Viagra

Directions

For Viagra tablets to work at their best, you should ensure you follow the instructions provided with the medicine, as well as those issued by your doctor. Doing so will help to maximise its efficiency and decrease the likelihood of side effects.

1. Do not take Viagra more than once a day
2. If you are taking it after a big meal it may take longer to produce noticeable results
3. The user needs to be sexually stimulated in order for Viagra to work
4. Never exceed your prescribed dose
5. Before use, always read the patient information leaflet supplied with the medicine
6. Take a look at our dosage information for more about buying Viagra 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets.
7. Do not take recreational drugs if you are taking Viagra, as doing so can be very dangerous.

How long does it take to work?

Sildenafil usually takes around 30-60 minutes to function. Ideally, the tablet should be taken one hour before sexual intercourse to ensure the active ingredient has had sufficient time to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

How long do the effects last?

After taking the tablet, sildenafil stays active in the body for up to five hours. However, this can vary from person to person.

How should I store it?

Do not store these tablets above 30°C, and keep them in a safe place away from children.

Can I split Viagra tablets?

You shouldn’t split Viagra tablets, as this alters the amount of the drug you take. The dosage issued to you by a doctor or a pharmacist is the specific dose they feel is most suitable for you.

Side effects

No medication is suitable for absolutely everyone. While most men may find Viagra an entirely safe treatment to use, it can cause side effects in some cases. If these occur, you must speak to your GP or pharmacist right away.

Here is a list of known possible side effects associated with Viagra (sildenafil):

Common (1 in 10 people):

• Headache

Uncommon (1 in 100 people):

• Dizziness
• visual colour distortions
• blurred vision
• flushing
• hot flushes
• nasal congestion
• nausea
• indigestion

Rare (1 in 1000 people):

• Vomiting 
• skin rash
• eye irritation
• bloodshot or red eyes
• eye pain
• visual flashes
• visual brightness
• increased sensitivity to light 
• watery eyes 
• increased heart rate

For more detailed information regarding potential side effects, read the patient information leaflet supplied with the product, or speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Prolonged or painful erections

Priapism, or an erection that lasts for longer than 4 hours, is reported in the patient information leaflet as a rare side effect of Viagra (affecting 1 in 1,000 users or less). If you experience this, seek immediate medical attention.

Taking it with other medicines & contraindications

It is imperative to tell your prescriber about any medicines you are taking during consultation. You should never begin or finish taking any medicines before checking with your doctor first, whether they are prescription or non-prescription medicines, or over-the-counter remedies.

Inform your doctor during consultation for Viagra if you take: nitrates for angina (chest pain), nitric oxide donors (‘poppers’), protease inhibitors to treat HIV, antiarrhythmia medication, or alpha-blockers for high blood pressure or prostate enlargement.

You should never take Viagra in addition to any other forms of erectile dysfunction medication.

Conditions to look out for

Viagra is not suitable for those who: have severe heart or liver problems; have recently had a stroke or heart attack; have inherited eye diseases (retinitis pigmentosa); or have ever experienced a loss of vision due to non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).

Whether you're buying Viagra online or getting it from your usual doctor, make sure you tell your GP during consultation if you have, or have had, any medical conditions, including the following: sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, multiple myeloma, deformity of the penis, Peyronie’s Disease, heart problems, bleeding issues or stomach ulcers.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

This treatment should not be used by women.

Driving and using machinery

Possible side effects of Viagra include dizziness and visual disturbances. You should wait and see how this treatment affects you before attempting to drive or operate machines.

Food, drink and alcohol

It may take longer for Viagra to work if taken with a large meal.

Alcohol can make erectile problems worse, so it is better not to drink alcohol when using this medicine.

Recreational drugs

Taking recreational drugs alongside erectile dysfunction medicines like Viagra can be incredibly dangerous, and cause severe adverse reactions. You must not take recreational drugs if you are taking Viagra or plan to take Viagra.

Am I allergic to anything in the medicine?

Viagra tablets contain the active ingredient Sildenafil Citrate. Do not take the medicine if you are allergic to this, or any other ingredients contained in the medicine: microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrogen phosphate (anhydrous), croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), lactose monohydrate, triacetin, indigo carmine aluminium lake (E132).

Lactose intolerance

These tablets contain lactose. If you are intolerant to any sugars, let your prescriber know.

What is Viagra Connect?

Viagra Connect is the name given to the rebranded 50mg dose of Viagra. It became available in Spring 2018, and does not require a prescription from a doctor.

What are the alternatives to Viagra?

There are other tablets available for erectile dysfunction, such as Cialis, Levitra and Spedra. ED medicines are also available in non-tablet form, such as Caverject, MUSE, Nipatra and Vitaros. All of the above are presently prescription-only treatments, meaning that you will need to have your condition assessed by a physician before using them to ensure they are safe for you.

‘Natural’ or ‘herbal’ remedies are also offered by some outlets as over-the-counter treatments for erectile dysfunction. However, they are not subject to the same testing procedures as prescription medicines, and are therefore not scientifically proven to be effective (or even safe).

Can women take Viagra?

No, it is only suitable for men. At present, there is no licensed medication on the market which resembles 'female Viagra'.

(You can read more on our 'Viagra for women' information page about HSDD.)

What is the difference between Viagra and other ED treatments?

Other tablets used in ED such as Levitra, Cialis and Spedra contain a different active ingredient, and therefore have a different mechanism of action. Others may have a longer or shorter lasting effect, and others may get to work faster. In some cases, the rate of efficacy reported in clinical trials may also be different.

Take a look at our ED tablet comparison page to read more.

Besides tablets, injectable and cream treatments are also available. In cases where various medicines have proved ineffective, other treatment methods such as implants or surgery might also be considered.

In instances where erectile dysfunction only occurs occasionally, treatment may not be needed; and addressing lifestyle factors or stress may be enough to tackle the problem.

Can I take Viagra in combination with other treatments?

No. You should only ever use one erectile dysfunction treatment at a time. If you feel as though your current treatment is not working as well as it should, speak to your doctor about an alternative.

Are there natural or herbal alternatives to Viagra?

‘Natural remedies’ for erectile dysfunction are available, but the majority of these have not been thoroughly tested in clinical settings; so it is not possible to determine how effective (or safe) they are in comparison to Viagra (or at all).

Can you buy Viagra online without a prescription?

The 50mg version (available as Viagra Connect) has recently been reclassified as a pharmacy medication, and therefore does not require a doctor’s prescription. However, the higher dose (100mg) does still require a prescription.

To provide Viagra for sale UK pharmacies operating online must either ask the patient to present a prescription, or offer a service where the patient can be screened by a doctor (or pharmacist, depending on the dose).

When buying Viagra online then, it is important to be vigilant. You should never use a pharmacy site which does not undertake any kind of medical screening. Sites offering the medicine without doing so are likely doing so illegally.

Read more about whether you need a prescription for Viagra.

Can I buy Viagra online as a first-time user?

Yes. You can buy lower doses of Viagra (25mg and 50mg) from Treated.com if you have not taken it before, provided the doctor or pharmacist issuing it is satisfied it is suitable. However, the higher dose (100mg) is not available to first-time users.

Whether you have taken Viagra before or not, you will still need to complete a short consultation and have your case reviewed by either our doctor (in the case of Viagra) or our pharmacist (in the case of Viagra Connect) before it can be issued.

How much does Viagra cost?

Online Viagra prices tend to vary, but it is a branded medicine and therefore not a cheap drug; so you should be wary of any site offering branded Viagra tablets for sale at a heavily discounted price.

On our site, the price of 4 Viagra 50mg tablets is £34. This price is inclusive of consultation and delivery. We review our Viagra prices on a regular basis to make sure we stay competitive.

Can I get Viagra on the NHS?

Some men are entitled to Viagra, or the generic version of the drug, sildenafil, on an NHS prescription. Men with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes or Parkinson’s disease may be able to get Viagra from their GP for free.

You can find out more on our information page explaining who can get Viagra on an NHS prescription.

Can I get Viagra from a high street pharmacy?

Yes. High street and supermarket pharmacies do offer the drug. However, you won’t be able to simply buy Viagra off the shelf; you will still need to have a consultation with a pharmacist or a prescriber.

Read more on how to buy Viagra from high street pharmacies.

How can I buy Viagra online safely?

Check the credentials of the site you’re using. To sell Viagra in the UK, a pharmacy site must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. Only using online pharmacies that are registered with the CQC can also provide an added layer of security.

Viagra is not available as a liquid, jelly or gel. It is available only as a tablet; so you should never trust a website offering it in a different form.

You can read more on our how to avoid pharmacy scams and buying medicine online safely pages.

Our simple questionnaire takes just a few minutes to fill out. If after considering your answers our GP is satisfied that the medicine is suitable for you, an e-prescription will be issued and your medication will be dispensed by our UK pharmacy. Orders are shipped by 24-hour courier, and typically arrive within one working day.

Does Viagra treat the causes of erectile dysfunction?

In some cases yes, but not always. There are several possible causes of erectile dysfunction. These range from emotional and psychological factors, such as stress and anxiety, to physical causes such as decreased blood flow, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Viagra enables better blood flow to the penis, but this isn’t always the sole cause of the problem. In some cases, addressing the underlying problem instead, be it through lifestyle changes or through counselling, might mean that someone does not need to take erectile dysfunction treatment at all.