What Is Spedra? Avanafil Medicine Explained

Spedra is a prescription medicine used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult men. Its active ingredient is avanafil, which belongs to a group of medicines called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, usually shortened to PDE5 inhibitors.

Erectile dysfunction means repeatedly having difficulty getting or maintaining an erection suitable for sexual activity. Spedra helps by increasing blood flow within the penis when sexual stimulation occurs. It does not automatically produce an erection and it does not permanently cure the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction.

For adult men in the UK who are considering Spedra or have been prescribed it, the key questions are usually whether it works, how to take it safely, what dose is used, who can and cannot take it, and which side effects or medicine interactions to watch for. Spedra is available as 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg tablets. The usual recommended dose for an adult man is 100 mg taken when needed, approximately 15 to 30 minutes before anticipated sexual activity. For the 50 mg dose, the recommended timing is approximately 30 minutes before anticipated sexual activity.

This guide provides practical Spedra information, including how avanafil works, how effective it is, when it is taken, how food and alcohol affect it, available strengths, common side effects, important medicine interactions, safety considerations and circumstances in which Spedra should not be used.

What Is Spedra Used For?

Spedra is authorised for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men.

Erectile dysfunction may involve:

• Difficulty getting an erection.
• Difficulty maintaining an erection.
• Erections that are not sufficiently firm.
• Erections becoming unreliable or difficult to maintain.

Spedra helps improve the body's erectile response, but sexual stimulation is still necessary for it to work.

It should not be considered a general performance-enhancing medicine for someone who does not have erectile dysfunction. The authorised patient leaflet specifically states that Spedra will not help someone who does not have ED.

What Is the Active Ingredient in Spedra?

The active ingredient in Spedra is avanafil.

Each tablet contains either:

• 50 mg avanafil
• 100 mg avanafil
• 200 mg avanafil

The tablets are pale yellow and oval, with the strength marked on one side.

When people search for terms such as "Spedra drug," "Spedra medication" or "Spedra medicine," they are therefore referring to a branded medicine containing avanafil.

Avanafil is the pharmacologically active substance responsible for Spedra's effect on erectile function.

What Type of Medicine Is Spedra?

Spedra belongs to a class of medicines known as PDE5 inhibitors.

PDE5 stands for phosphodiesterase type 5, an enzyme involved in regulating chemical signalling within blood vessels and erectile tissue.

Avanafil inhibits this enzyme. This supports the chemical pathway that allows blood vessels within the penis to relax and blood flow to increase during sexual stimulation.

The end result is that a man with erectile dysfunction may find it easier to achieve and maintain an erection.

Start Your Free Assessment

How Does Spedra Work?

When sexual stimulation occurs, the body releases nitric oxide within erectile tissue. This contributes to production of a signalling chemical called cyclic guanosine monophosphate, or cGMP.

cGMP helps smooth muscle and blood vessels within the penis relax, allowing more blood to enter erectile tissue.

PDE5 normally breaks down cGMP.

Avanafil inhibits PDE5, allowing the cGMP pathway to remain active for longer. This helps support increased blood flow and the erectile response.

This mechanism explains an important point about Spedra:

Spedra does not create an automatic erection.

Sexual stimulation is still necessary for the medicine to produce its intended effect.

Does Spedra Cause Side Effects or Cure Erectile Dysfunction?

No. Spedra treats the symptoms of erectile dysfunction but does not necessarily cure the condition causing them.

The authorised patient information specifically explains that Spedra helps increase blood flow when a man becomes sexually stimulated but does not cure erectile dysfunction.

ED can have many underlying causes, including:

• cardiovascular and blood-vessel problems
• diabetes
• neurological conditions
• hormone abnormalities
• certain medicines
• psychological factors

Spedra may improve erections while one or more of these underlying factors remain.

For this reason, the UK product information recommends taking a medical history and considering the underlying cause of ED before pharmacological treatment is started.

How Quickly Does Spedra Work?

Spedra is designed to be taken relatively shortly before anticipated sexual activity.

For 100 mg and 200 mg tablets, authorised UK patient information recommends taking Spedra approximately 15 to 30 minutes beforehand. The 50 mg tablet is advised approximately 30 minutes beforehand.

Avanafil is rapidly absorbed. Under fasting conditions, maximum blood concentrations are generally reached within approximately 30 to 45 minutes.

Clinical studies have also demonstrated erectile responses in some men from around 15 to 20 minutes after dosing, although this does not mean every individual will respond that quickly.

Timing can vary according to dose, food, individual response and other factors.

Start Your Free Assessment

What Is the Recommended Spedra Dose?

The standard recommended dose is 100 mg taken when required approximately 15 to 30 minutes before sexual activity.

A prescriber can adjust this according to response and side effects.

If 100 mg produces an inadequate effect and a higher dose is medically appropriate, the dose may be increased to:

200 mg

If 100 mg produces excessive effects or is not well tolerated, the dose may be reduced to:

50 mg

The maximum recommended dosing frequency is once per day.

You should not increase the dose yourself simply because one dose did not produce the expected response.

What Is Spedra 50 mg?

Spedra 50 mg is the lowest available strength.

It may be prescribed when a lower dose is appropriate because of tolerability, medicine interactions or other individual factors.

The UK patient leaflet advises taking the 50 mg tablet approximately 30 minutes before anticipated activity.

Certain people taking alpha-blockers may also need avanafil initiated at the lower 50 mg dose because both medicines can lower blood pressure.

The exact dose should be determined according to individual medical circumstances.

What Is Spedra 100 mg?

Spedra 100 mg is the usual recommended starting dose for adult men using the medicine as needed.

It is generally taken about 15 to 30 minutes before anticipated activity.

If it works effectively and is well tolerated, there may be no need to change the strength.

A different dose may be recommended if effectiveness is inadequate or side effects are troublesome.

What Is Spedra 200 mg?

Spedra 200 mg is the highest authorised tablet strength.

It may be considered when the normal 100 mg dose does not provide adequate effectiveness and increasing the dose is medically appropriate.

It should not be assumed that 200 mg is automatically the "best" dose because it contains more avanafil.

Higher drug exposure can also increase the likelihood or severity of adverse effects.

The goal is to use a dose that provides adequate effectiveness while remaining well tolerated.

How Often Can You Take Spedra?

Spedra should normally be taken no more than once per day, and you should not take more than one dose in 24 hours.

Taking more because the first tablet appears ineffective is not recommended.

Certain medicine interactions require an even longer gap between doses. For example, when avanafil is used with some moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors, the authorised information limits the dose to 100 mg with at least 48 hours between doses.

Always follow the instructions supplied by your prescriber or pharmacist.

Start Your Free Assessment

Can You Take Spedra With Food?

Yes. Spedra can be taken with or without food.

However, food can delay how quickly it begins working.

The pharmacokinetic data provide more detail.

When avanafil 200 mg was taken with a high-fat meal, the average time to maximum concentration was delayed by approximately 1.25 hours, while peak concentration was reduced by approximately 39%. Overall drug exposure was not significantly changed.

In practical terms, this means Spedra may still work after eating, but the onset can be slower and therefore less predictable.

Can You Take Spedra on a Full Stomach?

Yes, but it may take longer to work.

The authorised UK instructions do not require Spedra to be taken on an empty stomach. They specifically state that it can be taken with or without food.

However, if timing is important, be aware that a meal, particularly a high-fat meal, can slow avanafil absorption.

Taking Spedra after a heavy meal should therefore not be interpreted as treatment failure if its effect appears later than expected.

Does Spedra Need Sexual Stimulation to Work?

Yes.

This is one of the most important pieces of Spedra information.

The authorised product information states clearly that sexual stimulation is required for Spedra to produce a response.

Avanafil supports the normal erectile pathway. It does not initiate the entire process independently.

Therefore, swallowing a Spedra tablet and waiting for an automatic erection is not how the medicine is designed to work.

How Effective Is Spedra?

Clinical trials found avanafil more effective than placebo across all authorised doses studied.

In the general ED population, the mean percentage of attempts resulting in successful intercourse was approximately:

• 47% with 50 mg
• 58% with 100 mg
• 59% with 200 mg
• approximately 28% with placebo

Broadly, Spedra is effective for about 60% of men with ED, although that is a general comparison point rather than a prediction for any one person.

These are clinical-trial averages rather than guarantees for an individual patient.

Response depends on factors such as the cause and severity of ED, correct use, dose, other health conditions and individual tolerance.

Does Spedra Work for Everyone?

No erectile dysfunction medicine works successfully for every person.

Avanafil clinical trials demonstrated significant benefit compared with placebo, including in men with diabetes and in men experiencing ED following certain prostate surgery. However, response rates varied between patient groups.

A poor response can occur because:

• The underlying ED is severe.
• Significant blood-vessel or nerve disease is present.
• The medicine was not taken correctly.
• Food, particularly a high-fat meal, delayed absorption.
• There was insufficient stimulation.
• Another health condition is contributing.
• Another medicine is interfering.
• The dose needs professional review.

If Spedra repeatedly does not provide adequate results, the appropriate response is a treatment review rather than exceeding the recommended dose.

Who Can Take Spedra?

Spedra is authorised for adult men with erectile dysfunction.

It is not intended for children or adolescents under 18 and the patient leaflet states that Spedra is not for women.

Whether an individual adult man can safely use it depends on factors including:

• Cardiovascular health
• Blood pressure
• Liver and kidney function
• Eye conditions
• Other medicines
• History of prolonged erections
• Other existing health problems
• Heart trouble
• Prostate problems
• Certain bleeding disorder
• Sickle cell disease
• Multiple myeloma
• Any physical condition affecting the shape of the penis, such as peyronie's disease

This is why suitability should be assessed before treatment.

Who Should Not Take Spedra?

Spedra has several important contraindications.

According to the authorised UK product information, it should not be taken by people using organic nitrates or nitric oxide donors, because the combination can cause a potentially dangerous fall in blood pressure.

It is also contraindicated in certain people with:

• A myocardial infarction, stroke or life-threatening arrhythmia within the previous six months
• Very low blood pressure. Resting blood pressure below 90/50 mmHg.
• Severely uncontrolled high blood pressure. Resting blood pressure above 170/100 mmHg.
• Unstable angina.
• NYHA Class 2 or greater heart failure or other cardiovascular conditions where sexual activity is inadvisable.
• Severe renal impairment.
• Severe liver impairment
• Certain serious eye conditions

It must also not be used alongside some potent CYP3A4-inhibiting medicines.

A full medicine and health review is therefore important before Spedra is prescribed.

Start Your Free Assessment

Why Can Spedra Not Be Taken With Nitrates?

Both nitrate medicines and avanafil influence pathways that can lower blood pressure.

When they are combined, the blood-pressure-lowering effect can become significantly stronger and potentially dangerous.

The Spedra SmPC therefore lists all organic nitrates and nitric oxide donors as contraindicated with avanafil.

This includes medicines prescribed for conditions such as chest pain (angina).

Anyone who uses nitrate treatment should make this clear during an ED consultation.

Can Spedra Be Taken With Other ED Medicines?

Common erectile dysfunction treatments include sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, and Spedra should not be combined with them.

The UK product information states that the safety and effectiveness of combining avanafil with other PDE5 inhibitors or other ED treatments have not been established and advises patients not to use these combinations.

Taking more than one ED medicine does not automatically produce a better result and may increase the risk of adverse effects or excessive blood-pressure reduction.

Does Spedra Interact With Other Medicines?

Yes.

Avanafil is mainly metabolised through the liver enzyme CYP3A4, meaning medicines that strongly inhibit this enzyme can substantially increase avanafil exposure.

Some potent CYP3A4 inhibitors are therefore contraindicated.

Other medicines requiring particular consideration include:

• Alpha-blockers
• Some medicines that lower blood pressure
• Certain medicines for irregular heart rhythm
• Some antibiotics used for bacterial infections
• Some antifungal medicines used for fungal infections
• Certain epilepsy treatments
• Riociguat

The full medicine list should be disclosed during assessment rather than assuming a medicine is safe to combine with Spedra.

Can You Drink Alcohol With Spedra?

Alcohol can increase the blood-pressure-lowering effect of Spedra.

The UK patient leaflet warns that drinking alcohol with Spedra can increase heart rate and lower blood pressure, potentially causing dizziness, headache or palpitations. Excessive alcohol can also itself make achieving an erection more difficult.

Therefore, drinking heavily can simultaneously:

Reduce erectile performance and increase the likelihood of unwanted effects.

Anyone taking Spedra should follow the alcohol advice provided with their medicine.

Can You Have Grapefruit With Spedra?

Grapefruit juice can increase exposure to avanafil.

The authorised patient leaflet advises avoiding grapefruit juice during the 24 hours before taking Spedra.

This is because grapefruit can interfere with enzymes responsible for metabolising certain medicines.

What Are the Common Side Effects of Spedra?

Like all medicines, Spedra can cause side effects, although not everyone experiences them.

The authorised UK patient leaflet lists the following as common side effects, affecting up to 1 in 10 people:

• Headache
• Flushing
• Nasal congestion

Uncommon effects can include dizziness, tiredness, back pain, indigestion, nausea, palpitations, blurred vision and sinus congestion.

Side-effect frequency and severity can differ between individuals and doses.

What Serious Side Effects Can Spedra Cause?

The following serious side effects require urgent medical attention.

The Spedra patient leaflet advises stopping the medicine and seeking medical help if you experience:

• A persistent erection or an erection lasting more than four hours
• Sudden reduction or loss of vision
• Sudden reduction or loss of hearing
• Chest pain during or after sexual intercourse

An erection lasting four hours or longer is known as priapism. This requires urgent treatment because prolonged erections can damage penile tissue and potentially cause permanent loss of erectile function.

An allergic reaction also requires urgent medical treatment.

Can Spedra Affect Your Eyes?

Visual disturbances have been reported with PDE5 inhibitors, including avanafil.

The authorised information advises anyone experiencing blurred vision, or sudden decrease or loss of vision in one or both eyes, to stop taking Spedra and seek medical attention promptly, rare eye problems, including non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION), have been reported with PDE5 inhibitors.

Spedra is also contraindicated in some people with particular previous or inherited eye disorders.

Any relevant eye history should therefore be mentioned during assessment.

Can Spedra Affect Hearing?

Sudden decrease or loss of hearing has been reported in association with PDE5 inhibitors.

The product information advises stopping the medicine and seeking prompt medical attention if this occurs. Hearing changes can sometimes be accompanied by tinnitus or dizziness.

Can Spedra Cause a Prolonged Erection?

A prolonged erection is a recognised serious risk associated with PDE5-inhibitor treatment.

An erection lasting four hours or longer requires immediate medical assistance.

Sickle cell disease and multiple myeloma are examples of conditions associated with a higher priapism risk.

People with certain medical conditions or structural abnormalities affecting the penis may have a greater risk of priapism and should discuss this before using avanafil.

Can Spedra Make You Dizzy?

Yes, Spedra can make some people feel dizzy.

Dizziness is listed as an uncommon side effect of Spedra. Avanafil can lower blood pressure, and combining it with alcohol, alpha-blockers or certain blood-pressure medicines may increase the risk of symptomatic hypotension.

Spedra can also affect vision in some people.

The patient leaflet advises avoiding driving, cycling or operating machinery if dizziness or vision problems occur.

Is Spedra Suitable for Men With Diabetes?

Men with diabetes can develop erectile dysfunction because diabetes can affect blood vessels and nerves involved in erections.

The Spedra SmPC states that a dose adjustment is not routinely required solely because a patient has diabetes.

Avanafil has also been studied specifically in men with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and ED, where it demonstrated better results than placebo.

However, an individual's wider cardiovascular, renal and medication profile still needs consideration.

Can Older Men Take Spedra?

The authorised product information states that a routine dose adjustment is not required simply because a patient is aged 65 or older, although clinical data are more limited in men aged 70 and above.

Age alone therefore does not determine suitability.

Cardiovascular health, kidney and liver function, medicines and other medical conditions are usually more important factors.

Does Spedra Affect Fertility?

Available studies described in the authorised patient information did not identify harmful changes in sperm concentration, count, movement or structure during the studied avanafil dosing regimens.

However, Spedra is prescribed for erectile dysfunction rather than as fertility treatment.

Anyone with specific fertility concerns should discuss them with a healthcare professional.

Why Might Spedra Not Work?

Spedra may not provide the expected response for several reasons.

Possible explanations include:

• Taking it too close to anticipated activity
• Food delaying absorption
• Insufficient stimulation
• An unsuitable dose
• Significant vascular disease
• Diabetes-related complications
• Nerve problems
• Psychological contributors
• Another medicine affecting response

Spedra also treats the erectile response rather than removing every underlying cause of ED.

If the medicine repeatedly does not work as expected, a clinical review is preferable to increasing the dose without advice.

Is Spedra the Same as Avanafil?

Avanafil is the active ingredient in Spedra.

Therefore:

Spedra = the medicine's brand name

Avanafil = the active medicinal ingredient

The authorised UK patient leaflet confirms that Spedra 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg tablets all contain avanafil.

This distinction is useful when reading medicine information because clinical literature may use the name avanafil even when patients are familiar with the name Spedra.

Is Spedra a Prescription Medicine?

Yes. Spedra is supplied as a prescription medicine for erectile dysfunction and its authorised UK patient information instructs patients to use it according to their doctor's directions.

A clinical assessment is important because Spedra has significant contraindications and medicine interactions, particularly involving nitrates, cardiovascular conditions and medicines affecting CYP3A4.

The purpose of that assessment is not simply to establish that ED is present but also to check that avanafil is medically appropriate, so tell your doctor or pharmacist about other medicines and relevant conditions.