Viagra Connect vs Viagra vs Sildenafil: What's the difference?

Reviewed by our clinical team

The main difference between Viagra, Sildenafil and Viagra Connect is that Viagra Connect is available to buy over the counter without a prescription. Viagra and Sildenafil are only available with a prescription. These male impotence treatments contain the same active ingredient sildenafil citrate.

If you’re already using Viagra or another ED tablet, you may be curious about Viagra Connect and how it compares to other treatments. To make the association between various ED tablets clearer, we’ve put together a guide to the differences and similarities between Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil.

What is the active ingredient in Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil?

Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil all contain the same active ingredient: sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil citrate is a chemical that temporarily increases blood flow to the penis, enabling an erection when sexually aroused.

Because all three treatments contain sildenafil citrate as their active ingredient, they all work in exactly the same way.

How do Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil work?

Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil are erectile dysfunction treatments that work within your body to help you achieve and maintain an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse.

The treatment allows the blood vessels within the body to expand and relax, causing blood to flow to the penis, resulting in an erection. These treatments can only help men achieve an erection if they are aroused or sexually stimulated, it will not work without one of these factors. 

Who can take ED medication?

To take any of these three tablets you must be a man who is experiencing erectile dysfunction, and you must be able to take sildenafil citrate safely. Men with a history of certain conditions such as liver failure, or those who are taking certain medications such as nitrates will not be able to take sildenafil citrate.

Viagra Connect will only be sold over the counter to men over the age of 18. Women cannot obtain ED treatments.

We offer a range of ED treatments and provide a confidential online service, with no need for a face-to-face appointment. After your assessment, you’ll receive a personalised treatment recommendation.  

What is the dosage for Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil?

The dosage of a medicine determines how much of the active ingredient it contains. The dosage that’s right for you depends on your own needs. The higher the dosage, the stronger its effects. Viagra and Sildenafil are available in three dosages:  

• 25mg
• 50mg 
• 100mg

Viagra Connect will only be available in one dosage: 

• 50mg

50mg is the most popular dosage for Viagra, and most men who use this dosage find it to be very effective. If you are currently taking a higher or lower dosage of Viagra or Sildenafil, you should talk to your doctor before switching over to the Viagra Connect. 

What is the pack size for these 3 medications?

ED treatments are available in a number of pack sizes. Not all pharmacies or online doctor services will have all of these sizes. Viagra Connect is available in pack sizes of 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 tablets. Viagra and Sildenafil come in pack sizes of 4, 8 and 16 tablets.  

How do you take Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil?

Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil should all be taken in exactly the same way. To take your medication correctly you should:

• Take one tablet one hour before you plan to have sex
• Avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking alcohol before or after taking your tablet
• Avoid drinking grapefruit juice as this can interact negatively with the medicine
• Become sexually aroused (if you are not aroused you will not achieve an erection)

The effects of Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil typically last for at least four hours. During this time, you should be able to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for sex whenever you become sexually aroused. 

Who is the manufacturer of Viagra medications?

Pfizer is the manufacturer of Viagra and Viagra Connect. This company first developed sildenafil citrate as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, branding the medicine as Viagra.

When the patent expired on Viagra, other manufacturers were able to develop their version of Viagra; these medicines are referred to as generic Viagra and are usually labelled as Sildenafil. To be considered a legitimate generic version of Viagra, a medicine must contain exactly the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) in the same dosage.

Various types of Sildenafil are available from different manufacturers.

What do the ED tablets look like? 

Viagra and Viagra Connect look the same. The tablets are blue which is why they’re referred to as “the blue pill”. They’re diamond-shaped, on one side they say PFIZER and on the other side they will display either V50 if using Viagra connect 50mg or VGR followed by either 25/50/100 if using Viagra 25mg/50mg/100mg. 

Sildenafil tablets will look different depending upon which manufacturers they have been made by. They are often blue and will usually indicate the dosage on one side. 

What are the side effects of ED tablets

Because Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil all contain the same active ingredient, they are all associated with the same side effects. These side effects are typically mild and can include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Facial flushing
• Pounding headache
• Nasal congestion
• Indigestion
• Blurred vision

Higher dosages of sildenafil citrate may cause stronger side effects, so if you are experiencing any issues, you may want to talk to your GP about switching to a different dosage.

How do Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil compare to other ED tablets? 

Though Viagra Connect will make it easier for men to get ED treatment, it won’t necessarily be the best treatment for all men. Along with different dosages of Viagra, other ED tablets to consider are Cialis, Spedra, and Levitra.

Cialis and its generic equivalent Tadalafil are notable for their long window of effectiveness. After taking one tablet you can expect the effects to last up to 36 hours (about 1 and a half days). This means that during this period you should be able to get an erection whenever you become sexually aroused.

Spedra is notable for being particularly fast acting, while Levitra is the tablet most commonly recommended for men with diabetes. Cialis Daily is an excellent option for men having regular sex; this tablet is taken every day in a low dosage.

Which ED treatment is the best and how can I choose the right one?

There is no easy answer as to which ED treatment is best. This is because some men might find one treatment works for them, some men might find that another treatment is a better option.

If you’re not sure which ED treatment is right for you, you might benefit from taking our online consultation. The answers you give our clinicians in this consultation will help them prescribe the most appropriate treatment, if needed. 

How much do ED treatments cost?

The price of ED treatments varies depending on if it’s a generic or branded treatment (such as Sildenafil or Viagra), pack size and the type of treatment you’re requesting. You can find out more about the pricing of ED treatments here.

If you’re interested in trying out a few different ED tablets, visit our clinic to check out our ED Combo Pack. You can also compare the various treatments available here.​​​​​​​

References
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7124/pil#gref
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7430/pil#gref
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/1072/pil#gref