Pfizer’s Viagra has been available since 1998. The active ingredient Sildenafil citrate, a PDE5 inhibitor, increases the blood flow to the penis to help men suffering from impotence (erectile dysfunction or ED). The increased blood flow results in an erection. Pfizer’s patent for Viagra expired in several European countries (including the UK) on 21 June 2013 allowing legal generic versions of the drug Sildenafil to be made available.
Viagra is a brand name medicine and costs around £5 per tablet. Generic versions of Viagra, called Sildenafil, are significantly cheaper alternatives at around 50p per tablet – and work in exactly the same way as Viagra.
Its benefits are widely known, but when it comes to actually taking Viagra, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Men thinking about taking any PDE5 inhibitor should review the following FAQs and discuss the medication with their GPs.
What drug is Viagra?
Viagra’s active ingredient is sildenafil citrate, which belongs to the group of PDE5 (Phosphodiesterase-5) inhibitors. It works by inhibiting an enzyme that regulates blood flow to the penis, which then increases blood flow into the penis and sustaining an erection for longer when sexual stimulation occurs. Read in full
The headlines read “Tesco to sell half-price Viagra over the counter” and “Viagra goes on high street sale”. With all the media hype over Viagra and the generic version sildenafil now available in pharmacies, the natural assumption is that Tesco and Boots are the places to buy it – the cheapest and easiest avenues to get your sex life back on track.
Update April 2018:Viagra Connect now available without prescription.
But while it would be easy to simply walk into your nearest Tesco or Boots pharmacy and ask for a pack from behind the counter, let’s investigate whether it really is possible to buy Viagra during a trip to the supermarket, and if there is another, more convenient alternative out there.
The premise of offering Viagra through pharmacies is simple. It is considered a low toxicity drug with relatively few side effects, and can be safely prescribed following a straightforward medical consultation to rule out contraindications. Read in full
People often wonder about the possible side effects of Viagra, concerned that the little blue pill might result in some kind of unpleasantness or even dangerous health conditions. It’s always sensible to understand the nature of your medications and, while Viagra is recognised as a low-toxicity medicine, it pays to be aware of its potential side effects.
Our patients tend to do a lot of their own research on the subject and although this can sometimes lead to unwarranted concern, it could also be prudent in determining whether Viagra or the generic sildenafil is safe to take. So here we will explain Viagra’s side effects and briefly take you through which are common and which may be cause for worry. Read in full
Buy treatmentPrices checked 14 July 2015 – Dr Fox remains significantly lower cost than competitors and is often over 50% cheaper than major high street and internet pharmacies such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Pharmacy2U and Chemist Direct for the same service and product (Superdrug online doctor does not provide sildenafil). Read in full
Many millions of men have taken Viagra (sildenafil) repeatedly and regularly for up to 15 years, since it became available in 1998.
The concerns raised in this article are based on a single short term study in mice, which may not be relevant to humans. The mice study was carried out using very much higher doses than are taken in humans.
The side effects of medicines are monitored. There has been no reporting of widespread permanent damage to vision in men taking Viagra/sildenafil. There is no need for men to be alarmed as we discuss this is more detail. Read in full
Sildenafil is the medical name for the active ingredient in Viagra tablets. The patent for Viagra held by the drug company Pfizer expired in June 2013. Since then a number of UK licenced brands of sildenafil have become available from various pharmaceutical manufacturers. These companies often market sildenafil branded by their company names, e.g. Sandoz sildenafil, Mylan sildenafil, Accord, Actavis, Ajanta, Pfizer, Teva, Torrent, Dr Reddys, Bristol Labs, Zentiva, etc. Patients with a brand preference can request preferred brand after making an order with Dr Fox. Read in full
Good news for men suffering from erectile dysfunction: sildenafil is now more widely available on the NHS in England (from 1 Aug 2014), although health managers previously advised limits of 4 tablets per month.
When Pfizer’s patent for Viagra expired in June 2013, the supply cost of sildenafil (the generic name for Viagra) was slashed from pounds to pennies. Since 1999 the availability of Viagra/sildenafil on the NHS has been subject to certain restrictions. Specifically, the drug was only available to male patients whose erectile dysfunction was associated with any of the following conditions:
People often wonder about the possible side effects of Viagra, concerned that the little blue pill might result in some kind of unpleasantness or even dangerous health conditions. It’s always sensible to understand the nature of your medications and, while Viagra is recognised as a low-toxicity medicine, it pays to be aware of its potential side effects.
