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How can I get Viagra and other ED drugs?

ED drugs have become increasingly available and more widely accessible. This allows more men to get the treatment they need when they encounter erectile dysfunction problems.

However, the issue is still a sensitive one for many and so online options can provide a discreet way to seek help without having to attend a face-to-face appointment.

In the UK, you can get ED medication privately, online or in person on the high street, and the NHS also prescribes generic Viagra. On this page, we’ll discuss the various ways you can get ED drugs and treatment.

Medically reviewed by

Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead
Written by Adam Gilmour . - Last updated August 02, 2022

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Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on August 02, 2022.

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Where to buy Viagra

Despite an ever-increasing range of ED treatments on the offering, Viagra still reigns supreme in its popularity. This, naturally, tends to make it one of the easiest products to get hold of. So if you’re looking to get Viagra, you’ve got plenty of options.

Currently, in the UK, you can get Viagra:

In person, from most high street pharmacies and large supermarkets (in the form of Viagra Connect – a 50mg dose)
From the NHS, in the form of sildenafil – the generic (unbranded) form of Viagra
Online, from registered pharmacies after a consultation with them.

How can I get Viagra in person?

If you want to get Viagra in person at a local pharmacy, you’ll first need to have an appointment with a doctor. During your consultation the doctor will be able to assess your condition and decide what ED treatment will be suitable for you. Once they write a prescription for your ED treatment you’ll be able to choose a pharmacy where you can pick up your medication in person.

If you want erectile dysfunction treatment over the counter in person, you’ll need to opt for Viagra Connect, which is a pharmacy-line medication that can be issued without a prescription.

You’ll still need to answer some questions about your health and symptoms to make sure it’s suitable. Generic Viagra, known as Sildenafil, is also available as a pharmacy medication in 50mg doses only.

Do you need a prescription to get Viagra over the counter?

You can now find Viagra over the counter (OTC) in high street pharmacies, which wasn’t possible before. However, there is a condition – the only way to get hold of Viagra over-the-counter is to go for Viagra Connect. This product doesn’t require a prescription.

As mentioned, you’ll still need to answer a few questions with a pharmacist. But once you’ve answered a Viagra Connect questionnaire, and the pharmacist agrees that this treatment could help you, then they’ll be able to sell it to you without a prescription.

Viagra Connect contains the same active ingredient, sildenafil, as the median dose of Viagra (50mg). You can also choose to go for Sildenafil 50mg as a pharmacy medication. So, in a sense, you can buy Viagra over the counter in the UK – it’s just called Viagra Connect and is issued as a pharmacy (P) medicine.

Typically, you should be able to walk into a high street pharmacy and talk to a pharmacist or prescriber immediately about ED medications. On occasion they may ask you to book a consultation where you come back and talk about your health and symptoms. Pharmacists are trained to do this, so you should feel comfortable having a short chat with them about your ED.

Your pharmacist can offer Viagra Connect or Sildenafil 50mg, if they think it will benefit you. These two OTC options provide a direct opportunity to pick up ED medication without the need for a doctor’s appointment.

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Getting Viagra from Boots, Superdrug, Lloyds or other high street chemists

High street chemists and pharmacies, including Boots, Superdrug and Lloyds, all stock ED medication. It’s become so widely accessible, in fact, that if you were to Google ‘Viagra near me’ you’d likely find a pharmacy close to you that stocks it.

However, if you wanted to get your Viagra in Boots, or any other popular ED medication like Cialis, you wouldn’t be able to unless you’d been issued a prescription by a doctor.

You’re also less likely to be issued an NHS prescription for branded erectile dysfunction treatments such as Cialis, Levitra or Viagra. If you wanted a prescription for any of these drugs, you might have to seek one out privately.

Generic ED treatments like Sildenafil, Tadalafil and Vardenafil are more likely to be issued as NHS prescriptions. The price you pay will be the standard NHS levy, which is currently fixed at £9.35.

This means if you wanted to buy Cialis in Superdrug, or Viagra in Lloyds, you would likely need a private prescription to do so.

Getting Viagra from Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s or Holland & Barrett

Several major supermarket chains now offer pharmacy services in their stores. This means you could, in theory, buy Viagra over the counter at Sainsbury’s, ASDA and Tesco. But in reality the process for doing so is the same as at a high street pharmacy.

Holland and Barrett is a chain that sells health foods and supplements, it’s not a pharmacy registered to provide medication. Because of this, you can’t get Viagra or any other regulated ED medication from Holland and Barrett.

However, you may be able to get natural supplements which are anecdotally used to treat ED and libido. This includes a number of plant and root-based treatments, but the evidence to suggest they work is slim.

Getting ED drugs with the NHS

You can talk about erectile dysfunction with doctors within the NHS, namely via a GP appointment. NHS GPs can prescribe certain ED drugs including Sildenafil. You cannot get Viagra on the NHS, but you can get Sildenafil. In fact, Sildenafil is the most commonly prescribed ED drug the NHS offers.

NHS GPs can also offer private prescriptions, meaning you’d have to pay full price for your treatment. Prices will vary, but the price of four Sildenafil pills typically costs around £20.

What does the process involve?

A doctor will ask you some questions about your health and symptoms, and look at your medical history to make sure ED drugs are suitable, and then may offer an NHS prescription.

If you’re offered an NHS prescription for something like Sildenafil, you’ll then need to take it to a pharmacy where they’ll be able to dispense your treatment. Your doctor may ask you to come back for a check up to see how you’ve responded to ED medication.

Where can you get your ED treatment online?

Lots of ED treatments are available online from a number of regulated pharmacies, like us here at Treated. It’s important to ensure you source ED medication safely from a licensed provider.

If you’re getting your treatment online in the UK, sellers need to be registered as a pharmacy with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Some online retailers, particularly Amazon, are continually expanding their product lines and services. The Amazon Pharmacy trademark was granted registered status in the UK in December 2020 following its initial application, which was submitted on 9 January 2020.’

At the time of writing, Amazon Pharmacy currently sells a number of general sales list pharmacy items on their website – this includes a lot of treatments you might expect to see on the shelves in your local high street pharmacy. However, currently, they don’t sell pharmacy medicines (P) and you cannot renew prescriptions online with Amazon. It’s likely that as time goes on, Amazon may incorporate prescription medicines into their pharmacy services, but this is not the case at the time of writing.

Online store Ebay is not a registered pharmacy, though it is possible to get general sales list items, like cough syrups, painkillers and supplements, just to name a few. But you cannot buy pharmacy medicines, renew prescriptions or purchase ED medication using their services.

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Getting Viagra from online pharmacies

Online pharmacies have become more common, accessible and better regulated in recent years. Legitimate online pharmacies are registered with the GPhC, work with qualified prescribing staff and ensure medication is only issued where appropriate.

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What does the process involve?

Firstly, you can expect to take some form of online consultation for ED. This might be a phone or video call, but more typically comes as an online questionnaire. You’ll be asked about your general health and ED symptoms, as well as any health conditions you may suffer with or medicines you take.

Once the ED questionnaire is complete, it’ll be reviewed by a healthcare professional who is registered to prescribe. You can check the status of independent prescribers on the GPhC website.

If the prescriber thinks ED treatment is safe and suitable, they may recommend treatment and write an e-prescription. The pharmacy will then dispense your medication and it’ll be shipped directly to you.

Buying ED drugs safely online

When you buy Viagra online in the UK, it’s important to ensure you’re doing it safely and within the law.

Though laws have adapted to better regulate the internet, and what you can purchase online, it’s still possible to buy potentially dangerous treatments for ED. To ensure you’re buying safely, and what you’re getting is the real deal, there are some checks you can perform:

Registered pharmacy – online GPhC registered pharmacies can sell pharmacy medication. They should display a green GPhC badge on their site, usually at the bottom, with a unique registration number.

Registered prescribers – you can only buy prescription ED drugs online if you have a pre-existing prescription from your GP. Or the online seller works with healthcare professionals, who are registered as prescribers, to carry out online consultations. In the UK doctors need to be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).
Regulated by the Care and Quality Commission (CQC) – make sure any online pharmacy you choose is registered with the CQC. This regulatory body provides ratings and scores based on how well a pharmacy is operating.
Check that the information is accurate – legitimate online pharmacies and treatment providers will want to provide you with accurate information that is sourced well. It might be worth double checking the information on a reputable health source like the NHS.
Be wary if you’re on a website that offers discounts – ‘buy one get one free’ offers, phrases like ‘buy Viagra online cheap’ or otherwise illicit sales tactics to try and coax you into parting with your money could be a sign that they are not a legitimate seller.
If in doubt, check with your local clinician – if you’re ever unsure about anything online remember you can always speak to your own GP or pharmacist instead.

Talk to us about ED treatment

You can also get Sildenafil and Viagra online right here at Treated. We’re registered with the GPhC, regulated by the CQC and we only employ registered prescribers for you to consult with.
Our experts are on hand to guide you through getting your ED treatment. Answer some basic questions about your health and symptoms, which we’ll then review. You can subscribe to the best ED medication plan to suit you, which is inclusive of regular delivery and unlimited access to our medical team.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on August 02, 2022. Next review due on August 01, 2024.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.