Can you buy Viagra over the counter?

Dr. Babak Ashrafi

Medically reviewed by

Dr Babak Ashrafi

Last reviewed: 21 Nov 2022

Yes, you can buy Viagra over-the-counter in the UK under the brand name Viagra Connect. You can also order prescription Viagra online, without getting a physical prescription from a doctor first, providing the prescription is included as part of the online ordering process as it is with ZAVA.

Contents
Blue Viagra pills that cannot be purchased without a prescription from a doctor
 

Viagra vs Viagra Connect

Viagra and Viagra Connect both contain the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) and work in exactly the same way by relaxing the blood vessels in your penis to improve blood flow. They are both manufactured by pfizer and are branded medications. However, there are still a couple differences between them.

1. Viagra Connect is available without a prescription.

While regular Viagra requires a prescription from a doctor to purchase, Viagra Connect can be bought over the counter. However, you will still need to answer a few questions for the pharmacist to make sure it’s safe and suitable for you.

2. Viagra is available in 3 different doses:

Viagra Connect is only available as a 50mg dose. This is also the typical starting dose of Viagra, and is considered safe for most people. If you need a higher or lower dose, you will need Viagra, which will require a prescription. Viagra is available in:

  • Standard dose: 50mg – often recommended for someone who is trying Viagra for the first time
  • Lower dose: 25mg – suitable for anyone who has tried 50mg but found side effects. It still works, but it can reduce the chance of getting side effects
  • Maximum dose: 100mg – the maximum dose is best for men who’ve tried 50mg and didn’t get side effects, but the medication didn’t work well enough either

3. Price

Currently, 4 tablets of 50mg of Viagra Connect are cheaper than 50mg of Viagra. However, Viagra is cheaper than Viagra Connect if you are buying a bigger pack. This means if you’re using erectile dysfunction treatment more regular, Viagra can be a cheaper option.

Because of the fact that Viagra and Viagra Connect work in exactly the same way, choosing between them will depend on what your needs are. Your doctor will be on hand if you have any questions about which treatment is right for you.

Why is Viagra Connect available over the counter?

Viagra Connect was reclassified from a prescription-only medicine to a pharmacy medicine (P) by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2017 after an extensive review process.

There were a few key reasons highlighted by the MHRA for making this decision:

  1. They saw it as a more patient centred way of treating ED.
  2. As Viagra was becoming more widely available through online pharmacies, it made sense to give high street pharmacies easier access for dispensing the medication too.
  3. As illegal/unregulated treatments like Kamagra and Kamagra Oral Jelly are becoming more readily available in the UK, having an over the counter option that was safe and regulated would help stop people putting themselves at risk.
  4. The dose of Viagra Connect is considered safe for most people with a minimal risk of side effects, providing they can answer a few questions about their health. This makes it safe to offer over the counter, providing a pharmacist approves its use.
  5. Making Viagra Connect available over the counter aimed to help men who might not feel able to talk to their GP about impotence access the medication easier.

Where can I buy Viagra without a prescription?

You can buy Viagra Connect without a prescription from a local pharmacy or online from trusted providers like ZAVA. To buy it from a pharmacy, you will need to have a face-to-face assessment with a pharmacist who will ask you some questions about your general health and any medications you are taking. This is to ensure it is safe for you to take Viagra Connect.

If you want to buy it from a registered pharmacy or online doctor, you will still need to answer a few questions about your health, but these are the same you’d be asked in a pharmacy.

ZAVA is a regulated service supplying authentic medication. We’re approved by the General Medical Council and General Pharmaceutical Council. We also have UK-registered doctors, and we’re reviewed regularly by the Care Quality Commission. We also display TrustPilot reviews from patients that have used our service before.

To request Viagra Connect or another erectile dysfunction treatment:

  • fill in a short questionnaire
  • select a preferred treatment, like Viagra or Viagra Connect
  • place your order
  • a ZAVA doctor will review your info and approve treatment if it’s right for you

We offer several delivery options, including free standard delivery, express, next-day delivery, and click and collect. Choose either home delivery or collection from your local Post Office to receive your order. All orders are sent out in discreet, unmarked packaging.

How can I buy genuine Viagra online?

The best way to buy genuine Viagra online is through a trusted and regulated online pharmacy or online doctor like ZAVA.

While there are lots of other online retailers that offer the option of buying Viagra, many of them aren’t licensed or legitimate. Viagra is a prescription-only medication so any website selling it without a license is illegal and risky. Using these services means you won’t be checked by a doctor and the medication they supply might be harmful.

Before buying any medication online, you should always check whether the service you’re using has been approved by the General Medical Council and the General Pharmaceutical Council, and is regularly reviewed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Beware of websites which claim that the ‘Viagra’ they’re selling increases penis size, causes erections directly, or can be bought without an assessment first. If a website advertises medication with false claims, then it’s highly likely to be illegitimate and unsafe.

Why do I need a prescription for Viagra?

You need a prescription to buy Viagra to make sure it’s safe and suitable for you to take. It allows doctors to make sure the medication doesn’t interact with any other medication your taking and won’t be affected by any other aspects of your health. Prescriptions are in place to protect you and to help doctors make sure you’re getting an appropriate and safe treatment.

Can you get Viagra on the NHS?

It is very difficult to get branded medications such as Viagra through the NHS because of the cost of branded medications. While it can be hard to get Viagra, it is possible to get sildenafil on prescription through the NHS. This is because unbranded versions of medications are much more affordable, which is better for the NHS.

Is Viagra free on the NHS?

Unless you are exempt from paying for NHS prescriptions, the current cost for any prescription on the NHS is £9.35 (including Viagra, which is very difficult to get on the NHS).

Is prescription-free Viagra the same as prescription-only Viagra?

The only difference between Viagra Connect (prescription-free) and Viagra (prescription-only) is the dosage and the price. Viagra Connect is only available in 50mg pills, whereas regular Viagra can be prescribed in 25mg and 100mg.

If you feel like you need more or less than 50mg, you should never split Viagra Connect tablets or double-dose them. Instead, you should arrange an appointment with your GP and get a prescription for the right amount for you.

Can you get Viagra without going to the doctor?

You can only get Viagra Connect without going to a doctor. However, you will still need to answer a few questions face-to-face or on an online questionnaire before you can buy the tablets.

babak-updated-roundpng.png
Medically reviewed by:
Dr Babak Ashrafi Clinical Lead for Service Expansion

Babak studied medicine at King’s College London and graduated in 2003, having also gained a bachelor’s degree in Physiology during his time there. He completed his general practice (GP) training in East London, where he worked for a number of years as a partner at a large inner-city GP practice. He completed the Royal College of GPs membership exam in 2007.

Meet our doctors

Last reviewed: 21 Nov 2022

Get £5 off your next order when you sign up to our newsletter.
Sign up today




Authorised and regulated by