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Is viagra available on the NHS?

Approved by our Clinical team | Apr 8, 2020

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse. It is a medical condition that affects men of any age however it’s more common as men get older. There are three main causes of the condition; these are physical, psychological or medicinal reasons, for example if you are taking certain medications impotence maybe a side effect.

If you are seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction you may be interested to know whether Viagra is available on the NHS as well as which brands you can buy from your local pharmacy.

Is Viagra covered by the NHS?

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Viagra is the branded version of the erectile dysfunction treatment Sildenafil. It contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate that can help you to get and maintain an erection; however the brand Viagra is not available on the NHS. Your Pharmacist may still choose to dispense Viagra on an NHS Sildenafil prescription depending on certain circumstance.

Sildenafil is available on the NHS with a prescription from a doctor only if you meet certain NHS terms and your GP decides that this treatment is safe for you to use. If you are prescribed Sildenafil or any other erectile dysfunction medication by a doctor you will have to pay for your NHS prescription, unless you are exempt. The cost of prescriptions in England is currently £9.35, to find out if you are eligible for free NHS prescriptionsclick here.

LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor offers a range of ED medicines, suited to your needs and lifestyle. Complete a short questionnaire and if you’re clinically suitable, our doctors will advise on the best treatment for you and issue a prescription. You could collect your prescribed treatment the same day.

Can you buy Viagra over the counter?

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The good news is that Viagra Connect is now available to buy over the counter at your local pharmacy or online. Viagra Connect contains exactly the same active ingredient as Viagra (sildenafil citrate), and works on your body the same way. The medication is sold in four pill packs that are priced at £19.99, packs of eight pills that retail at £34.99, packs of 12 which RRP at £51.79 and packs of 16 which RRP at £68.48.

You will not need a prescription from a doctor to obtain Viagra Connect; however you will be required to complete either an online questionnaire, or a face-to-face consultation with a pharmacist. These questions will help the pharmacist or online doctor to decide whether this treatment is suitable for you. Suitability can depend on many factors including any underlying medical conditions, your overall health and any other medication you are taking.

Once one of our team has determined whether the treatment is suitable for you, you’ll be able to buy Viagra Connect online or in store. You can have it discreetly delivered to your home or collect at your local store at a time that is convenient for you.

Viagra Connect and Sildenafil - what’s the difference?

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We’ve created a helpful table to compare generic Sildenafil with branded Viagra.If you’re looking to compare our variety of ED treatments and their active ingredients, explore your options at LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor.

	Sildenafil (generic)	Viagra (branded)
Active ingredient	sildenafil citrate	sildenafil citrate
Available dosage (mg)	25, 50, 100	25, 50, 100
Pack size	4, 8, 16	4, 8, 16
When to take	Effective within one hour, up to five hours	Effective within one hour, up to five hours
How to take	On an empty stomach	On an empty stomach

Can Viagra connect make you last longer in bed?

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Viagra Connect will not affect the time it takes for you to climax. As a treatment for erectile dysfunction, Viagra Connect will help you to achieve and maintain an erection that is hard enough for penetrative sex by increasing blood flow to the penis.

When should I take Viagra connect for best results?

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The recommended dose of Viagra Connect is one 50mg tablet which should be taken one hour before sexual activity with water. This erectile dysfunction treatment works best when taken without food, if taken with a high fat meal the desired result may be delayed and it could take you longer to attain an erection. It is also advisable to avoid large amounts of alcohol before sexual activity and you must not take grapefruit/grapefruit juice as this can affect how the medication works.

What happens if you take Viagra connect and you don't need it?

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If you are not sexually aroused, the medicine will have no effect on your body, but you may still experience side effects. The active ingredient will remain in your system for up to four hours, after which any effect of the medicine will cease. If you experience effects after four hours, contact your Pharmacist or Online Doctor.

In order to receive Viagra Connect as a treatment for erectile dysfunction you will need to complete a simple online questionnaire or face-to-face consultation with a Pharmacist. If you have received Viagra Connect by misleading your Pharmacist, providing inaccurate information, or by not revealing any underlying heath conditions during the consultation process, it could be that this treatment is unsuitable for you, and you by taking it you are putting your health at risk.