Written by
Jessica Guht
Medical & Health Writer | Wellness Enthusiast | MEng in Biomedical Engineering
Jessica is a medical writer with an unquenched thirst to discover something new. She believes that medical content should be universally accessible and strives to write content that everyone, no matter their background, can understand. Credentials: MEng in Biomedical Engineering from Rutgers University.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), while common in men, especially as they age, can remain a debilitating condition that affects sexual function, mental health, and self-esteem. When it comes to treating erectile dysfunction, the pathway often depends on the cause of ED. For example, someone suffering from ED due to circulation problems will require a different form of treatment than someone whose relationship troubles are leading to ED.
In all cases, treatment for ED helps to address the cause of erectile dysfunction and restore functionality, improving your ability to get and keep an erection. Medication, in particular, can help with circulation problems—the most common cause of erectile dysfunction—and can also come in different delivery methods.
Troches vs. Pills for ED Medication
ED medications such as sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil, and avanafil help to relax muscles in the penis and increase blood flow. The medications alone do not cause an erection, but they make it so that it is easier for you to achieve an erection following sexual stimulation.
Each medication has its own duration of activity. For example, in general, tadalafil can offer benefits for up to 36 hours, while sildenafil’s duration is only 4-6 hours. There are benefits and disadvantages to both, so it’s best to discuss with your doctor whether a longer or shorter-lasting medication is best for you.
For ED medication, pills are often the standard delivery method; however, troches can be just as effective, and even offer their own set of benefits.
Benefits of Troches for Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Troches are dissolvable medications that are placed under the tongue or inside the cheek. For those who struggle to swallow medication, this can be an easier-to-take option.
Beyond the ease in taking the troche, which can be considered similar to taking a lozenge, troches often allow the medication to be effective more quickly. This is because the medication is immediately absorbed into the blood vessels and mucus membranes of the mouth, rather than having to wait for the stomach to break it down and the liver to process it, as is the case with pills.
Additionally, troches offer a steadier onset. The lozenge takes around 30 minutes to be completely consumed, which allows the troches to dissolve at a steady rate, meaning the medication will also enter your body at a consistent rate. In comparison, pills deliver a highly concentrated batch at once, with this drug spike potentially causing problems in some people.
Finally, the troche delivery mechanism allows the medication to avoid the digestive system. When pills go through the digestive system, the medication loses some of its potency, which may then require a higher dose in order to see the preferred results. With the troche delivery method, you may be able to lower your dosage. Avoiding the digestive tract also means that troches avoid GI-related side effects, such as nausea or an upset stomach.
Try a Troche ED Medication
If you’re suffering from ED, medication can offer your body the chance to more easily get and maintain an erection, and the troche delivery method allows for consistent delivery with fewer side effects.
YOURx can help you live a better life by improving your health and wellness. Get started with troche delivery of ED medication today.
References
Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment – Urology Care Foundation. (2025). Urologyhealth.org. https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/e/erectile-dysfunction-(ed)
Schwartz, B. G., & Kloner, R. A. (2011). Cardiovascular Implications of Erectile Dysfunction. Circulation, 123(21). https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.110.017681
