Viagra Connect - Now available over the counter without prescription

Viagra Connect is available to buy NOW!

Around 50% of men over the age of 40 suffer some form of erectile dysfunction.

This widespread condition can cause embarrassment, frustration and even depression for those affected. Some men are so ashamed about having erectile dysfunction that they choose not to seek help from their GP. They just continue to put up with the condition or more worryingly, opt to purchase treatment from illegal vendors online.

Purchasing any medicines in this way poses risks as there is no guarantee that they have been produced following the stringent quality and safety procedures and testing that medicines from UK registered and regulated online pharmacies undergo.

The good news is that this has impelled the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to reclassify Viagra Connect (sildenafil 50mg) from a prescription-only medicine (POM) to a pharmacy (P) medicine, meaning that it is available to purchase over the counter without a prescription in the UK from the spring of 2018. (1, 2)

Viagra Connect should be taken around one hour before sexual activity, ideally on an empty stomach as food can slow absorption. No more than a single tablet per day should be taken. Although the majority of men will be successful first time, it may take a few doses (therefore a few separate attempts) to reach the desired effect of a penile erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. If this fails, you will need to see your GP. (3)

Men wishing to purchase Viagra Connect over the counter in a pharmacy will need to have a quick discussion surrounding symptoms, medical conditions and other medicines with the pharmacist, so that it can be determined whether the medicine is suitable or safe to take.

If buying from an online pharmacy, a short medical questionnaire will need to be completed to assess suitability. Certain medical conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, high cardiovascular risk, and liver or kidney failure, may mean that the medicine cannot be sold and a GP appointment is needed. (2)

Viagra Connect is available to order from Webmed Pharmacy by selecting the medicine after clicking the ‘Treatments’ tab on the homepage. You will need to complete a short confidential online consultation, and then, like in any other pharmacy, the pharmacist will review the information you’ve given and assess whether the medicine is safe for you to take.

This regulatory change will benefit millions of UK men. For many, a trip to the pharmacy seems much more informal and is often more convenient than an appointment with the GP. The patient can even visit a pharmacy they don’t usually go to or use a General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) registered online pharmacy such as Webmed if they fear embarrassment. The danger to health of obtaining medicine from illegal, unregulated and unregistered websites will also be reduced. It may even help other underlying conditions to be diagnosed, since pharmacists will inform men buying Viagra Connect that they should make a follow-up appointment with their GP within 6 months so that such conditions can be tested for. (1)

Other options include:-

Viagra is the most well-known treatment for erectile dysfunction, often referred to as “the blue pill”.
The active ingredient in Viagra is sildenafil which dilates the blood vessels leading to the penis to enable a firm, long lasting erection when a man is sexually aroused or stimulated.

Viagra and Sildenafil both contain exactly the same active ingredient. They are both equally effective, but sildenafil is much cheaper.

Tadalafil, the generic form of Cialis, became available in November 2017 when the patent expired and has become very popular.

Tadalafil on demand is known as “the weekend pill” as, due to it's 36 hour duration of action, it can be taken on a Friday night and still be active on Sunday morning.

There is also a low dose tadalafil option taken on a daily basis, called Tadalafil daily, so you don’t have to plan ahead and can be ready for action “anytime, anyplace, anywhere”.

Worried about buying fake medicines online?  Then read our blog on what to look for to prove that it is a fully approved and Regulated pharmacy only supplying genuine UK sourced medication.

1. You’ll be able to buy Viagra for the first time ever- in the UK [cited 20 February 2018]. Viagra Connect to be available over the counter from Spring 2018. Available at: http://fortune.com/2017/11/28/viagra-over-the-counter-uk/

2. GOV.UK. MHRA reclassifies Viagra Connect tablets to a Pharmacy medicine [cited 20 February 2018]. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-reclassifies-viagra-connect-tablets-to-a-pharmacy-medicine

3. emc. Viagra Connect [cited 20 February 2018]. Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/8725

   Author: Gabby Gallagher MPharm

   Medically reviewed by: Superintendent pharmacist Margaret Hudson BSc(Hons)MRPharmS 09/07/18