Can you buy erectile dysfunction medication over the counter

Viagra is the most popular treatment for erectile dysfunction in the UK, and it’s now available to buy over the counter in UK pharmacies as Viagra Connect.

You can buy Viagra Connect without needing a prescription by completing a short assessment in a pharmacy to make sure it’s suitable for you. If you’d rather not go to a pharmacy to buy treatment for erectile dysfunction, you can also order Viagra, Viagra Connect, and other erectile dysfunction treatments online even if you don’t already have a prescription.

Last reviewed: 15/12/2020 by Dr Babak Ashrafi

Contents

• Can you buy Viagra over the counter in the UK?

• Can anyone get Viagra over the counter?

• Where can you buy Viagra without a prescription?

• Can you buy Viagra online without a prescription?

• Is it better to buy Viagra online or over the counter?

• Are there over the counter Viagra alternatives?

Can you buy Viagra over the counter in the UK?

Yes you can – Viagra Connect is a Viagra product available to buy over the counter in the UK. It was announced by the BBC on November 28th 2017 after the MHRA (the UK authority on medicines regulations) made the case for making erectile dysfunction medication available without prescription. According to the drug’s manufacturer, Pfizer, Viagra Connect became available at the end of March 2018.

Why is Viagra Connect available over the counter? 

The reasons Viagra is available over the counter in the UK include that it is a very safe treatment for most men, and that there was evidence that men who didn’t want to get a prescription for Viagra from their GPs were going online and buying it from unregulated companies, potentially putting their health at risk.

Is it still safe to buy over the counter?  

Yes, Viagra Connect is safe to buy over the counter. The Viagra Connect assessment questionnaire is used by doctors and pharmacists to check if it’s safe for you to take Viagra Connect, and whether it would be a useful treatment for you. It covers things like your erectile dysfunction symptoms, any health conditions you have, any other medications you’re taking etc. 

Can anyone get Viagra over the counter?

Not everyone can get Viagra treatment. The criteria for treatment are the same for Viagra and Viagra Connect because they’re the same medication.

You should be able to get Viagra over the counter if:

• you can’t get or keep erections
• you’re over 18
• you don’t have any health conditions which make Viagra unsafe
• you’re not taking any medications that react with Viagra

Health conditions that make Viagra unsafe include:

• a serious heart or liver problem
• taking nitrates for a chest pain
• recently having had a stroke or a heart attack
• low blood pressure
• a rare inherited eye disease

You should also let your doctor know if you have:

• sickle cell anaemia
• Peyronie’s disease or a penis deformity
• a heart problem
• a stomach ulcer
• a bleeding problem like haemophilia

Medications that react with Viagra:

• nitrates
• nitric oxide donors (“poppers”)
• protease inhibitors (used to treat HIV)
• alpha-blocker therapy
• riociguat used for pulmonary hypertension

Where can you buy Viagra without a prescription?

You can buy Viagra Connect over the counter from any Superdrug pharmacy. You don’t need a doctor’s prescription first – just go into a pharmacy and ask a member of the pharmacy staff for a Viagra Connect assessment. 

Most UK pharmacies will be able to offer Viagra over the counter, as long as they have a consultation room to run through the questionnaire and they have the medication in stock. You can use the NHS’s find a pharmacy service to see what pharmacies are close to you.

Some supermarkets can offer Viagra Connect but only if they have an in-store pharmacy.

You can also buy Viagra Connect online from any regulated online pharmacy or doctor service.

Can you buy Viagra online without a prescription?

Yes, you can buy Viagra or Viagra Connect online. You don’t need to already have a prescription, since online doctor services can offer a prescription service included when you order online.

The assessment used to order online is similar to the one a pharmacist would run through with you in person. Because it’s done online, there’s no waiting and it’s much more streamlined. It works like this:

1. You complete a short assessment questionnaire which gives your online doctor all of the information they need to accurately assess you.
2. You place an order for the treatment you’d prefer to be given.
3. Your online doctor checks your assessment to make sure your preferred treatment is right for you.
4. If they think it is, your doctor will approve your order.
5. Our pharmacy team can then dispense your medication and post it to your door, or it can be available to collect in-store instead.
6. If your order isn’t approved, you’ll be refunded and an online doctor will send you some advice on next steps.

Is it better to buy Viagra online or over the counter?

As we're in a pandemic, shopping in person might be a cause for concern, or you might be avoiding it because you’re in an at-risk group. Fortunately, ordering Viagra online is simple, convenient, and a lot safer than buying your medication in person. 

• You don’t need a prescription beforehand – you’ll be assessed online like you would for a prescription, but you don’t need to go between a doctor and a pharmacy.
• You get a fast and efficient service – you can choose the in-store collection option and pick up your order after just 3 hours from a Superdrug Pharmacy.
• There’s free and quick delivery, or in-store collection – you’ve got a few options available to suit you: 
  • Free standard delivery within 3 to 5 working days 
  • Next day express delivery for £3.99 
  • Same day delivery from £3.99 (selected postcodes only)
  • In-store collection
• Ordering online is super convenient – you only need to fill in a short questionnaire to order your treatment.
• There’s no face-to-face appointment – which saves you time and makes ordering more private.
• There’s no prescription fee
• You don’t have to visit your local pharmacy to get your medicine dispensed.
• The service is completely confidential – we also use discreet packaging
• A telephone consultation is also available – a valuable opportunity to ask questions or discuss concerns. But, once you’ve placed your order, you can also message your doctor anytime from your account.

Are there over the counter Viagra alternatives?

Can you buy any other medications over the counter?

No. Currently Viagra Connect is the only over the counter erectile dysfunction treatment available. If you want to buy a different medication you will need to use an online doctor service or see your GP. You might want to try a different medication than those similar to Viagra Connect if:

• You’ve tried a medication like Viagra Connect and it hasn’t worked – medications with other active ingredients might work instead but can’t be bought over the counter

• You’ve tried a medication like Viagra Connect and got side effects that you couldn’t put up with – if you want to see if a different active ingredient gives you less side effects, you will need to buy a medication that is not available over the counter

• You want a medication that lasts longer, or you can take daily – Cialis (Tadalafil) lasts much longer (up to 36 hours) than Viagra which lasts around 4 hours. You can also choose to take Cialis or the generic version of Cialis, Tadalafil, on a daily basis, but medications like Viagra Connect are only available to take on demand (before sex).

Are there natural over the counter Viagra alternatives? 

There are herbal products or supplements sold over the counter that some people believe can help with erectile dysfunction, but they aren’t proven to work. Some example include:

• horny goat weed
• arginine
• maca
• watermelon
• DHEA
• red ginseng
• propionyl-L carnitine
• melatonin 
• vitamin E
• zinc 

Lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking and losing weight may also improve ED symptoms in some men. As well as making these changes it is important to see your GP if you develop erectile dysfunction so that any underlying causes can be assessed and treated.

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