BlueChew tablets contain the same active ingredients found in well-known erectile dysfunction medications like Viagra and Cialis. The products are compounded chewable tablets made with one of three ingredients: sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis), or vardenafil (the active ingredient in Levitra). All three belong to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors, which work by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual arousal.
The Three Active Ingredients
Each BlueChew plan is built around a single active ingredient. The sildenafil chewable comes in 30 mg and 45 mg doses. The tadalafil chewable comes in 6 mg and 9 mg doses. Vardenafil is also offered, though it typically comes as a dissolving tablet rather than a traditional chewable form.
These are lower doses than what you’d find in standard pharmacy tablets. A typical Viagra pill, for example, is 25, 50, or 100 mg of sildenafil, while standard Cialis tablets range from 2.5 to 20 mg of tadalafil. The chewable format is designed to dissolve more quickly in the body, which is why the doses differ from their brand-name counterparts.
How These Ingredients Work
During sexual arousal, nerve signals trigger the release of a chemical called nitric oxide in the blood vessels of the penis. Nitric oxide sets off a chain reaction that produces a molecule (cGMP) responsible for relaxing the smooth muscle in blood vessel walls. When those muscles relax, the vessels widen, blood flows in, and an erection occurs. Normally, an enzyme called PDE5 breaks down cGMP fairly quickly, which is part of the reason erections naturally subside.
Sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil all block that PDE5 enzyme. With less cGMP being broken down, the blood vessels stay relaxed longer and blood flow to the penis is sustained. None of these drugs create arousal on their own. They only work when you’re already sexually stimulated.
How the Ingredients Differ From Each Other
The biggest practical difference is how long each ingredient lasts. Sildenafil and vardenafil both work within about 30 to 60 minutes and last roughly 4 to 6 hours. Tadalafil takes a similar amount of time to kick in but stays active much longer, often up to 36 hours. Clinical comparison studies have found that men tend to prefer tadalafil over sildenafil, likely because of that extended window of effectiveness.
That longer duration doesn’t mean a 36-hour erection. It means that during that window, your body can respond to arousal more easily. For someone who wants spontaneity without timing a pill, tadalafil is the more flexible option. For someone who prefers a shorter-acting medication, sildenafil or vardenafil may be a better fit.
Compounded, Not FDA-Approved
One important detail: BlueChew tablets are compounded medications, not FDA-approved products. The active ingredients themselves (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) are FDA-approved for treating erectile dysfunction. But the specific chewable tablets BlueChew sells are mixed by compounding pharmacies into a different form and dosage than the brand-name versions. Compounded drugs do not go through the same FDA approval process as commercially manufactured medications.
In September 2025, the FDA issued a warning letter to BlueChew’s parent company, Dermacare LLC, stating that the company’s marketing implied its products were equivalent to FDA-approved drugs when they are not. The letter specifically called the claims “false or misleading.” This doesn’t mean the ingredients are dangerous, but it does mean the finished product hasn’t undergone the same rigorous testing for consistency, potency, and purity that FDA-approved tablets have.
Common Side Effects
Because BlueChew uses the same active ingredients as Viagra and Cialis, the side effect profile is similar. The most frequently reported effects include headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, back pain, and muscle aches. These are generally mild and tend to fade within a few hours.
More serious but rare reactions include an erection lasting longer than four hours (a medical emergency called priapism), sudden changes in vision, and sudden hearing loss. Any of these require immediate medical attention.
Who Should Not Take These Ingredients
PDE5 inhibitors are dangerous when combined with nitrate medications, which are commonly prescribed for chest pain and heart conditions. Taking both together can cause a severe, potentially life-threatening drop in blood pressure. This is the most critical safety concern with all three ingredients in BlueChew.
People taking alpha-blockers for high blood pressure or prostate issues also face a risk of blood pressure dropping too low. Drinking more than a few alcoholic drinks while on these medications adds to that risk. Anyone with cardiovascular problems serious enough that sexual activity itself would be risky should avoid PDE5 inhibitors entirely.
How You Get a Prescription
BlueChew requires an online medical consultation before dispensing anything. You fill out a health questionnaire covering your medical history and current medications, then upload a photo ID. A licensed medical provider in your state reviews your information and may follow up with questions through messaging or a video visit. If they determine a PDE5 inhibitor is appropriate for you, they write the prescription, and BlueChew ships the chewable tablets directly. The prescribing provider is not necessarily a doctor; they may be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, depending on state regulations.