What are the dangers of counterfeit Viagra?

Reviewed by Dr Bhavini Shah

If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction, you may be worried about talking to your GP about treatment. Opting for treatments online is a safe option if you’re buying from a reputable source.

In this article we’ll explain what to look for when getting Viagra, the risks if you take fake Viagra and how you can safely get real Viagra.  

What is fake Viagra?

Viagra is an erectile dysfunction treatment that helps men get and keep erections. It’s the most well-known and popular, which means fake versions are often created to profit from its success.

Counterfeit Viagra (the blue pill) may be easier to get than ever before and cheaper. The circulation of counterfeit Viagra has received a massive boost from internet sales, and it is estimated that nearly 80% of Viagra bought online is fake. Alongside ‘miracle’ supplements, fake Viagra pills can be bought online for as little as £2.

According to the MHRA, in 2023 illegal medicines worth more than £30 million were seized in the UK. But these illegal medicines have not been through rigorous safety testing like their licensed counterparts. And so are dangerous to take, as they don’t always contain safe ingredients.

What’s in fake Viagra?

Being completely unregulated, there is no way of knowing how fake Viagra is produced, or indeed what the drugs contain. The locations in which the drugs are made are often unhygienic and may expose the drugs to toxic chemicals.

Fake Viagra pills themselves can be laden with toxic ingredients. Lab-tested fake Viagra pills have revealed ingredients such as:

• Detergents
• Road paint
• Talcum powder
• Printer ink
• Anti-fungal medication
• Drywall
• Amphetamines 

Not knowing the dosage of Viagra’s active ingredient (sildenafil) in any given pill can be dangerous and even potentially fatal. It’s possible that fake Viagra pills don’t contain any of the active ingredient at all.

What is Kamagra?

Kamagra is the Indian version of Viagra being sold to Brits looking for a Viagra alternative for sexual dysfunction. Kamagra gel costs as little as £3 per sachet on the black market and is illegally sold at car boot sales, on market stalls and in pubs and clubs. Kamagra also contains sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra, but it has not undergone the same safety tests that licensed products have.

How to spot fake Viagra

In side-by-side comparison it can be difficult to tell the difference between real and counterfeit medication. Laboratory testing is the only way to be sure if the medication is authentic.  If in doubt don’t buy or take the pill, especially if you’re not sure where it’s come from.

There are a few things you can check to see if a Viagra pill is a fake. These include:

• Is the pill the same colour as others in the pack
• Is the colour of the pill consistent on each side or surface
• Does the ‘f’ stamped on the pill does it match the ‘f’ in the brand name Pfizer
• Is it a diamond shape
• Are the edges smooth

What are the risks of using counterfeit Viagra?

A significant amount of black-market demand for Viagra comes from those who don’t medically need it. Whilst erectile dysfunction (ED) in young men is a very real phenomenon – 26% of young men are affected by it, counterfeit Viagra is mainly used by young men who want to use it recreationally. Many take it as failsafe, giving them a psychological boost to help them perform, even though they don’t suffer from ED.

Using Viagra in this way totally misunderstands the way it works. It will not be able to treat performance anxiety or any psychologically-based erectile problems.

Taking counterfeit Viagra comes with health risks due to a lack of:

• Regulation and safety testing
• Advice from doctors or pharmacists
• Screening to check it’s safe to take alongside other medications or health conditions
• Awareness of side effects or complications
• Knowledge of exact dosage and ingredients 

“Erectile dysfunction may not be something you feel comfortable discussing with your friends or family, but make sure you get medical advice if you’re worried. If you do want to use medication get it from a reputable source who will check it’s safe for you to take.” - Dr Bhavini Shah

Side effects of counterfeit Viagra

Taking fake Viagra can lead to serious side effects, including:

• Visual problems
• Fainting
• Dangerous changes in blood pressure
• Heart problems 

Men who take Viagra without having ED run the risk of priapism, a long-lasting painful erection, which can seriously damage their penis.

Essentially, if you take a counterfeit pill, you have no idea of what you’re exposing your body to.

How to get Viagra without a doctor

Men can always book an appointment with their GP to obtain Viagra. However, you can get Viagra without seeing a doctor face-to-face.

When you want to buy generic Viagra online or Viagra Connect, you should only ever use a reputable source. There are several trustworthy and officially regulated online pharmacies providing safe, regulated Viagra.

Always check for the following:

• The website displays the logos of reputable healthcare associations or regulators (e.g. the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and General Pharmaceutical Council)
• The website is not full of stock images of over-friendly doctors in lab coats (we don’t wear these outside of a lab!)
• Your medicine actually requires a prescription or you need to answer questions to make sure it’s safe for you 
• The price for the drug is realistic

For a full breakdown of regulations and medical credentials, read our article on obtaining medicines online.

What erectile dysfunction treatments can you get over the counter?

There are ED treatments you can get without a prescription from your doctor. Viagra Connect could be an option as it’s available without a prescription. It contains the same active ingredient as Viagra and works in the same way. To make sure Viagra Connect is safe for you, you’ll need to answer a few questions when ordering it online. Find out more about the differences between Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil.

“It’s important to establish what is causing the issue with your doctor or one of our clinicians so the correct course of treatment can be advised. For example, lifestyle changes may also be needed alongside treatment.”  - Dr Bhavini Shah

Conclusion

Erectile dysfunction might be something you find hard to talk about, but it can be easy to treat. With regulated online services you can get Viagra safely without seeing a doctor face-to-face.

If you are concerned about the cost of real Viagra, you might want to consider generic versions of the drug made by regulated pharmaceutical producers. Generic sildenafil contains the exact same ingredients as Viagra and works in exactly the same way. 

References

https://www.viagra.com/avoid-counterfeits
https://patient.info/news-and-features/erectile-dysfunction-impotence-in-young-me
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/illegal-medicines-worth-more-than-30-million-seized-in-the-uk-in-2023