Over The Counter Viagra (Viagra Connect)

It is possible to buy Viagra over the counter from high street pharmacies (the most common being Viagra Connect), but there are also other ways of buying Viagra without having to go to your GP for a prescription.

No matter how you buy Viagra, you will need to get a proper assessment to buy it safely and legally. Viagra isn’t right for everyone so you can save some time by checking your eligibility beforehand or getting assessed online.

Can you buy Viagra over the counter in the UK?

Yes you can – Viagra Connect is a Viagra product available to buy over the counter in the UK. It was announced by the BBC November 28th 2017 after the MHRA (the UK authority on medicines regulations) made the case for making erectile dysfunction medication available without prescription. According to the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Viagra Connect became available at the end of March 2018.

Why is Viagra Connect available over the counter? – the reasons Viagra is available over the counter in the UK include; because it is a very safe treatment, and because there was evidence that men who didn’t want to get a prescription for Viagra from their GPs were going online and buying them from unregulated companies.

Is it still safe to buy over the counter? – yes. Even though when you buy Viagra Connect over the counter you aren’t seeing a doctor, that doesn’t mean it’s not still safe. Viagra Connect sold over the counter still requires you to go through an assessment to make sure the treatment is right for you and you shouldn’t have drug interactions or serious health problems.

Is buying Viagra over the counter right for me?

Is buying over the counter the right option for me? – it could be right for you if the following applies to you:

You prefer to buy in person

You don’t want to go to your GP for a prescription first

You don’t mind not getting the cheapest option

You only need a 50mg dosage

When is buying over the counter not the best option? – buying erectile dysfunction treatment over the counter may not be right for you if:

You don’t want to have to buy in person

You want your medication delivered to you

You need a different dosage from the standard 50mg

You want to choose from a range of medications, not just Viagra Connect

You don’t want to discuss your erectile dysfunction face-to-face

You want to complete your assessment for treatment in your own time, at home

You want the cheapest option

Branded Viagra Connect is the only medication currently available over the counter so there is no cheaper generic version available, unlike if you order online or go through your GP. There is also only 1 dosage of 50mg available for Viagra Connect, so if you need a strong dosage for better results, or a weaker dosage for fewer side effects, you need to buy elsewhere.

Will I be able to buy Viagra over the counter? – you need to get assessed for any erectile dysfunction medication. You will only be eligible if it’s clear you need erectile dysfunction treatment and there are no serious health risks for you if you get treatment. This will include checking how significant your erection problems are, whether your current medication would interact with erectile dysfunction treatment, and if you have any pre-existing health conditions that might make treatment unsafe.

Where can you buy Viagra without a prescription?

Buying over the counter without a prescription – you can buy Viagra Connect over the counter from most Superdrug pharmacy stores. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription first – just go into a pharmacy and ask a member of the pharmacy staff for a Viagra Connect assessment. Many other UK pharmacies are also offering over the counter Viagra Connect as well.

Buying online without a prescription – when you buy erectile dysfunction treatment online, you don’t need a prescription first. Like the assessment a pharmacist or GP would do before you get treatment in person, you can also complete this assessment online. Online doctor services like Superdrug Online Doctor allow you to complete an online assessment form which a UK registered GP with then check. If it’s safe for you, they will approve your treatment and you can have it posted to you or choose to collect in a Superdrug store. See reviews for prescription Viagra bought online from Superdrug Online Doctor.

Avoid buying Viagra without a proper assessment – it might be possible to buy Viagra without a prescription from a company or website that doesn’t perform a proper assessment first. This is illegal and potentially dangerous, so it’s important that you online buy online from a licensed and properly regulated service.

Are there over the counter Viagra substitutes?

Can you buy any other medications over the counter? – no. Currently Viagra Connect is the only over the counter erectile dysfunction treatment available. If you want to buy a different medication you will need to use an online doctor service or see your GP. You might want to try a different medication than those similar to Viagra Connect if:

You’ve tried a medication like Viagra Connect and it hasn’t worked – medications with other active ingredients might work instead but can’t be bought over the counter

You’ve tried a medication like Viagra Connect and got side effects that you couldn’t put up with – if you want to see if a different active ingredient gives you less side effects, you will need to buy a medication that is not available over the counter

You want a medication that lasts longer, or you can take daily – Cialis (Tadalafil) lasts much longer than Viagra (4 hours), which is up to 36 hours. You can also choose to take Cialis on a daily basis, but medications like Viagra Connect are only available to take on demand (before sex)

Are there natural over the counter Viagra alternatives? – there are some products that are believed to help erectile dysfunction that you can buy in a pharmacy, without a prescription. However, these products aren’t to proven to work in the same way medicines are so they are not recommended if you want effective treatment. They can include:

Does over the counter Viagra work as well as prescription medications?

Yes it can be just as effective – Viagra Connect contains the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) as 2 other prescription medications; prescription Viagra and generic Sildenafil. The only difference between these medications is the brand names and whether they require prescriptions or not. The effect on your erectile dysfunction symptoms will be the same no matter which one you choose.

Will over the counter Viagra Connect be the most effective treatment for me? – not necessarily. While medications with the same active ingredient as Viagra Connect are a good first choice for erectile dysfunction treatment, medications with other active ingredients could work better. Also if you need to move up a dosage to get a stronger effect, you won’t be able to do this with Viagra Connect and you’ll need to switch to Viagra or Sildenafil 100mg.

Eardley, I. et al (2002). Onset and duration of action of Sildenafil for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. BJCP, Feb; 53(s1): 61S–65S.

Electronic Medicines Compendium (2016). Viagra 25mg, 50mg, 100mg. Pfizer Ltd. [online] Available at: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/1474 [accessed 20th April 2018].

Martin-Morales, A. et al (2007). Therapeutic effectiveness and patient satisfaction after 6 months of treatment with Tadalafil, Sildenafil, and Vardenafil: results from the erectile dysfunction observational study (EDOS). Eur Urol , Feb; 51(2): 541–550.