Men in the UK will soon be able to buy Viagra over the counter for the first time after the erectile dysfunction drug was reclassified.
Those aged 18 and over will no longer need to see a GP for a prescription after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that it is changing the status of Viagra Connect tablets so they can be sold in pharmacies following a conversation with a pharmacist.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer said it is working on plans to launch the non-prescription version of the medicine in the UK in the spring of 2018. A four-pack of the sildenafil tablets will cost around £19.99 and an eight-pack £34.99. Men who buy it will be advised that they can take a 50 mg tablet an hour before having sex, but should not use more than one pill a day. Sildenafil is already available on NHS prescription free of charge.
The decision to reclassify the drug follows a public consultation, the MHRA said. Pharmacists will be able to determine whether treatment is appropriate for the patient and can give advice on erectile dysfunction, usage of the medicine, potential side effects and assess if further consultation with a general practitioner is required.
“The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.”
Mick Foy, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
But some men, including those with severe heart problems, those at high risk of heart problems, liver failure, kidney failure or those taking certain “interacting medicines”, will still need to be prescribed the drug under the supervision of a doctor.
It is hoped that making the drug more widely available will mean than men who may have not previously sought help will be more likely to do so. Health officials also hope the move will also help steer people away from buying drugs websites operating illegally.
The MHRA said that erectile dysfunction medicines are a “popular target” for criminals selling unlicensed and counterfeit medicines, over the past five years the Agency has seized more than £50m of unlicensed and counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines.
“This decision is good news for men’s health,” said Mick Foy, MHRA’s group manager in vigilance and risk management of medicines. “The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.
“Erectile dysfunction can be a debilitating condition, so it’s important men feel they have fast access to quality and legitimate care, and do not feel they need to turn to counterfeit online supplies which could have potentially serious side effects.”
Dr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director at Pfizer, said: “The availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies from next year will offer men who are eligible for the product a new and convenient way to access sildenafil, a commonly prescribed treatment for erectile dysfunction.
“We understand some men may avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, so we believe giving them the option to talk to a pharmacist and buy Viagra Connect could be a real step forward in encouraging more men into the healthcare system.
“As erectile dysfunction may be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, there could also be a wider benefit to public health in the long term. We hope that this forthcoming new opportunity to purchase a genuine treatment via pharmacy will also reduce the likelihood of men turning to potentially ineffective and dangerous counterfeits from illicit sources.”
Next steps are expected be offered to 1 in 10 men who suffer from erectile dysfunction, but are unable to get their prescribed drug on their own, the drugs and other medications supply chains continue tohusband the problem.More than 50,000 men have been prescribed Viagra sinceMHRA’s decision to reclassify erectile dysfunction drugsThe move by MHRA to reclassify Viagra Connect was believed to help men with severe heart problems who are unable to get or eat food, and those with severe liver problems.
Dr Berkeley Phillips, MHRA’s group vice president of medical research, said that men who used or were close to taking illegal drugs were more likely to beato they to be arrested for engaging in other’ activity and to suffer from depression.
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Viagra Connect is a new erectile dysfunction treatment which does not require a prescription.
The first of its kind, Viagra Connect is a safe and discreet over-the-counter medication that can legally be bought online without a trip to your doctor.
We need to ensure that this medicine is suitable for the person it is intended for. Therefore, it should only be purchased by the person taking it.
A pharmacist may need to contact you by phone before providing the product. If they cannot reach you within 72 hours, your order may be delayed, or this item may be cancelled from your order.
Please ensure your contact details are correct before ordering this medicine.Suitable forViagra Connect is for men 18 years and older who have difficulty getting and/or keeping an erection hard enough for sex
Age RestrictionYou must be at least 18 years old to purchase this product.
Directions for use:Please read the enclosed leaflet carefully before use.
• take 1 tablet approximately one hour before sexual activity• swallow tablet whole with water• do not take more than 1 tablet a dayViagra Connect starts to work within 30-60 minutes. You may take it up to 4 hours before sexual activity.
Hazards and Cautions
Do NOT take if you:
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking if you:
As with all medicines, please ensure you read the patient information leaflet before taking this item.
Please note that the total time it takes to get an erection is up to one hour. If you want to get the most out of your sexual activity, do not take more than one tablet a day therefore, take it approximately one hour before you plan to have sex.As with all medicines, Viagra Connect is not intended for use by women. Please consult your doctor before taking this item. If you are allergic to it, or if we are having sexual activity, please avoid the use of Viagra Connect.As with all medicines, Viagra Connect is not intended for people with a medical diagnosis of a specific type. If you want to get the most out of your sexual activity, do not take more than one tablet a day.The following picture has been built into the Viagra Connect product: Product DescriptionThe product for Viagra Connect is designed to help men get or keep an erection if they have low blood pressure. It is not intended for use by women. Please consult your doctor or pharmacist for guidance on its use. It is not designed to be used by women.
Viagra Connect product. product............................................................................................Last updated 18 February 2022
Both Viagra and sildenafil are widely used to treat erectile dysfunction. In fact, they contain the same active ingredient. Viagra is a brand name for the sildenafil produced and sold by the company Pfizer. Sildenafil is also sold as a generic drug, which is medically identical to Viagra.
Sildenafil citrate was Albert Wood and Peter Dunn as a possible treatment for hypertension and angina; conditions associated with coronary heart disease. In 1991 Dr. Nicholas Terrett, now often referred to as the father of Viagra, was named in the British patent for the drug as a heart medication. And though Pfizer’s early trials of the drug in the 1990s did not prove its efficacy as a heart medication, patients who took part in the clinical trials reported increased erections after taking sildenafil. Separate studies provided more information on the biochemical process that causes erections, which helped scientists understand how sildenafil could enhance the effects of sexual stimulation and open up blood vessels in the penis. Sildenafil was then studied in men with erectile dysfunction, and in 1998 it was approved by the FDA specifically for treatment of ED and branded as Viagra.
When for the drug in June 2013 it made way for generic manufacturers to produce sildenafil, or ‘generic Viagra’. It costs a fraction of the price of Viagra, and has made the treatment more accessible to a wider range of patients. You can now choose to buy, Pfizer’s branded drug, or, the generic version.
Branded Viagra comes in small diamond-shaped blue pills – Pfizer has also patented this pill design and appearance. Sildenafil is sold as white or blue tablets, with different characteristics depending on the brand. Some have chalky finishes while others are smooth, and some are scored for easy division, while others are not. Both Viagra and the different can be purchased in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg preparations, and there is no significant difference between them in terms of active ingredients.
Viagra tablets compared to sildenafil tablets. Sildenafil tablets can come in many shapes, colours, and sizes – see.As a generic medicine, sildenafil is produced by a number of manufacturers, and competition among them helps to regulate its price and keep it affordable for consumers. Branded Viagra is only produced by Pfizer, whose name recognition and customer loyalty allow it to charge a higher price for its renowned ‘little blue pills’.
Viagra and sildenafil are medically the same. It is a requirement for the generic version to contain the same levels of the active ingredient in the body as its branded alternative, which is known as. Before generic drugs are licenced for sale the manufacturer must demonstrate bioequivalence to the licensing authorities (the ).
If you have a private prescription for Viagra, the branded drugmustbe dispensed; but you may ask for sildenafil at the time that the prescription is made. They are considered equally effective, however patients must follow proper protocol for optimum results. Also note that if the condition does not respond to the initial dose of Viagra or generic sildenafil, a higher dose may be required (after several unsuccessful attempts).
Packaging differences: Viagra 100mg tablets and Mylan sildenafil 100mg tablets. Sildenafil 100mg tablets can be purchased in various strengths, from 25mg to 100mg.There are several ways to choose the best brand, such as ‘the blue one’, “the white one”, or "the field one”. See Viagra as a wholeand in particular how they compare to other brands forperciryhow many options are there for sildenafil
All available brand name drugs are sold in identical packaging. This makes it easier for patients toinformed patients that’s who they are and that sildenafil prices. There are several signs to look for in the packaging.