Treatment of erectile dysfunction has been changed beyond all recognition in the last few decades. Safe and reliable treatment is now at hand for most men who need it.
On 14 March 2023, the UK Medicines regulator (MHRA) approved an application to reclassify the erectile dysfunction medication Cialis. When marketed as Cialis Together (tadalafil 10mg), it will be a ‘P’ (pharmacy) medication, and so available ‘over the counter’ in pharmacies – see MHRA reclassifies Cialis Together tablets to a Pharmacy medicine – GOV.UK. This follows the 2018, ‘P’ classification of Viagra Connect (sildenafil 50mg) which has been available OTC, without a prescription, since then.
This decision is good news for men’s health …. Erectile dysfunction can be a debilitating condition, so it’s important men feel they have fast access to quality and legitimate care
Dr Laura Squire, MHRA’s Chief Officer for Healthcare, Quality and Access
Keeping it simple, tadalafil lasts for up to 36 hours and sometimes longer, and has the longest duration of action of all the PDE5 inhibitors. This compares to sildenafil (Viagra) which lasts for around 4 hours.
In addition, absorption of tadalafil is not affected by food, so it can be taken at any time before, during, or after a meal.
Tadalafil is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction. It is a type of PDE5 inhibitor. Tadalafil is a generic or drug name – ‘Cialis’ is a branded form of tadalafil.
36 hours – really?
Yes, although this does not mean a continuous erection for 36 hours. Like all PDE5 inhibitors, tadalafil requires sexual stimulation to work – ie: you only get an erection when you want to.
Tadalafil 2.5mg and 5mg can be used on a daily basis
Tadalafil is the medical – or generic – name for the Cialis brand of erectile dysfunction medicine. Tadalafil works in a similar way to sildenafil (Viagra), however whereas sildenafil lasts for around 4 hours, tadalafil remains active for up to 36 hours, hence why it is sometime called the weekend pill. This does not mean you will have an erection for 36 hours, only when required, eg: when sexually aroused.
Most men take tadalafil as and when they need it 30 minutes or more before sexual activity. The usual starting dose is tadalafil 10mg, which – depending on effectiveness – may be increased to 20mg or decreased to 5mg.
Men can now buy Viagra Connect (a brand name for sildenafil 50mg tablets) from pharmacies without a prescription following a short medical assessment with a pharmacist.
What is the price?
Viagra Connect is priced around £4 per tablet, and is available in packs of 4 and 8 only.
Compare prices of 50mg sildenafil on prescription from Dr Fox below:
Viagra became a powerhouse of a brand by promising to power up the sex life of couples across the globe. Viagra has become synonymous with helping men to get and keep an erection and has become a hot topic of conversation, there are even jokes about it:
What’s the difference between the first honeymoon and the second? First honeymoon, Niagara. Second honeymoon, Viagra!
Let’s not for one moment, think of erectile dysfunction as a laughing matter. But, like all well-known brands, Viagra does draw attention. Read in full
One in ten men will experience sexual problems at some point. It’s fair to say that erectile dysfunction (ED) is a very real problem and can affect men across the spectrum. It doesn’t matter if you are gay, straight or bisexual – erectile dysfunction doesn’t discriminate. ED, or impotency, does tend to affect more mature males, but again, that’s not a given. A younger man going through a particularly stressful time or suffering from a medical problem may be just as likely to suffer from ED.
So, we are well aware of the problem but what can be done about erectile dysfunction? There are numerous treatments available. These include counselling or sex therapy, using medication (such as Viagra or Cialis), using equipment to assist (eg a vacuum pump), undergoing surgery, injections, implants and suppositories, or trying out alternative therapies. Read in full
Pfizer’s new product will be called Viagra Connect and will contain 50mg of Viagra (sildenafil) in packs of 2, 4 or 8 tablets and is expected to be available Spring 2018. Pricing is unconfirmed but likely to be around £5 per pill.
The MHRA’s decision follows the expiry of Pfizer’s exclusive patent for Viagra in 2013, after which other pharmaceutical companies were permitted to supply their own Sildenafil tablets and prices were slashed. More recently (14 November 2017) the patent expired for Cialis (another popular drug for erectile dysfunction), and the price of generic Cialis (‘Tadalafil’) is significantly lower. Read in full
Men can now buy 
One in ten men will experience sexual problems at some point. It’s fair to say that