Cialis vs. Cialis Together | What’s The Difference
Written by Daniel Hurley
You may already use erectile dysfunction (ED) medication such as Viagra or Cialis. Right now, these treatments are only available via a prescription from your GP.
Viagra Connect is the first ED treatment available to buy over-the-counter. Like normal Viagra, it contains sildenafil citrate, an ingredient that helps men achieve and maintain an erection for sexual activity.
You’ve read the reviews and you want to give Viagra Connect a try. To help you proceed with confidence, we’ve run through the important questions most first-time users have below.
How do I use Viagra Connect?
Viagra Connect is taken the same way as regular Viagra and comes in little blue tablets containing 50mg of sildenafil citrate.
One hour before you want to have sex, swallow one tablet with water. But remember, taking the medicine with food, especially a high-fat meal, can delay the effects.
You must also be sexually stimulated for Viagra Connect to work; the tablet will not give you an instant erection. For the best results, you and your partner should engage in foreplay to stimulate your penis, the same way as you would during usual sexual activity.
Does Viagra Connect work for everyone?
Viagra Connect is a medicine that treats ED symptoms such as getting an erection, the hardness of an erection, and maintaining an erection in men aged 18 years and older. The treatment is not suitable:
- For women
- For men who do not have ED symptoms
- When other health problems might cause issues
- If sildenafil citrate causes an allergic reaction
- If there is a risk of problems caused by mixing with other medications
What’s more, results of a clinical study published on the official Viagra site reveal that a 50mg tablet of Viagra helped four out of five men achieve an erection hard enough for sex.
How long does Viagra Connect work for?
The results vary between individuals. Typically, you will start to experience an erection within 30-60 minutes. For most men, Viagra Connect will give you an erection that lasts up to four hours. So, you will have plenty of time to relax, get in the mood, and enjoy yourself.
For older men, aged 65 and over, the medication can stay in the body for longer, which means you may experience Viagra Connect’s effects for longer.
Key things to remember when using Viagra Connect:
- Usually starts working after 30-60 minutes
- The effects usually last for up to four hours
- Viagra Connect works best with some form of sexual stimulation
- After ejaculation, your penis will return to its flaccid state
Where can I get Viagra Connect?
As the first over-the-counter medication available for erectile dysfunction, you can get Viagra Connect from most pharmacies, including The Independent Pharmacy. Through us, you can purchase packets of 4, 8, 12 and 16 Viagra Connect tablets for:
- 4 tablets - £19.99
- 8 tablets - £34.98
- 12 tablets - £50.97
- 16 tablets - £65.96
For further information, click through to our Viagra Connect customer reviews page.
Available Online - Viagra Connect
Can you get Viagra Connect in 100mg form?
The main difference between regular Viagra and Viagra Connect is that the over-the-counter version is only available in the 50mg dosage.
The maximum recommended dosage for Viagra Connect is one 50mg tablet per day. It is potentially dangerous to take more than one tablet in a 24-hour period.
If you don’t get satisfactory results using the 50mg tablets, you should speak to your GP or submit an online consultation, and you may be suitable to try 100mg tablets of regular Viagra on prescription. Alternatively, if you are interested in using Sildenafil (the generic version of Viagra), read our about Sildenafil page.
Does Viagra Connect work the first time?
If you haven’t had an erection for a while, Viagra Connect might take a little more time or a couple of extra attempts to work as expected. Don’t panic if the medication does not give you an erection within 30-60 minutes the first time you use it.
Some first-time users might need to get used to the feeling of getting an erection again before the medication works. Foreplay with your partner or masturbation can help with this.
If Viagra Connect still doesn't work after several attempts, consult your doctor. They may be able to suggest an alternative treatment.
Does Viagra Connect work with alcohol?
Taking Viagra Connect and alcohol both lower your blood pressure. This double effect means your blood pressure could get too low, which may cause dizziness, fainting, headaches, and even heart palpitations.
Alcohol is also one of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction because it reduces the amount of blood that flows to your penis. Combined with the possible side effects, taking Viagra Connect and alcohol together is unlikely to improve your sexual performance at the same time as being potentially dangerous.
How does Viagra Connect work?
Viagra Connect helps the blood vessels around the penis relax and expand, increasing blood flow. If you experience erectile dysfunction, this will help you achieve a firmer erection for longer. After ejaculation, your erection will go down and your penis will return to its flaccid state.
Is it safe to buy Viagra Connect over the counter?
Yes. Viagra Connect was passed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on November 28th 2017. However, before buying the medicine over the counter, you will be required to have a short discussion with your pharmacist.
If you have a pre-existing condition such as cardiovascular disorders or liver and kidney problems, you may have issues taking Viagra Connect safely. Likewise, if you are taking certain medications, including alpha-blockers for high blood pressure or nitrates for chest pain, it’s likely that it will be unsafe to take Viagra Connect.
For this reason, it’s very important that you answer any questions your pharmacist asks you honestly and thoroughly.
What are the potential side effects of Viagra Connect?
It is not uncommon to experience side effects when taking Viagra Connect. If the side effects come on immediately or are severe in nature, you should speak to your doctor immediately.
Some of the most common side effects when taking Viagra Connect include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Indigestion and heartburn
- Facial flushing
- Light-headed or dizzy spells
- Blurred or blue-tinted vision
- Indigestion
- Nasal congestion
See our Viagra Connect Side Effects page for more information.
Can I obtain Viagra Connect without speaking to someone?
You can get Viagra Connect from an online pharmacy, allowing you to obtain erectile dysfunction medication anonymously.
Instead of a face-to-face discussion, you will need to fill out a short, 100% confidential questionnaire to make sure it’s safe for you to take the medication. The questionnaire will be checked by a qualified doctor and once approved, you will be able to order Viagra Connect online. The Independent Pharmacy delivers next-day in plain, unmarked packaging for efficiency and discretion.
Viagra Connect can help with the three main symptoms of ED: getting an erection, the hardness of an erection, and maintaining an erection. If you're already using Viagra, you might be wondering how Viagra Connect differs? If so, we recommend reading our Viagra versus Viagra Connect page for a more detailed overview of the key differences.
Sources:
Authored by
Andy BoysanBPharmDirector & Superintendent Pharmacist
Andy is a co-founder and the Superintendent Pharmacist and Director at The Independent Pharmacy.
Reviewed by
Daniel HurleyMPharm IPPharmacist Independent Prescriber
Dan is an experienced pharmacist having spent time working in both primary and secondary care. He currently supports our clinical team by providing robust clinical governance review of our internal processes and information.
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