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Viagra Connect vs Viagra
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If you are seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), it can be difficult to discuss the issue with your doctor and choose which medication is best for you. Many men find the subject to be embarrassing, don’t want to speak to a medical professional, and so don’t receive a prescription or treatment. Now, however, there is a new option, Viagra Connect is the first ED treatment that you can buy over the counter, eliminating the need for a prescription.
What is the difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect?
The main difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect is that Viagra Connect is available to buy over the counter without a prescription, whereas Viagra is not. Both of these male impotence treatments contain the same active ingredient sildenafil citrate.
If you have met certain criteria and are prescribed Sildenafil or any other erectile dysfunction medication on an NHS prescription by a doctor you will have to pay for your 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 prescriptions click here.
Viagra and Viagra Connect are branded versions of this generic medicine Sildenafil and therefore are not available on the NHS. However you can obtain Viagra and Sildenafil with a private prescription at Online Doctor after an online consultation which checks your suitability.
To get your treatment, you will need to complete a confidential, free online consultation questionnaire to ensure you’re medically suitable for treatment. One of our GPs will review your questionnaire answers and, if you’re suitable, either prescribe you a prescription-only medicine or authorise you for Viagra Connect. To start your consultation and find out more click here.
Viagra Connect is also available to buy from LloydsPharmacy online and in store. To buy Viagra from your local store you will need to answer a number of questions face-to-face; this is so the pharmacist can make sure that the treatment is suitable for you.
Viagra Connect and Sildenafil - what’s the difference?
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 |
| 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 |
What does Viagra Connect do?
Viagra Connect is an erectile dysfunction treatment that works within your body to help you achieve and maintain an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse. The treatment allows the blood vessels within the body to expand and relax, causing blood to flow to the penis, resulting in an erection. Viagra Connect can only help men achieve an erection if they are aroused or sexually stimulated, it will not work without one of these factors.
What is the active ingredient in Viagra Connect?
Viagra Connect contains 50mg of sildenafil citrate, which was first marketed as Viagra in 1998. Sildenafil citrate is a PDE-5 inhibitor and works by temporarily increasing blood flow to the penis, which allows you to achieve an erection and maintain it during sex.
LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor offers a range of ED treatments and provides a free, confidential online service, with no need for a face-to-face appointment. After your assessment, you’ll receive a personalised treatment recommendation and a prescription you can use instore at LloydsPharmacy.
Can I use Viagra Connect if I have a medical condition?
In order to receive Viagra Connect you will need to complete either an online consultation (short questionnaire) or face-to-face consultation. You will be asked if you have any medical conditions or are taking any medications. The pharmacist or Online Doctor clinician will decide whether treatment is appropriate for you while offering advice on erectile dysfunction.
Is Viagra Connect legal in the UK?
Viagra Connect is legal to buy in the UK as long as you are buying from a reputable source or trusted pharmacy, such as LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor or your local high street pharmacy. There are many websites out there that are selling counterfeit medicines with varying ingredients that could harm your health.
How does Viagra Connect work?
Viagra Connect contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate, which helps men to achieve and maintain an erection when sexually aroused. Viagra Connect allows blood vessels to relax and expand within the body, causing blood to flow to the penis, resulting in an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse.
References
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/34411
www.bpas.org/more-services-information/erectile-dysfunction/viagra
bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/sildenafil.html
