Viagra is a small, blue, easy-to-swallow tablet for erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, works by loosening blood vessels and helping blood flow more easily to the penis. It’s a tablet you take on demand, and starts to work in 30-60 minutes. One Viagra pill lasts for up to four hours (giving you a sizable window so you don’t need to rush things).
Viagra tablets are known for their distinctive blue, diamond-shaped look.
Is there a generic Viagra?
Yes. There is a non-branded version of Viagra called Sildenafil. So what does this mean? One company makes and markets Viagra exclusively, but lots of different companies make Sildenafil.
When Pfizer launched Viagra, they gave the tablets a unique appearance: the famous blue diamond-shaped pill. Sildenafil pills don’t have a distinctive look, and can often just be a more conventional white, round tablet.
But don’t let the less exciting exterior fool you. Sildenafil, or generic Viagra, comes in the same doses as Viagra and works in exactly the same way. The key difference is the price: Viagra costs more than Sildenafil because it’s a branded name.
We carry both versions, Sildenafil and Viagra, so you can choose the Viagra option that’s best for your budget.
How can I buy Viagra online?
It isn’t easy knowing where to start with ED. But together, we can help you find the right treatment. Take our consultation to get started. It only takes a few minutes, and helps our expert clinician get to know you a little better. They’ll suggest some treatments they think can work for you, and you’ll get to choose the one you prefer. You’ll get your first package in a neat, discreet little parcel, the very next day.
We know you’re different to anyone else, and what you expect out of a treatment is too. So you can choose how much treatment you need, and how often you want it delivered. If you need to change something, you’ve got the option to do this any time with the press of a button.
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How to take Viagra
To get the most out of Viagra:
take it one hour before you plan to have sex;
swallow one Viagra tablet whole with a glass of water (that’s right, no chewing);
try not to eat a heavy meal at the same time as taking Viagra, because it might slow the drug down;
never take more than one tablet in any 24 hour period.
You need to be sexually stimulated for Viagra to work.
How long does Viagra last?
How long Viagra lasts for depends on who’s taking it. For most men, it stays active in the body for four hours after taking it but some research has found it can be active up to 12 hours later. This doesn’t mean you should expect a constant erection the whole time - but it should ‘activate’ and cause an erection when you’re sexually stimulated inside this four hour window.
(Just a note: if you do get a constant erection that lasts more than four hours, you should go straight to hospital.)
Which Viagra dosage works best?
There are three Viagra dosages - 25mg, 50mg and 100mg - and the one that works best depends on a few things like whether you’ve taken it before, or whether you’ve got any underlying illnesses. If you’re taking Viagra for the first time, you’ll normally be advised to take either the 25mg or the 50mg dose and see how that goes. For safety, a doctor or pharmacist will always recommend the lowest dose that works for you.
If you’ve got a medical condition that means your risk of side effects is higher, or if you’re taking certain high blood pressure meds, a doctor may start you on Viagra 25mg. If you’re otherwise healthy, you’ll start on Viagra 50mg. You’ll only be recommended the 100mg dose of Viagra if you’ve tried 50mg and it hasn’t worked quite well enough.
We know that finding the right dose can take time. Our experts are just a button press away. So if you feel like your dose isn’t right, you can discuss other options and switch to one you’re happy with.
Say Viagra doesn’t work. What then?
Viagra usually works on the first or second try. But if it doesn’t, there are plenty of other options for you. So let our prescriber know. You can discuss changing to a higher dose or a different drug. You can do this any time by logging into your account and dropping us a message.
We know it’s tempting, but don’t up the dose yourself. If you do, there’s a higher chance you’ll get side effects.
There are things you can do to make sure Viagra works at it’s best, including:
not drinking too much alcohol;
not eating a heavy meal at the same time as taking it;
getting plenty of exercise and having a healthy lifestyle.
It’s important to know that Viagra won’t work if you aren’t sexually aroused. Even though it can help you have better erections, it isn’t an aphrodisiac.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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FAQ: Viagra
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
What does Viagra do?
Answer:
In short, the drug in Viagra, Sildenafil, dilates blood vessels at the entrance to the penis. This helps blood flow into your penis more easily, and helps you get firmer erections that last for longer.
Okay, so a bit of background on erections. When a man gets aroused, the brain sends signals to the body that tell vessels supplying the penis to open up. This lets blood through into the penis, and fills up a stretch of tissue called the corpus cavernosum. It’s a bit like a sponge, and when blood flows into it, it gets full and stiffens up - and this is what gives you an erection. At the same time, the brain tells other vessels near the penis to tighten up, to keep blood in this sponge tissue - and this is what makes an erection last.
When men get ED, it’s because blood can’t flow into the penis. This can be because the signals telling blood vessels to open up aren’t working very well, or because there’s a circulation problem stopping blood moving around the body properly.
Sildenafil is called a PDE5 inhibitor because it blocks an enzyme (PDE5) that tightens up blood vessels. By stopping this enzyme, the drug allows better blood flow into the penis, meaning better erections.
How effective is Viagra?
Answer:
It changes depending on the dose. In clinical trials:
62% of men using the 25mg dose of Viagra reported better erections;
74% of men taking the 50mg dose said they had better erections;
and 82% of men using the 100mg dose reported improved erections.
This doesn’t mean that you should take 100mg straight away. Yes it’s stronger, but it isn’t guaranteed to work better, and is more likely to give you side effects. When you and a clinician are choosing a dose, you should go for the lowest dose that you think will work.
If you take Viagra and it doesn’t work as well as you expected it to, tell us. Our expert can discuss other doses or treatments that could work better for you, and you can switch any time.
Viagra and alcohol: what are the rules?
Answer:
Having just one or two alcoholic drinks when taking Viagra probably won’t make much of a difference. Larger amounts of alcohol are a different story. Drinking too much can make it more difficult to get an erection, and if you do this at the same time as taking Viagra there’s a good chance that it won’t work as well. So it’s a good idea to keep any drinking you do sensible.
Can you buy Viagra over the counter?
Answer:
Not at the moment. There is a version of Viagra you can get without a prescription in the UK, called Viagra Connect. It’s the same drug as the 50mg dose of Viagra but with different packaging. Viagra Connect isn’t strictly an over-the-counter version of Viagra, because you can’t just pick it up off the shelf in a store and take it to the checkout. You’ll still need to have a consultation with a pharmacist so they can check it’s right for you.
Other doses of Viagra and Sildenafil - 25mg and 100mg - are prescription only. You’ll need to consult with a clinician or pharmacist prescriber before you can get them.
What’s Viagra Connect?
Answer:
Viagra Connect is a repackaged version of Viagra. It’s made by the same company that makes Viagra and only comes in one dose: 50mg. Clinically speaking it’s the same drug. The main difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect is that you don’t need a prescription for Viagra Connect. It’s a pharmacy medicine, so a pharmacist can sell it to you after doing some checks to make sure it’s safe.
How safe is Viagra?
Answer:
Viagra is generally thought to be low risk. Some men get side effects from using Viagra, but most of the time these are mild and disappear after a couple of uses. Headache is the most common, and stuffy nose and facial flushing are quite common too.
Some men are okay with these side effects, and find signs like facial flushing reassuring because it helps them to know the drug is working. Taking paracetamol and drinking plenty of water can help with a headache if Viagra otherwise works fine.
More harmful side effects tend to be uncommon or rare. But it’s important to know what these look like so you can get help if you need to. So make sure you read the leaflet.
It’s not as safe if you take it at the same time as using recreational drugs like poppers, and you shouldn’t use Viagra if you’re taking a type of medication called nitrates. Again, read the leaflet, and tell us about any medication you’re taking.
We know things can change. So if you’re subscribed to ED treatment and start any new medications or your health changes, tell us. Our experts can discuss options with you, and adjust your treatment to fit around you.
Is Sildenafil just a cheaper version of Viagra?
Answer:
Sildenafil is the generic name for Viagra. Because it’s a non-branded medication it’s usually a lower price. There isn’t really much difference between Sildenafil and Viagra other than the way the pills look, the packaging they come in, the non-active ingredients used to make them, and how much they cost. With Viagra, you get the iconic blue diamond-shaped pill and the brand-name box. With Sildenafil, you’re more likely to get a standard round, white pill and the box might be slightly less exciting. But because they’re bioequivalents of each other, they both work in the same way in the body.
This means that Sildenafil won’t be any more or less effective than Viagra. But plenty of men still go for Viagra because they like to use the name brand.
So in answer to the question: is Sildenafil just a cheaper version of Viagra? Yes, usually.
With Treated you’ve got the option of both Viagra or Sildenafil when selecting an ED treatment.
Is Viagra the best tablet for ED?
Answer:
Not always. Viagra is the most recognisable and well-known ED tablet. But there are alternatives to Viagra for men who find that it doesn’t work well. Cialis (Tadalafil) is a tablet that does the same job but works for up to 36 hours, Spedra (Avanafil) has a faster average response time of 15 minutes, and Levitra (Vardenafil) is a more potent drug and is thought to be less likely to cause side effects.
None of these tablets are officially hailed as the undisputed ‘best’ but Viagra and Sildenafil are the first port of call for men with ED because they’re the most widely available (and the generic version of Sildenafil is cheap).
We carry all four so you’ve got plenty of options if you try one and it doesn’t work.
What do I need to know when buying Viagra online?
Answer:
Viagra, Sildenafil and all other ED tablets apart from Viagra Connect are prescription only medicines in the UK (Viagra Connect is a pharmacy medicine). They can’t be offered by any seller that isn’t a licensed pharmacy, and when pharmacies do offer these treatments, they need to do checks (consultations) to make sure they’re safe. So before you buy Viagra online, always make sure that the site you’re using is registered with the GPhC (General Pharmaceutical Council) and that they’re using licensed practitioners.
When you consult about Viagra or ED treatment online, tell us about any health conditions you have or any other medications you’re using. This will help our experts to find a treatment that’s safe for you.
Can women take Viagra?
Answer:
This may seem like stating the obvious, but Viagra is a tablet for erectile dysfunction, so it won’t do anything for you if you don’t have a penis. There is a drug called Addyi (flibanserin) which is nicknamed ‘pink Viagra’ or ‘female Viagra’ because it treats low libido in women (hypoactive sexual desire disorder). But this drug is in no way similar to sildenafil and works in a completely different way.
Viagra should never be taken by women or anyone who doesn’t have erectile dysfunction.
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.
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