What is the blue pill (Viagra)?

‘The blue pill’ – or ‘the little blue pill’ – is the nickname given to the erectile dysfunction treatment Viagra, due to its appearance. Viagra is the most widely used of all erectile dysfunction treatments. Since its introduction in 1998, Viagra has helped millions of men with their erectile dysfunction and has been endorsed by numerous celebrities.

The iconic blue pill is recognised worldwide, making Viagra arguably the most famous medication in the world. Being a prescription-only medicine, you will need to consult a doctor in order to get Viagra. Through our discreet online consultation process, you can order Viagra through our service without having to speak to a doctor face-to-face.

How to take it

One of the main reasons behind Viagra’s popularity is how easy it is to use:

• Viagra is a blue pill that is swallowed orally.
• Take Viagra on an empty stomach at least one hour before sex.
• The effects of Viagra last between 4-6 hours – don’t take it too many hours before sex because the effects can wear off.  
• If you plan to use Viagra, do not drink more than a couple of units of alcohol since this can reduce its effectiveness.
• Never take more than one Viagra tablet at a time or in combination with any other erectile dysfunction medication.
• Don’t take Viagra more than once in a 24-hour period.

Guidelines on taking Viagra are below, but for more detailed information see our doctors’ article how long does Viagra take to work?  

How does the little blue pill work?

The Viagra pill contains an ingredient called sildenafil (Viagra is just the brand name). By relaxing the muscle cells in the penis, Viagra increases blood flow to the penis which helps achieve an erection. Taking the little blue pill has been shown to be effective in achieving an erection for 75% of men with erectile dysfunction. It should be noted that Viagra isn’t an aphrodisiac: it won’t help achieve an erection without sexual arousal. For more information see what is Viagra?  

Alternatives to Viagra

The blue pill isn’t the only erectile dysfunction treatment on the market. There are a number of different options to choose from: if one treatment doesn’t work for you, another might. An overview of popular treatments can be found in the table below. 

Levitra - Levitra comes as a round orange pill. It is similar to Viagra in length of effect but can be taken with meals, unlike Viagra.   

Cialis - An almond-shaped yellow pill, Cialis is the most expensive ED medication but also the longest lasting. Cialis remains active for up to 36 hours.

Sildenafil - Comes as a little blue pill, sometimes white. Sildenafil is the active ingredient of Viagra. Essentially, it is Viagra without the Viagra brand name and is thus significantly cheaper.  

Spedra - A pale yellow, oval pill, Spedra is the fastest acting of all ED treatments. It can take effect within fifteen minutes.

Kamagra - Kamagra generally comes as a little blue pill, although a more lurid blue than Viagra. It is said to contain sildenafil, the same active ingredient as Viagra. However, Kamagra is illegal to sell or purchase in the UK and it is highly unadvisable that you take it.

Table of comparison

Other treatments

Physical treatments for ED such as Vacuum Pumps or Constriction Rings can also be highly effective. Alternatively, counselling can be very beneficial for men whose ED is psychological. Counselling can be combined with ED medication to provide both a short and long-term solution to the problem.

References

www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/30907
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9472/pil#gref
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/13431/pil
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/7430/pil#gref