Viagra: Prices and Savings Tips

Viagra, otherwise known by its generic name sildenafil, is the best-known medication for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). It’s a common vasodilator that’s also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension.

The drug was patented in 1996 and approved for ED by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 1998. It was the first oral treatment approved to treat ED in the United States.

ED affects as many as 30 million men, according to the Urology Care Foundation.

The rate of ED increases with age. According to 2006 research , ED occurs in 40 percent of men ages 40 years or older, and that number increases to almost 70 percent in men 70 and up.

In the United States, you’ll need a prescription for both name-brand Viagra and generic sildenafil. Costs for both vary.

Viagra costs an average of about $70 per pill, while sildenafil can cost about $40 per pill, depending on dosage. There are some online subscription services that can lower the overall price.

While Viagra may be the most well-known drug to treat ED, there are several others available as well.

Roman

Pricing with Roman is always forthright. The service offers free deliveries and no hidden fees.

For sildenafil, the per pill breakdown by milligram (mg) is as follows:

  • 20 mg: $2
  • 40 mg: $4
  • 60 mg: $6
  • 80 mg: $8
  • 100 mg: $10

For brand-name Viagra, all dosages (25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg) are $70 per pill.

The website offers a $15 off promotion for new customers.

With Hims, you can purchase Viagra and sildenafil on a one-time basis or with a monthly subscription. Subscriptions start at about $20 per month. There’s a one-time $5 medical fee the first time you order. Hims doesn’t work with insurance.

  • Sildenafil: Six 40-mg pills for $24 each month
  • Viagra: Five 50-mg pills for $425 each month

Lemonaid

Sildenafil at Lemonaid starts at $2 for a 20-mg pill. You can get a monthly subscription of 30 pills for $60. There’s a one-time medical consult fee of $25.

Lemonaid offers a promotion of $30 off your first order.

Free shipping is included. You can cancel your subscription any time.

RexMD

RexMD offers Viagra and sildenafil with free 2-day shipping. You can get sildenafil in 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg for $10 per pill. Branded Viagra costs $90 per pill.

RexMD doesn’t accept HSA or FSA and doesn’t work with insurance.

At brick-and-mortar pharmacies, ED drug prices can vary widely depending on location. Insurance is more likely to cover these drugs, at least partly, because you’ll need a prescription to obtain them. The website GoodRx allows you to compare prices per pharmacy.

Two pills of branded Viagra at CVS cost about $136.02. Generic sildenafil costs about $32.38.

Costco

It’s no surprise that Costco has some of the best prices for sildenafil.

Two pills of generic sildenafil costs about $7, while a 30-day supply costs $16.99. A 30-day supply of branded Viagra will be more than $2,000.

Walgreens

At Walgreens, a 10-pill supply of sildenafil costs $168.10. A 90-pill bottle costs $1,467.90.

Walmart

Walmart has some of the most competitive prices among retail stores. A 10-pill supply of sildenafil costs just $20.12. A 30-pill supply costs $26.35. A 90-pill bottle is $49.30.

Rx Outreach

This is a nonprofit online pharmacy that provides discounted medications. You can send in a prescription or use the telehealth service the company offers.

The savings calculator on the Rx Outreach website shows a 100-mg pill of generic sildenafil costs $10.

Like any medication, there are potential side effects when taking Viagra. It’s important to check with your doctor before taking this medication if you have any underlying conditions or are currently taking other medications.

ED can sometimes be a symptom of a larger health concern, such as diabetes or sleep apnea. Getting treatment for an underlying concern may relieve ED symptoms.

  • headache
  • heartburn
  • flushed skin

Some people can have a severe reaction if used with alcohol.

Additionally, if you take protease inhibitors or have HIV, steer clear of Viagra to avoid complications. And if you’re taking certain medications, such as nitrates, using Viagra could make your blood pressure drop too low.

In general, most insurance companies won’t cover name-brand Viagra, but they might cover the generic, sildenafil.

Depending on where you purchase the medication, it may be covered. If you go through an online telehealth medicine service for male enhancements, it’s likely you’ll need to pay out of pocket or with funds from your HSA or FSA.

There are plenty of ways to save money on Viagra and sildenafil.

Telehealth services such as Roman, Hims, or Lemonaid often offer multiple-month subscription services for a discounted price and provide both brand name and generic.

First-time customer coupons and occasional special promotions are common on these online health sites.

Mass-market pharmacies like CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens also offer discounts and coupons you can find online.

A gap in insurance coverage doesn’t mean you should pay full price for ED drugs. Some patient assistance programs (PAPs) will help cover the cost of these medications. PAPs are mostly sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, though some are run by states and nonprofits.

While there’s no standard enrollment form, most PAPs ask you to prove the following:

  • You’re a permanent, legal resident of the United States or Puerto Rico.
  • You don’t have insurance, or your insurance doesn’t cover your medication.
  • You meet certain income eligibility requirements.

When should you consider using Viagra?

Viagra may be a good solution to treat ED in men of any age. You can consider using Viagra if you experience ED that affects your self-esteem or relationships, whether it’s an irregular issue or something that occurs frequently.

If using Viagra, take it about 1 hour before engaging in sexual activity.

Its effects can last about 4 hours.

Does Viagra always work?

Although Viagra is often effective as a treatment for ED, some people discover that Viagra never works for them, or gradually stops working after they’ve used it successfully.

The causes of ED are complex and can include mental and physical aspects. Erections happen from and are influenced by a complicated combination of:

  • physical mechanisms
  • sensations
  • your emotions

Viagra may not work for you if you have:

  • any malfunction of nerves
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • stress or relationship issues

Also, Viagra can lose its effectiveness over time because of changes in your body or in your health.

If that happens, you can try switching to another medication in the same drug class (PDE5 inhibitors).

Is Viagra covered by insurance?

Many insurance plans don’t cover brand-name Viagra, but some plans do cover the generic version, sildenafil.

Every health insurance company has different policies about which drugs it will cover and which ones it won’t. Your best bet is to call your insurance provider to verify which medications are covered and under what circumstances.

For instance, some large group plans under Blue Cross Blue Shield cover a portion of the cost of Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors. Cigna also seems to cover these medications under some of its plans.

Viagra is the most common prescription drug for treating ED, and it’s the first approved by the FDA.

While name-brand Viagra can be costly, the generic version, sildenafil, is also available from many manufacturers, and a much cheaper option.

Do your research before you buy, as many pharmacies and telehealth services offer competitive pricing.

Tracee M. Herbaugh is a writer and journalist in the Boston area. She writes about family, relationships, lifestyle, culture, and news. Her work can be seen in The Washington Post, Salon, The Week, The Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and more.