avanafil. (2017, February 15). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614010.html
  5. Kotera, J., et al. (2012, August). Avanafil, a potent and highly selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor for erectile dysfunction. Journal of Urology. 188 (2), 668-74. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22704456/
  6. VIAGRA® (sildenafil citrate) tablets, for oral use. (2014, March). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/20895s039s042lbl.pdf
  7. CIALIS (tadalafil) tablets, for oral use. (2011, October). Retrieved from https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2011/021368s20s21lbl.pdf
  8. Hellstrom, W.J., et al. (2015, August). Efficacy of Avanafil 15 Minutes after Dosing in Men with Erectile Dysfunction: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Study. Journal of Urology. 194 (2), 485-92. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25591992/
  9. Goldstein, I., et al. (2012, September). Avanafil for the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind Study in Men With Diabetes Mellitus. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 87 (9), 843–852. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3498142/
  10. Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction. (2017, July). Retrieved from https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/treatment
Editorial Standards

Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.

Mike Bohl, MD, MPH, ALM

Education

Training

Medical License

  • New York, 2019

Certificates & Certifications

Affiliations & Memberships

Specialties & Areas of Focus

  • General Practice

Previous Work Experience

  • Medical Expert Board Member - Eat This, Not That!, 2021–

  • Director Scientific & Medical Content - Stealth Biotech PBC, 2023–2024

  • Director, Medical Content & Education - Ro, 2021–2023

  • Associate Director, Medical Content & Education - Ro, 2020–2021

  • Senior Medical Writer - Ro, 2019–2020

  • Medical Editor/Writer - Sharecare, 2017–2020

  • Medical Student Producer - The Dr. Oz Show, 2015–2016

  • Research Affiliate - University Hospitals of Cleveland, 2013–2014

Publications & Research

Media Mentions & Features

  • Dr. Bohl’s medical expertise is regularly featured in consumer health media:

    • Eat This, Not That!: Contributor and Medical Expert Board Member on nutrition and wellness topics

    • The Dr. Oz Show: Behind-the-scenes contributor to Emmy Award-winning health segments

    • Sharecare: Public-facing health writer, simplifying complex medical issues for millions of readers

Why I Practice Medicine

  • Dr. Bohl developed a passion for medical content while working at The Dr. Oz Show. He realized that, through the media, he could bring important health information to the lives of many more people than he would be able to working in a doctor’s office.

Hobbies & Interests

  • Biking, resistance training, sailing, scuba diving, skiing, tennis, and traveling

Read more

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