Is Viagra Connect the only non-prescription/over the counter option for treating ED?

Yes, in the UK, Viagra Connect is the only licensed ED pill you can get without a prescription.

Viagra vs. Viagra Connect: What is the difference?

Viagra Connect is the same as Viagra 50mg, but Viagra Connect has been specifically manufactured for the non-prescription market and is widely available at pharmacies. Viagra 100mg is not available in an equivalent Connect product.

Other than Viagra, what other ED treatments can I try?

There is a generic version of Viagra: Sildenafil — it’s cheaper, but it’s still a prescription drug (just like Viagra). You may want to try alternative prescription treatments like Cialis (Tadalafil) or Levitra.

How can I buy Viagra Connect (sildenafil) online?

Simply place an order, and after a short consultation, you will be mailed the tablets in the post in discreet packaging. There is no prescription required.

Are there any side effects to Viagra Connect?

There are some known side effects to Viagra Connect, which are similar to the ones associated with Viagra. These include nausea and dizziness. You should immediately seek medical help if you experience an allergic reaction.

What OTC or natural Viagra alternatives are there?

The only medical over the counter alternative to Viagra is Viagra Connect. You may want to also consider whether lifestyle changes could help your ED.

Can I drink alcohol and take Viagra Connect?

It is not recommended that you drink large amounts of alcohol whilst taking the pills as alcohol inhibits your ability to have a healthy erection.

How long does Viagra Connect take to work?

For most men, it takes 60 minutes to work, but you may feel the effects sooner. It lasts for 4-6 hours.

What are the best over the counter pills for ED?

Viagra Connect are the only over the counter pills for ED available in the UK.

Will I be able to buy Viagra Connect at supermarkets or petrol stations?

No, Viagra Connect is classified as a Pharmacy medicine meaning it can only legally be sold by registered pharmacies. You will need to have a consultation with a pharmacist or other trained member of staff before you can buy the treatment from a high street pharmacy. You can buy the treatment from a registered online pharmacy by completing an online consultation.

Alternative treatments: Viagra Connect vs. Viagra vs. Sildenafil

Viagra Connect is the only ED treatment that’s available over the counter in the UK, making it a great alternative to other prescription ED meds. But will it work in the same way?

Many people are curious about the differences between all the different ED pills on the market, and where the new OTC Viagra fits in — so let’s briefly compare them all.

Both Viagra and Viagra Connect tablets are phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors powered by the active ingredient sildenafil citrate. They work in the same way: Viagra Connect 50mg is the same as Viagra 50mg.
Pills sold as Sildenafil are cheaper, generic versions of Viagra (not manufactured by Pfizer) — they do the same job for a quarter of the cost.
Viagra pills have been proven to work in most cases of ED, but there are other ED treatments like the longer-lasting Tadalafil tablets (generic Cialis) that have been also gaining popularity.
Viagra Connect lasts for about 4 hours and takes 60 minutes to start working — similar to Viagra, but different to Cialis whose effects can last for up to 36 hours.

Treating erectile dysfunction with Viagra Connect is similar to treating it with Viagra — it’s a great over the counter alternative to prescription pills as it’s easy to get at a pharmacy or order online.

If you want to substitute your current ED treatment for another one, please speak to your doctor or pharmacist who can help you find an alternative treatment.

It may take awhile to find the best ED treatment for you: you may need to take a treatment up to 8 times before moving on.

Over the counter ED pills available in the UK

Viagra Connect is now classified as a 'pharmacy-only' medicine in the UK. There is no prescription required if you want order Viagra Connect online, but you will just need to check with your pharmacist whether the treatment is suitable for you first. This is a short consultation in a high street pharmacy or by completing a medical questionnaire online.

This landmark ED treatment is the first over-the-counter erectile dysfunction medication available in the UK. It’s 74% effective and works in a similar way to Viagra. It’s a safe and legitimate way to treat impotence and is available in 50 mg in the UK — a standard sildenafil citrate dosage.

Part of the reasoning behind the MHRA ruling to make Viagra Connect more widely available, was to make buying Viagra safer online, helping to regulate and stamp out dangerous and fraudulent ‘herbal viagra’ and illegitimate pharmacies.

Making Viagra Connect more readily available in high street pharmacies will help the patient (who can already get Viagra online)
Viagra Connect has an face-to-face pharmacist consultation (in high street chemists)
Making sildenafil citrate more readily available is a safe and patient-centred approach to treating ED
It will help improve the way Viagra is regulated in the UK, making it safer to buy
It will reduce the number of men seeking illicit (and potentially dangerous) treatments like herbal viagra and ineffective ‘performance-enhancing’ supplements
It widens the scope of men getting appropriate treatment for their condition
Viagra has many years of studies proving that it is safe for most men and has relatively few side effects.

How pills works to treat ED & impotence

Erectile dysfunction is a common (1 in 10 men), yet sometimes misrepresented issue that affects men of all ages and walks of life (though it’s more common in men over 50). It’s caused by a disruption in the normal blood flow to the penis, which in turn leads to less potent erections and an inability to engage in sexual intercourse (impotence).

ED is not just a physiological condition. ED can also be caused by underlying psychological issues like anxiety, and can be made worse by lifestyle — exasperated by things like smoking and stress. It can also be down to physical issues like the shape of the penis or an accident.

All commonly prescribed ED pills come under a band of treatments known as a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5 inhibitors) that improve the flow of blood to the penis, making for a better hard-on.

All ED medication seeks to treat the imbalance in blood flow by maintaining the levels of cGMP (an enzyme) in the smooth muscle cells of the penis. This enzyme needs to be stimulated by nitric oxide, which is released upon arousal. If arousal occurs, the penis arteries dilate and the erectile tissue fills with blood, causing an erection.

These types of pills help men get a better erection, but only if you are already aroused. They won’t work without sexual stimulation.

It’s important to get to the root cause of your ED, as this will help determine the right course of treatment. It may be that therapy and a change in diet or lifestyle are needed in order to get rid of your ED completely.

Viagra Connect availability & cost

Viagra Connect tablets are in stock in the UK and will be sold in a 50mg dose in packs of either 4 or 8 tablets.

4 pack RRP - £19.99
8 pack RRP - £34.99

Viagra Connect is cheaper than prescription Viagra but not as cheap as generic Sildenafil. As well as online pharmacies, it will be stocked at chemists like Boots.

After a short online consultation with a pharmacist you can order before 4pm and your purchase will be dispatched in the UK the same day. If you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction or impotence, consult the online team here at The Independent Pharmacy and get the right medication for your needs at competitive prices.

There are no available Viagra Connect reviews (yet), as the product is new to the UK market.

Delivery & Shipping Information

UK ORDERS

We offer FREE standard tracked delivery on orders over £40.

The following delivery options are available:

Standard Tracked Delivery - 2/3 day delivery - £2.95
Express Tracked Delivery - 1/2 day delivery - £4.45
DPD Next Day - 1 working day - £6.95
Special Delivery (Guaranteed before 1pm) - £8.95
Saturday Guaranteed before 1pm - £10.45

Important Delivery Information

All our orders are sent out using Royal Mail (unless stated). We always aim to dispatch all Royal Mail orders received before 4pm the same working day. Any orders received after 4pm or over the weekend will be dispatched the next working day. We aim to dispatch all DPD orders placed before 3pm on the same working day. Orders will not be dispatched on weekends or bank holidays.

All orders are subject to approval by our team of doctors and pharmacists. Your delivery date in the checkout is subject to your consultation being approved by our healthcare team.

All orders can be fully tracked from your dispatch email and in your account.

We ensure all parcels are in plain packaging for discreet delivery of your medicines and pharmacy goods.

Deliveries containing pharmacy-only or prescription medicines may require a signature on receipt.

Delivery is free for all NHS prescriptions.

Royal Mail

Royal Mail are the most widely recognised mail delivery company in the UK. Being on the UK’s 29 million doorsteps six days a week means they offer unparalleled price and convenience. The Independent Pharmacy uses Royal Mail’s Tracked 48, Tracked 24, and Special Delivery Guaranteed parcel services to offer reliable, fully-tracked delivery at very competitive prices. Your Royal Mail parcel will arrive with your normal daily delivery of post.

Please note: Royal Mail do not deliver on Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering.

If you are not home to accept your delivery, a card should be left by the Royal Mail representative. This card will provide details of where you can collect the order or how to arrange re-delivery.

Should you be unable to collect your missed delivery or arrange for your medication to be redelivered by Royal Mail, the pharmacy can resend your medication to the same, or a different address provided it has been returned to us and this happens within a 30 day window.

Once a package has been shipped with Royal Mail we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

You have the right to cancel your order up to the point when your treatment is dispatched. The pharmacist must destroy any medication within 30 days of it being returned, even un-opened boxes, so we are not able to offer refunds once your treatment has been dispatched.

DPD

DPD Local is the most innovative parcel carrier around. Thanks to their industry-leading Predict service, they provide parcel recipients with a one hour delivery window, notified by email, so you don't have to wait in all day. What's more, it enables receivers to watch the progress of their delivery on a real-time map, all the way down to a final 15 minute time-slot.

As well as keeping customers informed at every stage of the journey, DPD believe in maximising choice and convenience. That's why DPD provide access to a suite of options both on the day of delivery and the night before, allowing customers to take delivery of their goods in a way that suits. If you wish to reschedule, you can:

Select an alternative delivery date
Opt for delivery to a nominated neighbour
Have the parcel left in a specified safe place
Collect the parcel from your local DPD Pickup Shop
Upgrade delivery to By 12

Please note: DPD do not deliver on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays - this should be taken into account when ordering.

Once a package has been shipped with DPD we advise that you are bound to the terms and conditions of their use together with the terms and conditions contained herein.

Forwarding houses

We are unable to ship orders to mailing or forwarding houses for onwards shipping to locations outside of the UK.

BFPO Postcodes

Unfortunately we are unable to deliver medicines to BFPO postcodes.

Remote Areas

Please be aware that Royal Mail Guaranteed services are not available to all customers in the UK, especially those that live in remote postcodes. Royal Mail advise customers of the following:

We deliver by 5.30pm the next working day in the following postcode areas:
AB30 - 39, 41 - 45, 51 - 56
GY9 Alderney (Channel Islands)
HS1, 3 - 9
IV21 - 28, 40 - 49, 51 - 56
KA27, 28
KW1 - 3, 5 - 15
KW16 Stromness Town only
PA20 (0&9)
PA28 - 38, 41 - 49, 76, 77
PH15, 17 - 26, 31 - 40, 49, 50
ZE1

We deliver within two working days by 5.30pm to the following postcodes areas:
GY1 Herm (Channel Islands)
GY9 Sark (Channel Islands)
GY10
HS2
PA60 - 75, 78
ZE2, 3

We deliver within three working days by 5.30pm to the following postcode areas:
KW16 - non-Town
KW17
PH30, 41 - 44

Please note: This applies to our 'Special Delivery' and 'Saturday Guaranteed' services.