So, you’ve heard that you can get those little blue pills over the counter now? Well you’re kind of right. You can get Viagra over the counter without a doctor’s prescription. It’s called Viagra Connect.
But just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should. Don’t dismiss prescription ED meds, just because an over the counter version is available. Let’s get into it and you can see what works best for you.
Is there an over the counter Viagra?
Yes, there is. From when it was launched in 1998, up until 2018, Viagra was a prescription only medication. But as of April 2018, a new version of over the counter Viagra was released, called Viagra Connect.
Viagra Connect was released to try and stop men buying prescription Viagra illegally. It’s thought that by making Viagra easier to access, men would be more likely to seek treatment from appropriate healthcare sources and not try and buy it illicitly.
Buying Viagra online without a prescription, or on the street from drug dealers is illegal and dangerous. If you take Viagra without talking to a pharmacist or a doctor, you’ve not had the benefit of their medical advice, and you could be putting yourself at risk. Don’t put your health in jeopardy by buying Viagra illegally.
Viagra Connect is considered safe enough to be an OTC mediation and has been classified by the MHRA as a pharmacy medicine (PMED), which means you don’t need a prescription to buy it. You can walk into a local pharmacy, a high-street pharmacy, or a supermarket pharmacy, and buy it there and then. You will need to have a quick consultation with a pharmacist though.
What is Viagra Connect?
Viagra Connect contains the same active ingredient as Viagra, called sildenafil citrate, and it works in the same way to treat erectile dysfunction – by increasing the flow of blood to your penis to make it easier for you to get and keep an erection.
You take Viagra Connect in the same way as Viagra too, as a pill you swallow before you have sex. The pills even look the same – Viagra Connect pills are the same diamond shape and shade of blue we all associate with prescription Viagra.
Viagra vs Viagra Connect – are there any differences?
Although Viagra Connect and Viagra are the same medication, there is one key difference. You can only buy Viagra Connect in one strength (50 mg) whereas you can buy Viagra as 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg pills.
When Viagra is prescribed, the typical starting dose is one 50 mg pill, although doctors can start you on a different dose if they think it’s more appropriate. If this dose is too strong, it can be lowered to 25 mg, or if it’s not strong enough, it can be raised to 100 mg. This means you have more flexibility with prescription Viagra than over the counter Viagra Connect.
Does Viagra Connect work as well as Viagra?
Yes. There’s no difference between the chemical formula of Viagra and Viagra Connect. A 50 mg Viagra Connect pill will have the same effect on your body as a 50 mg prescription Viagra pill.
Is Viagra Connect safe?
As Viagra Connect is chemically the same as prescription Viagra, it’s just as safe as Viagra. For most men, Viagra is safe to use, but like any medicine, it can cause side effects. Viagra Connect should cause the same side effects as Viagra, with the most common being headaches, feeling sick, facial flushing, a stuffy nose, dizziness, and visual disturbances like blurring and a blue tinge to your vision.
How do you buy Viagra over the counter?
You can buy Viagra Connect online from internet pharmacies as well as over the counter in person. Before you can buy it, you’ll need to have a consultation with a licensed pharmacist though.
If you buy Viagra Connect from a pharmacy in person, you’ll be asked a list of standard questions by the pharmacist about your health and other medications you’re taking. You’ll also be given some advice about Viagra Connect.
The consultation makes sure Viagra Connect is suitable for you, that you don’t have any conditions that put you at risk, or that you’re not taking any medications that can interact with Viagra Connect. Lots of pharmacies have private areas where you can have this consultation.
If you buy Viagra Connect from an online pharmacy, you’ll be asked to complete an online consultation with the same questions and advice as the face-to-face consultation.
What is the best over the counter erectile dysfunction pill?
Viagra Connect is the only erectile dysfunction medication you can buy over the counter. The UK is actually the first country in the world to offer an over the counter version of Viagra. Of course, there are other ED meds available, but you will need a prescription to use these.
Which version of Viagra is right for me?
If you want to try Viagra you’ve got three options:
- Prescription Viagra
- Viagra Connect
- Sildenafil (generic Viagra)
You’ll notice you have a third option here. Sildenafil, sometimes called generic Viagra, is the unbranded version of Viagra. It contains the same active ingredient as Viagra at the same strengths, works in the same way, and is equally as safe and effective as Viagra. You need a prescription to buy sildenafil, but as it’s the unbranded version of Viagra, it’s usually much cheaper. If you want value for money, then sildenafil can deliver the same benefits as Viagra and Viagra Connect, but at a lower price.
So which one is right for you? We’ve put together a handy table to show the differences between each medication:
| Prescription Viagra | Sildenafil | Viagra Connect | |
| Active ingredient | sildenafil citrate | sildenafil citrate | sildenafil citrate |
| Available strengths | 25mg, 50mg, 100mg | 25mg, 50mg, 100mg | 50mg |
| Pack sizes (number of pills per pack) | 4, 8, 16 | 4, 8, 16 | 4, 8, 12, 16, 28 |
| Prescription or pharmacy consultation | Prescription | Prescription | Pharmacy consultation |
| Available to buy online | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| When to take | 30 to 60 minutes before you have sex | 30 to 60 minutes before you have sex | 30 to 60 minutes before you have sex |
When it comes to the convenience of securing your ED meds, you can buy prescription sildenafil directly FROM MARS. We have a team of doctors who can review your situation and medical history and issue treatment plans. Why not start your online consultation right now?
