Spedra is a prescription medication in the form of an oral tablet that is used to treat symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED). The active ingredient in Spedra is avanafil which belongs to a group of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, the same group of medications sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) belong to. PDE5 inhibitors work to increase the blood flow in your penis so that when you are aroused you can get an erection.

Spedra is the fastest erectile dysfunction pill and it can work in just 15 minutes, unlike other ED medications which usually take 30 to 60 minutes to work.

Spedra works by helping the blood vessels in your penis relax, increasing the blood flow so that when you are aroused you are able to get and keep an erection. It will not work unless you are aroused.

How long does Spedra last?

Spedra lasts for 4 to 6 hours.

How long does Spedra take to work?

It usually takes Spedra between 15 and 30 minutes to work. Remember that this time span can change depending on other factors such as:

• what you’ve eaten: it’s best to not eat a heavy meal before taking Spedra as it will take longer for your body to absorb the medication
• what you’ve been drinking: drinking alcohol can make it harder to get an erection and can cause side effects such as heart palpitations and low blood pressure if taken with Spedra
• how aroused you are: make sure that you are relaxed and aroused, as Spedra will not work if you aren’t aroused

How effective is Spedra?

During a clinical trial, successful intercourse was reported in:

• 47% of users taking the 50mg dose of Spedra
• 58% of users taking the 100mg dose of Spedra
• 59% of users taking the 200mg dose of Spedra

In comparison, an average of only 28% of the users taking a placebo (a pill with no effect) found that they had successful intercourse.

In a penile study, avanafil 200mg produced erections that were hard enough for sex in some men as early as just 20 minutes after dosing.

Take Spedra once a day (once in 24 hours). Swallow the tablet whole with water. If you take Spedra with food it may take longer to work as it will delay the amount of time it takes for your body to absorb the medication.

Spedra will only work if you are aroused. You need to make sure you’re aroused before attempting to get an erection on Spedra.

When to take Spedra

Take Spedra as instructed by a doctor or pharmacist, how and when you take Spedra will depend on your prescribed dose.

Usually, for a 50mg dose, you should take Spedra about 30 minutes before you have sex. If you have been prescribed a 100mg or 200mg dosage of Spedra, you can take it approximately 15 to 30 minutes before you have sex.

How often to take Spedra

You can take Spedra when you need it, but only take it once within 24 hours.

If you think you have taken more Spedra than you should, tell your doctor or a pharmacist right away as you may get serious side effects.

Spedra comes in 3 doses: 50mg, 100mg, and 200mg. The dose refers to how much of the active ingredient, avanafil, is in each pill.

Spedra 100mg

This is the standard starting dose of Spedra. We would likely recommend trying this dose first if you’ve never tried Spedra before. This dose has a lower risk of side effects than the 200mg and works for most people who try it.

Spedra 200mg

This is the highest dose of Spedra. It has a greater risk of side effects but can still work for people who do not see results from the 100 mg dose and do not get any side effects. If you’ve tried the 100mg dose of Spedra already and didn’t get the effect you wanted, you could order this dosage to see if it works better for you.

You should always check with your doctor before making any changes to the dose of your medication.

Spedra 50mg

This is a low dose of Spedra and is reported to take a little longer to work. It has a lower risk of side effects and is therefore safer for people with certain health conditions.

The risk of side effects from Spedra is low so we still recommend starting on 100mg for a better chance of success. If you try Spedra 100mg and experience side effects, you can try switching to a different medication with the help of your doctor. At Superdrug, we do not offer Spedra 50mg tablets.

You can buy Spedra online or get a private prescription from many UK pharmacies. It may be possible to get avanafil on the NHS.

Can I buy Spedra online?

You can buy Spedra from online doctor services like Superdrug Online Doctor in the following steps:

1. Fill out a short questionnaire about your health.
2. Request and pay for treatment.
3. One of our online doctors will review your questionnaire and will approve your treatment if it is suitable for you.
4. Your order will be delivered to your address or you can collect it at your local Superdrug Pharmacy.
5. If your order is not approved, your payment will be refunded and you will be notified by one of our doctors in your account.

With Superdrug Online Doctor there are no face-to-face appointments, only discreet online consultations and deliveries.

Can I buy Spedra over the counter?

No, Spedra is only available to buy with a prescription.

There are other erectile dysfunction treatments available over-the-counter such as Cialis Together and Viagra Connect, as well as Superdrug’s own brand of sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra).

These medications will have different effects, so be sure that you know which is the best option for you. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to figure out the right solution for you.

Can I get Spedra on the NHS?

Yes, you may be able to get Spedra (avanafil) by prescription on the NHS if you have erectile dysfunction and meet specific criteria.

Alternatively, you can order Spedra via Superdrug Online Doctor on your account, and if you’re new to Superdrug Online Doctor, it doesn’t take long to register. There are no face-to-face appointments, only discreet online consultations and deliveries. For this treatment, all you have to do is fill in a short questionnaire about your health and one of our doctors will review it to see if it is right for you.

Like all medications, Spedra can cause side effects, but many people experience no side effects or only minor ones.

If you have any concerns about the effects of Spedra, speak with your doctor.

Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):

• headache
• flushing
• nasal congestion

Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):

• feeling dizzy
• tiredness
• sinus congestion
• back pain
• hot flush
• breathlessness when you exert yourself
• changes in heartbeat (palpitations)
• indigestion
• feeling or being sick
• blurry vision
• raised liver enzymes

Serious side effects – stop taking Spedra and see a doctor straight away if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• an erection that will not go away (“priapism”) – if you get an erection that lasts more than 4 hours this must be treated as soon as possible or it may cause lasting damage to your penis
• blurred vision
• sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes
• sudden decrease or loss of hearing (you may also feel dizzy or have ringing in your ears)

If you have any of these side effects or side effects which are significantly affecting you, stop taking Spedra and dial 999 or go to A&E.

For full information, read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication. If you have any concerns, speak with your doctor or a pharmacist.

How long do Spedra side effects last?

The effects of Spedra can last about 6 to 17 hours, which is how long it takes for the active ingredient to clear from your systems. If you experience any side effects that are significantly affecting you within this timeframe or longer, speak with your doctor or a pharmacist, or dial 111.

If you experience any serious side effects, or side effects which are significantly impacting you, dial 999 or go to A&E.

What to do if you get side effects from Spedra

If you experience any common side effects of Spedra, speak with your doctor and they may advise an adjustment to your dose.

Common side effects of Spedra typically subside once the medication has worn off after 4 to 6 hours.

If you are troubled by side effect symptoms, we recommend managing them by:

• taking painkillers to ease discomfort
• drinking plenty of fluids
• avoiding alcohol
• resting

If you have any specific concerns about how best to manage side effect symptoms, speak with your doctor or a pharmacist.

Stop taking Spedra and dial 999 or go to A&E immediately if you are experiencing any serious side effects of Spedra – priapism, blurred vision, sudden decrease or loss of hearing or vision in one or both eyes or a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). These should be listed in detail in the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication. If you have any concerns, make sure to speak with your doctor or a pharmacist.

You can also report any side effects, including any that are not listed in the patient information leaflet, using the Yellow Card Scheme.

You must speak with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Spedra, particularly if you:

• have heart trouble (it may be risky for you to have sex)
• suffer from ‘priapism’ (a persistent erection lasting 4 hours or more. This can happen in men with conditions like sickle cell disease, multiple myeloma or leukaemia)
• have a physical condition that affects the shape of your penis (like angulation, Peyronie’s disease or cavernosal fibrosis)
• have any bleeding disorder or active peptic ulceration

Sight and hearing problems

Some people taking Spedra have reported problems with their sight or hearing. It is unknown whether these problems are directly linked to taking Spedra, other conditions or diseases you may have, or a combination of factors.

Other medications and Spedra

Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medication, including prescribed, over-the-counter or herbal remedies. This is because Spedra can affect the way some other medications work, and some medications may affect how Spedra works.

Tell your doctor and do not take Spedra if you are taking medications for:

• chest pain (angina) such as amyl nitrite or glyceryl trinitrate. Spedra has been shown to increase the effects of this medication and severely lower your blood pressure. It is advised to not take nitrates recreationally (such as ‘poppers’) alongside Spedra
• HIV or AIDS such as ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir or atazanavir
• fungal infections such as ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole
• certain bacterial infections such as clarithromycin or telithromycin

Speak with your doctor or a pharmacist if you have any concerns about the effects of Spedra on any medications you are currently taking.

Before taking Spedra, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medications:

• “alpha-blockers” (for prostate problems or for lowering your high blood pressure)
• medicines for an irregular heartbeat (“arrhythmia”) such as quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone or sotalol
• antibiotics for infections such as erythromycin
• phenobarbital or primidone (for epilepsy)
• carbamazepine for epilepsy, to stabilise your mood or for certain types of pain
• ‘Moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors’ including - amprenavir, aprepitant, diltiazem, fluconazole, fosamprenavir, and verapamil (these may reduce the breakdown of Spedra in the body)
• riociguat

Do not take Spedra alongside other erectile dysfunction treatments such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil.

Spedra and alcohol

Drinking alcohol whilst taking Spedra may increase your heart rate and lower your blood pressure. You may feel dizzy (especially when standing), have a headache or feel your heart beating in your chest (palpitations). Drinking alcohol may also reduce your chances of getting an erection.

Grapefruit juice may increase the effects of Spedra and should be avoided at least 24 hours before taking it.

If you have any concerns or questions about the precautions of taking Spedra, or using Spedra in your day-to-day life, speak with a doctor or pharmacist.

There are several alternatives to Spedra. If you are looking for over-the-counter alternatives, you could try:

• Cialis Together: an oral tablet that contains tadalafil. Up to 70% of users found it to be effective, works in 30 to 60 minutes and lasts for 36 hours.
• Viagra Connect: an oral tablet that contains sildenafil, works in 1 hour and lasts for 4 to 6 hours. 74% of users found it effective.
• Superdrug sildenafil: a generic oral tablet and an alternative to Viagra. It is available over the counter at Superdrug pharmacies.
• Penis pumps: we offer the Vaxaid V30 vacuum pump, an effective medical device that helps to draw blood to your penis so that it is easier to get an erection. It can be used alongside or without other erectile dysfunction medications (like tadalafil).
• Penis rings: often used alongside penis pumps, penis rings help slow blood from leaving the penis so that erections can last for longer.

If you feel Spedra is not working for you, or perhaps isn’t the right solution for you, there are other prescription alternatives you can try, such as:

• Cialis: contains tadalafil, an oral tablet available in 10mg or 20mg. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to work and lasts for 36 hours and studies show it is effective for 80% of users.
• Tadalafil: an oral tablet containing the active ingredient tadalafil, it is the generic version of Cialis. It is available in daily doses (2.5mg and 5mg) and in ‘on demand’ doses (10mg and 20mg). Tadalafil typically works within 30 to 60 minutes before sex, if you take the daily dose it can take effect for 36 hours and is often known as the ‘Weekend Pill’. Up to 86% of people have reported positive effects.
• Viagra: an oral tablet containing the active ingredient sildenafil, it is available in three doses, 25mg, 50mg and 100mg. It takes up to an hour to work and lasts 4 to 6 hours. 74% of users have found it effective.
• Sildenafil: a generic version of the branded Viagra, it contains the active ingredient sildenafil and is available in three doses (25mg, 50mg and 100mg). 82% of users have found it to be effective. It takes 30 to 60 minutes to work and lasts for 4 to 6 hours.
• Vitaros: a cream that’s applied directly to the penis, it takes 5 to 30 minutes to work and lasts for 1 to 2 hours.