Where can I buy Viagra?
Written by Dr Kieran Seyan
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition, which affects most men at some point in their lives. One of the the most popular treatments for ED is Viagra. Lots of men are looking to conveniently buy the medicine online.
You can safely obtain Viagra from an online pharmacy, Online Doctor service or from your local high street pharmacy – without a prescription. Viagra is now classified as a pharmacy medicine (PMED) called Viagra Connect, so that you can confidently purchase this erectile dysfunction medication without seeing a doctor.
However, you will still need to complete either an online questionnaire or answer a number of questions via a face-to-face consultation with a pharmacist, so they can check whether this is safe for you to take.
Can I buy Viagra without a prescription?
Viagra Connect 50mg, is available in the UK and you don’t need a prescription from your doctor. This means that you can legally buy this medication online without having to see your GP or get a prescription. However, if you’d like to buy Viagra Connect from LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor you will need to complete a confidential online questionnaire so that our expert team of clinicians can check your suitability.
The questionnaire is completely confidential and contains quick and simple questions for you to answer. If it is not thought safe for you to take Viagra Connect, the Online Doctor consultation can suggest and prescribe alternative treatment that is right for your circumstances.
Viagra vs Viagra Connect
Viagra and Viagra Connect contain the same active ingredient sildenafil. They both should be taken on an empty stomach and they’re effective within one hour, up to four hours. The main difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect is how you access the treatments.
- Viagra is available with a prescription either from your doctor or an online doctor service.
- Viagra Connect is available to buy from a UK high street or online pharmacy or an Online Doctor service.
To make sure the treatment is right for you, you’ll first have to either complete an online questionnaire when you purchase Viagra Connect or have a face-to-face consultation with a pharmacist in store.
Your answers from the online questionnaire will be sent to our Online Doctor clinicians, one of whom will determine if you are suitable for this form of erectile dysfunction treatment. During your chat with a pharmacist in-store they will assess your suitability for the medication. Both will make sure that you are not taking any medication that could react with Viagra Connect, or that you have an underlying medical condition that would make it unsafe for you to take Viagra Connect.
What is the active ingredient in Viagra?
Viagra Connect contains 50mg of sildenafil citrate, which was first marketed as Viagra in 1998. Medically sildenafil citrate is a PDE-5 inhibitor, which alters the levels of some chemical messengers in your body. It increases the blood flow into the penis, and results in a firmer and longer-lasting erection.
Who can buy Viagra?
Only men aged 18 or over can buy Viagra Connect from a pharmacy whether online or in store. If you are a woman looking to purchase Viagra Connect for your male partner, you will not be able to buy Viagra Connect for them. Instead, your partner will have to buy it online or at their local pharmacy.
Viagra Connect, a branded version of sildenafil, the erectile dysfunction medication, is available to buy online, at your local pharmacy or via our discreet Online Doctor for delivery or collection.
Can I get Viagra if I have a medical condition?
This will depend on the medical condition you have. For example, if you have diabetes, a different ED tablet might work better for you.
After you have completed an online consultation or a face-to-face consultation, the clinician will decide which treatment is appropriate for you. They will also offer advice on erectile dysfunction and usage of any medicine prescribed or dispensed.
It is important to tell your pharmacist or the Online Doctor service about any medicines you are taking or any other medical conditions you have, to ensure Viagra Connect is safe to take.
How long does Viagra last?
The recommended dose of Viagra Connect is one 50mg tablet taken with water approximately one hour before sexual activity. How quickly Viagra Connect works can differ from person to person, and whether you've had a rich or big meal and /or alcohol before, but you should notice something from around 60 minutes after taking it. Men can achieve an erection in response to sexual stimulation, up to four hours after taking the pill.
What are the alternatives to Viagra?
Viagra Connect is a branded version of the erectile dysfunction medicine Sildenafil. Other similar medicines are available including; tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra) and avanafil (Spedra). These work in similar ways to Viagra Connect; however, they require a prescription and cannot be bought over the counter.
You can request these alternative medications or bigger packs of Sildenafil and Viagra through our service. You will need to complete a short questionnaire, so our clinicians can make sure any treatments are safe for you to take.
There are also non-medical options such as a vacuum pump. Find out how a vacuum pump could help you.
Is it against the law to buy Viagra online?
It’s not illegal to buy Viagra online. There’s a lot of internet pharmacies selling Viagra. However, not all these pharmacies sell Viagra legally and safely, so it’s important to know which you can trust. Many sell fake versions of treatments which can be dangerous.
Your priority shouldn’t be the cost of erectile dysfunction medicines. It should be whether the online pharmacy is accredited and follows the correct procedures. Selecting an online service on this basis makes sure that you will only receive a prescription for Viagra if it’s safe to do so and that the pills you receive are genuine.
How to make sure it’s safe
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), meaning that you can be sure of high standards of care when you consult our doctors online. They will only prescribe Viagra or another medication if it is appropriate and safe to do so. Registration with the CQC and also with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) means that your personal details and medical records are kept safe, so you needn’t worry about issues relating to privacy and confidentiality. What’s more, all our doctors are registered with the General Medical Council and comply fully with their guidelines relating to online prescribing.
Any reputable online pharmacy will make sure that it displays this kind of information on its website. This provides evidence to patients that they’re being prescribed Viagra safely, and from a legitimate provider. If you can’t find this information on another pharmacy’s website, it may well not be reputable. However, any pharmacy that is operating legally and is fully registered should be happy to answer your questions about its registration and how it works.
