Table 1.

Main properties of PDE5is^a

	Sildenafil (film‐coated tables)	Vardenafil (film‐coated tables)	Tadalafil (film‐coated tables)	Avanafil (film‐coated tables)
Tmax (min), median	45–60 minb	45–60 minc	120 min	30–45 min
Effect of food on Tmax (min)	Mean delay in Tmax of about 60 min (high‐fat meal)	None (low‐fat meal) mean delay in Tmax of about 60 min (high‐fat meal)	None	Mean delay in Tmax of about 75 min (high‐fat meal)
T1/2 (h)	3–5 h	4–5 h	17.5 h	5–10 h
Metabolism	Hepatic (primarily by the CYP3A4 and to a minor extent, by the CYP2C9)	Hepatic (primarily by the CYP3A4 with contribution from the CYP3A5 and CYP2C)	Hepatic (primarily by the CYP3A4)	Hepatic (CYP3A4, principal route, and CYP2C9, secondary route)
Main PDE targeted	PDE5	PDE5	PDE5	PDE5
Secondary PDE target	PDE6 (10‐times lower specificity)	PDE6 (15‐times lower specificity)	PDE11A (controversial)	PDE6 (100‐times lower specificity)
Very common adverse effects (>10%)	Headache	Headache	None	None
Common adverse effects (<10%, >1%)	Dizziness Abnormal vision Flushing Nasal congestion Nausea Dyspepsia	Dizziness Flushing Nasal congestion Dyspepsia	Headache Flushing Nasal congestion Dyspepsia Back pain Myalgia Pain in extremity	Headache Flushing Nasal congestion

^aData obtained from DrugBank (if not otherwise specified) queried on May 2019 and available at the URL: https://www.drugbank.ca/

^bDamle et al. (2014), Zheng & Kim (2014), Roh et al. (2013), Aguirre et al. (2019).

^cHeinig et al. (2011).