Spedra

Order Consultation for Spedra

A pack of 4 Spedra 200mg avanafil oral tablets

Spedra is an erectile dysfunction medication. It works in a similar way to other PDE5-inhibitors used to treat erectile problems and it is a prescription-only medication.

To place an order, fill in our brief questionnaire, and one of our doctors will check to make sure the medication is suitable for you. They will then issue your prescription to a local pharmacy in Ireland or your home address. Alternatively, you can choose to have your medication delivered directly to your door.

A consultation for erectile dysfunction treatment prescription costs €21.50.


Medical consultation with prescription if appropriate - €21.50
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What is Spedra and how does it work?

Spedra is a medication that contains the active ingredient avanafil, which is a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5 inhibitor). It is primarily prescribed to treat erectile dysfuction.

Spedra tablets are available in 50mg, 100mg and 200mg doses.

Avanafil causes the blood vessels in your penis to relax and improves the blood flow to the penis. As a result, you will find it easier to get and maintain an erection. Spedra will not cause an erection without sexual stimulation.

How to take Spedra

You need to take one Spedra tablet approximately half an hour before intercourse. You can take it with or without food, but taking the tablet with food means that it may take longer to work.

You must not take more than one Spedra tablet per day. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Spedra, as it increases your risk of side effects such as dizziness, headaches and low blood pressure. Alcohol also has a negative impact on your ability to gain an erection.

Avanafil, in Spedra, interacts with grapefruit juice. You should avoid consuming grapefruit or grapefruit juice 24 hours before taking Spedra.

Dosage information

The standard dose of Spedra is 100mg. The dosage you will be prescribed depends on what works best for you. If you are currently taking any other medication, you may need a different dosage. Your doctor will advise you on which dosage to take when you get your prescription. It is important that you mention any medication you are currently taking, so your doctor can prescribe the most suitable dosage.

Side effects

Some patients notice side effects while taking Spedra. Read the patient leaflet that comes with your medicine, for a complete list of all known side effects of Spedra. If you experience any side effects not listed on the patient leaflet, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Common side effects

  • feeling dizzy
  • hot flushes
  • increased heartbeat
  • palpitations
  • visual disturbances and blurry vision
  • nausea
  • indigestion
  • raised liver enzymes
  • tiredness or sleepiness
  • sinus congestion
  • back pain
  • breathlessness upon exertion
  • changes in your heartbeat which may show on an ECG

Who can take Spedra?

You can take Spedra if you are over 18 years old and need help getting or maintaining an erection. If you think you have erectile dysfunction, you will need to speak to a doctor before you use Spedra.

Do not take Spedra if you:

  • are taking nitrate medicines
  • are taking ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir or atazanavir to treat HIV or AIDS
  • are taking an antifungal such as ketoconazole, itraconazole or voriconazole
  • are taking an antibiotic such as clarithromycin or telithromycin
  • have a heart problem
  • have had a stroke or a heart attack in the past 6 months
  • have an irregular heartbeat
  • have low or high blood pressure which is not effectively controlled with medication
  • have angina or notice chest pain during intercourse
  • have a kidney or liver problem
  • have non-arteritic ischemic optic neuropathy [NAION] (an eye condition which means that there is not enough blood flow in your eye)
  • you have a family history of serious eye conditions, for example, retinitis pigmentosa

Tell your doctor before taking Spedra if you:

  • have any heart problems
  • experience persistent erections which last for over four hours (priapism)
  • have any condition which affects the shape of your penis (including angulation, Peyronie’s disease and cavernosal fibrosis)
  • have a bleeding disorder or active peptic ulceration

Drug interactions with Spedra

Spedra interacts with certain medications. Your prescribing doctor will ask which medications you are currently taking and check whether they interact with Spedra.

Medications known to interact with Spedra tablets include:

  • alpha-blockers (prescribed for certain conditions affecting the prostate as well as hypertension)
  • certain medications used to treat irregular heartbeat (such as quinidine, procainamide, amiodarone and sotalol)
  • antibiotics like erythromycin
  • carbamazepine, which is used to treat epilepsy, certain mood disorders and pain
  • epilepsy medications phenobarbital and primidone
  • amprenavir, diltiazem, aprepitant, fluconazole verapamil and fosamprenavir, which can reduce the breakdown of avanafil in your body

For a list of all known Spedra side effects and cautions, read the patient leaflet supplied with your medication.

Alternatives to Spedra

Other tablets which are similar to Spedra, and work in the same way, include:

  • Viagra, which is a brand-name version of Sildenafil
  • Cialis, which usually costs more, but lasts much longer (up to 36 hours) than Viagra
  • Tadalafil, which is a cheaper (non-branded) version of Cialis and has the same long lasting effect (36 hours)
  • Levitra, which is very similar to Viagra but works faster (within 25 to 60 minutes)

There are also medical alternatives that come as a cream, such as alprostadil (Vitaros), or injections.

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Medically reviewed by:
Dr Nicholas Antonakopoulos

Dr Nicholas Antonakopoulos graduated from the University of London in 2006. He did his postgraduate training in hospitals in the London area, and he trained for four years in Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery before completing his training in General practice in 2015.

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Last reviewed: 06 Jan 2021