Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the consistent inability to maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.
It’s the most common sexual problem men in the United States experience. It’s thought to affect as many as
A variety of medications are available to target ED:
| Generic name | Brand names |
| sildenafil | Viagra, Revatio |
| tadalafil | Cialis, Adcirca |
| avanafil | Stendra |
| vardenafil | Levitra, Staxyn |
BlueChew is a monthly subscription-based service that provides men with sildenafil or tadalafil tablets. These tablets arrive by mail and don’t require an in-person visit to a doctor or pharmacy.
In this article, we’ll examine how BlueChew’s subscription service works, its pros and cons, and how it compares in terms of price to other ED medications.
BlueChew is an online subscription-based service that delivers medication for ED to men in the United States. According to the BlueChew website, the company targets men who:
- can’t tolerate commercially available pills
- don’t want to visit a doctor in person
- want to have more confidence in bed
The company offers chewable tablets of sildenafil or tadalafil
The company sells chewable tablets of either sildenafil or tadalafil. Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra and Revatio. Tadalafil is the active ingredient in Cialis and Adcirca.
Both of these active ingredients are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ED.
Here’s more about them:
- Sildenafil. BlueChew sells sildenafil in 30- or 45-milligram (mg) tablets. It usually works in 30 to 60 minutes and lasts for about 4 hours.
- Tadalafil. BlueChew sells tadalafil in 6- or 9-mg tablets. It usually works in about 30 to 60 minutes. Its effects may last longer than 24 hours.
The tablets come by mail each month in discreet packaging
Once you create an account with BlueChew, you can set up an online consultation with a licensed doctor who can write you a prescription for either sildenafil or tadalafil. You’ll then be sent BlueChew by mail each month in discreet packaging.
Monthly subscription rates
BlueChew offers monthly subscriptions based on your individual need. Their cheapest plans include either six tablets of sildenafil (30 mg) or four tablets of tadalafil (6 mg) for $20.
Their most expensive monthly subscriptions are $120. They include either 34 sildenafil tablets (45 mg) or 28 tadalafil tablets (9 mg).
BlueChew also offers a full refund within 30 days of purchase, minus the cost of shipping.
Cost comparison
The price of BlueChew’s subscriptions is relatively cheap compared to brand-name ED medications.
A
Generic sildenafil and tadalafil are often sold much cheaper than the brand-name versions.
Insurance coverage for ED medications
Most insurance plans, including Medicare, don’t usually cover the cost of medications for ED. Some Medicare Part C and Part D plans may cover the cost of some generic medications.
Consider these pros and cons of BlueChew.
Pros
- no in-person doctor visit
- medication arrives by mail in discreet packaging
- cheaper than brand-name ED medications
- made in the United States
- 30-day return policy
Cons
- not FDA-approved (although the active ingredients are)
- need to pay online
- not available outside the United States
- not available in Alabama, Idaho, North Dakota, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico
BlueChew sells two types of ED medications, sildenafil or tadalafil. These medications have comparable levels of effectiveness and safety for treating ED.
However, a
Researchers cited that men who took tadalafil “felt less time pressure and a reduced sense of urgency and had to do less planning before and during sexual encounters compared with those taking sildenafil.”
Sildenafil is the same active ingredient found in Viagra or Revatio. Since 2016, sildenafil has been FDA-approved to be sold under its generic name.
BlueChew comes in 30- or 45-mg tablets. Viagra comes in three sizes: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg.
BlueChew comes in chewable tablets that you can take before sexual activity. Both types of medications the company offers fall into a category of drugs called phosphodiesterase (PDE-5) inhibitors.
PDE-5 is an enzyme found in the smooth muscles of the penis that causes blood vessels to constrict. PDE-5 inhibitors block this enzyme from working and cause vasodilation, meaning they relax your blood vessels.
These medications make it easier to get an erection since you have increased blood flow to your penis. However, they don’t cause an erection unless you’re also sexually aroused.
The primary, active ingredients in BlueChew, sildenafil or tadalafil, are both FDA-approved for treating ED. The tablets are made by combining the active ingredients with treatments that aren’t FDA-approved.
PDE-5 inhibitors lower your blood pressure throughout your body. They can be dangerous if you have certain underlying health conditions. Avoid PDE-5 inhibitors if you’ve had:
Before taking BlueChew tablets
Don’t take BlueChew tablets if you’ve had a stroke, heart attack, or unstable angina. Also tell your doctor if you take:
- medications containing nitrates
- riociguat (Adempas)
- herbal supplements
- substances like cannabis, cocaine, or heroin, or misuse prescription drugs like Xanax
Potential side effects of sildenafil
Sildenafil may cause side effects in some people, although most people experience no side effects or only minor ones. Common side effects occur in more than 1 in 100 people who take sildenafil. The more serious side effects occur in less than 1 in 1,000 people.
| Common side effects | Rare (and more serious) side effects |
| headaches | chest pain or shortness of breath |
| upset stomach (nausea or indigestion) | prolonged and painful erections |
| flushed face (reddening or warming of the face) | vision problems (blurred or color-tinged vision, or sudden vision loss in one or both eyes) |
| trouble sleeping | hearing problems (sudden hearing loss, ringing in your ears, or dizziness) |
| fever | low blood pressure (symptoms may include dizziness, confusion, fainting) |
| sore throat | serious skin reactions (may include peeling and swelling of the skin, blistering of the mouth, genitals, and around the eyes) |
| runny nose | allergic reaction |
Potential side effects of tadalafil
Tadalafil may cause side effects in some people. Like sildenafil, common side effects occur in more than 1 in 100 people, and more serious side effects occur in less than 1 in 1,000 people.
| Common side effects | Rare (and more serious) side effects |
| headaches | chest pain |
| nausea | an erection lasting more than 4 hours |
| flushed face | problems with eyesight or hearing |
| indigestion | hives |
| stuffy nose | swollen face |
| muscle aches | swelling around the eyes |
| seizure | |
| allergic reaction |
Stop taking BlueChew if you notice any concerning symptoms
Not all potential side effects for sildenafil and tadalafil are included here. If you notice any concerning or abnormal symptoms, stop taking BlueChew right away and talk to your doctor.
ED is the most common sexual problem men experience. BlueChew is a monthly subscription-based service that provides chewable tablets to target ED.
BlueChew sells sildenafil and tadalafil tablets, which are the active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, respectfully. Its service includes an online consultation with a doctor who can recommend the dose and type of medication you should take.
