Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to erectile dysfunction.
Bluechew is a chewable tablet used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). The brand's website suggests that users can "Have Better Sex!" using Bluechew.
But is Bluechew actually proven in clinical trials to treat ED? What's in Bluechew anyway? How does Bluechew compare to popular ED medications like Viagra and Cialis? And do the pills cause side effects?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical research on Bluechew to determine if it actually works or if it's just a brand with great marketing. We'll document side effects of Bluechew, explain why we consider it to be overpriced and share a real, unsponsored Bluechew user review.
Does Bluechew Work?
Bluechew sells chewable versions of three generic drugs for ED: sildenafil, tadalafil and vardenafil. These drugs have been on the market for decades and are proven to treat ED.
Sildenafil is the same active ingredient as in Viagra, and is proven to be effective based on medical research. It’s a very well-studied drug, and quite safe relative to many pharmaceutical treatments.
The effective dose of sildenafil is 50 milligrams (mg), as reported in the research review linked above, so we find it strange that Bluechew sells the pills in dosages of 30 mg and 45 mg.
Tadalafil is the same active ingredient as in Cialis, and is well-established to be effective for ED in medical studies.
The key difference between the two medications is that tadalafil is longer-acting. Tadalafil can be taken daily and remains in the body for over 24 hours, while sildenafil is typically taken about an hour prior to sex.
Bluechew again offers strange doses of this drug in our opinion. The brand sells chewable tadalafil pills at doses of 6 mg and 9 mg, while nearly all of the medical research we can identify uses doses of 2.5, 5 or 10 mg.
Vardenafil is another generic drug proven to be effective for treating ED, but again we disagree with the dosage used by Bluechew (8 mg).
This research review of vardenafil for ED published in the Drugs journal documented the therapeutic dosing range to be between 10 mg and 20 mg.
Overall we do consider Bluechew likely to be effective, because all of the generic drugs sold by the brand have significant research backing for treating ED, but we don't recommend Bluechew because we disagree with the dosages used. It seems based on our review of clinical research that Bluechew is selling these drugs at non-standard doses.
Does Bluechew Cause Side Effects?
All three of the generic drugs sold by Bluechew can cause side effects.
Sildenafil side effects are typically experienced for shorter time durations than tadalafil side effects because the drug is shorter-acting.
A meta-study published in the Urology journal documented the most common side effects of sildenafil: flushing (experienced by 30.8% of patients), headache (25.4%), nasal congestion (18.7%), heartburn (10.5%).
Tadalafil side effects are typically experienced for longer time durations than sildenafil because the drug is longer-acting.
A 2004 clinical trial documented the most common side effects of tadalafil: headache (15.8%), indigestion (11.8%), cold symptoms (11.4%), back pain (8.2%).
A medical review documented the most common side effects of vardenafil: headache (3.1%), flushing (1.6%).
For patients set on using Bluechew, it seems like vardenafil may have the most favorable side effect profile.
Real, Unsponsored Bluechew User Review
One of the most popular YouTube reviews of Bluechew comes from a channel called "Isaac's Random Thoughts." The video is only 6 minutes long, has over 100,000 views, and Isaac describes the effects he experienced as well as the side effects:
Is Bluechew Overpriced?
As we've referenced throughout this article, Bluechew just sells chewable versions of generic medications. This means those same medications are available (for much cheaper) in tablet form from other retailers.
We consider Bluechew to be significantly overpriced. Below is a cost breakdown between Bluechew and Cost Plus Drugs (Mark Cuban's generic medication company).
Sildenafil
Bluechew (34 pills, 45 mg): $120
Cost Plus Drugs (30 pills, 50 mg): $5.40 (link)
Tadalafil
Bluechew (28 pills, 9 mg): $120
Cost Plus Drugs (30 pills, 10 mg): $6 (link)
Vardenafil
Bluechew (30 pills, 8 mg): $120
Cost Plus Drugs: not available
Not only is Cost Plus Drugs significantly cheaper than Bluechew (often by more than 90%), but it also offers doses that match the research standards we referenced in the ingredient review section. It's impossible to get a 50 mg dose of sildenafil from Bluechew (even though this dose is proven to be therapeutic), but it's possible on Cost Plus Drugs.
Failure to Publish Inactive Ingredients
Bluechew doesn't appear to publish any of the inactive ingredients of the tablets they sell on their website (at least we can't access them either at the time of writing or updating this review).
The drug ingredients analyzed in the previous sections (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) are the active ingredients, but drugs also have inactive ingredients like the coloring agents (what makes the pills blue) and potentially added sweeteners.
We recommend that consumers avoid all brands that fail to clearly publish both active and inactive ingredients on the product pages of their website. It's a consumer safety issue and it's unacceptable. Individuals may have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients, or be trying to avoid certain ingredients like added sugar.
Without the full list of both active and inactive ingredients, it's impossible to make an informed purchase decision.
Does Bluechew Make You Last Longer?
Since many consumers take Bluechew to enhance sexual performance, there's often a question about whether the drugs can make you last longer. It depends on the specific drug.
Sildenafil has been shown in clinical research to slightly increase time-to-ejaculation in men with premature ejaculation (PE).
Tadalafil significantly improved time-to-ejaculation in men with PE in a clinical trial.
Vardenafil also significantly improved time-to-ejaculation in men with PE in a clinical trial.
Based on the available research, it seems like tadalafil and vardenafil may be better options for men looking to increase their sexual endurance than sildenafil, but these studies use men with PE so it may not necessarily translate to results for men without PE.
Can an Herbal Supplement Treat ED?
Panax ginseng has been studied in multiple clinical trials for its potential to naturally treat ED.
A clinical trial published in The Journal of Urology found that after eight weeks of treatment, erectile function scores were "significantly higher" in the ginseng group than the group taking placebo pills.
Another clinical trial found that 60% of patients supplementing with panax ginseng had improvements to ED.
Illuminate Labs sells a panax ginseng extract supplement which is third-party tested to ensure label accuracy, potency and purity, and which contains no questionable additive ingredients.
We are not suggesting that panax ginseng extract is effective as a standalone ED treatment, or that it’s as effective as the generic drugs sold by Bluechew. We’re simply sharing some promising research on this herbal supplement which has negligible side effects based on clinical studies. Patients may benefit from speaking with their doctor about trying panax ginseng for ED before progressing to pharmaceutical medication.
Interested consumers can check out Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract at this link to the product page on our website, where the supplement can be purchased for only $15 on a subscription basis.
Bluechew FAQ
Is Bluechew available on Amazon?
Bluechew is not available on Amazon or Amazon Pharmacy at the time of updating this article.
Can I take two Bluechew pills?
We do not recommend using Bluechew other than as directed on the medication label without the approval of a doctor. Consumers can forget that Bluechew is legitimate pharmaceutical medication with a risk of side effects.
How long does Bluechew last?
It depends on which generic drug is chosen. Sildenafil can last between 3 to 6 hours. Tadalafil can be effective for up to 36 hours. Vardenafil can last between 3 to 5 hours.
These time ranges just describe the time that a significant amount of the drug is still active in the body. It does not mean that an erection should be maintained for that long.
Is Bluechew safe?
When used as directed, Bluechew is safe. All three of the generic drugs sold by Bluechew are FDA-approved for the treatment of ED.
