What is Viagra Connect?
Pfizer is famous for the little blue pill, but now a new type of it is available across the UK, but what is Viagra Connect? Viagra Connect is a drug that’s used for erectile dysfunction. It contains the active ingredient Sildenafil, and works by allowing blood to flow into the penis more easily.
Viagra Connect is different to other drugs for erectile dysfunction because it’s the only one that’s available without a prescription, meaning that you can go into a pharmacy and buy it just like any other pharmacy medicine. However, it hasn’t been granted a general sales licence, so you’ll still need to speak to a pharmacist about Viagra Connect so they can make sure that it’s safe for you to take.
Viagra Connect has been available in the UK since March 2018 to men over the age of 18 that struggle with erectile dysfunction.
Sildenafil (the main ingredient in Viagra Connect) belongs to a family of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors, and was actually discovered by accident as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. In the late 1980s, researchers for Pfizer were working in Kent to determine the effectiveness off the drug for heart conditions such as angina. However, the trials showed that the drug wasn’t effective, and it was about to be shelved until a group of Welsh miners who were trialling Sildenafil reported side effects of increased erections. It’s this discovery that led the researchers to test the drug for erectile dysfunction instead of its original intended purpose. Luckily for them, it turned out to be a successful trial and Pfizer patented Sildenafil.
Viagra vs Viagra Connect
Many people are confused about the difference between Viagra vs Viagra Connect, but what’s the truth?
Essentially, both Viagra and Viagra Connect are the exact same drug. Both contain the active ingredient Sildenafil, and both are used for the exact same purpose. However, there are some subtle differences that comes down to a change in licencing when Pfizer first released Viagra Connect.
As mentioned above, Viagra Connect is available without a prescription, but regular Viagra and generic sildenafil aren’t. this is because when Pfizer decided to apply for reclassification of the medicine, they only opted for the 50mg version of the brand Viagra – not the active ingredient itself or the other strengths of Viagra. This means that Viagra Connect is only available at 50mg strength and not 25mg or 100mg. If you need either of these strengths, you’ll need a prescription either from your own GP or when you buy Viagra online through a trusted website like Doctor4U.
Does Viagra Connect Work?
Any erectile dysfunction medication containing sildenafil will work for most men that experience erectile dysfunction. It’s considered a first line treatment for the condition because of its effectiveness, along with other medicines in the same family.
Sometimes, Viagra Connect won’t work for you the first time you take it, and it might take a few tries of the drug for it to have the desired effect, but if you find that it’s not allowing you to achieve or maintain an erection that’s hard enough for sex, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor to explore other treatment options. This can happen with many of the PDE5 inhibitors, and sometimes it’s just about finding the one that suits you at the right dose. Viagra Connect is the same as Viagra 50mg and Sildenafil 50mg, so if one of these has worked for you in the past, Viagra Connect should have the same effect.
Is Viagra Connect Safe?
Yes, Viagra Connect is perfectly safe for most men, in fact, it was changed from being a prescription-only medicine to one that you can buy in a pharmacy, so it’s safe enough for the reclassification. However, there are some people that should avoid Viagra Connect before they’ve spoken to their normal GP, as it might have a negative effect on people with certain medical conditions, and it might interact with some medications. If you have any of the following conditions or problems, it’s important to avoid the drug until you’ve consulted your own doctor:
- Allergic to sildenafil or other ingredients
- Taking riociguat for pulmonary hypertension
- Using protease inhibitors for HIV
- Advised to avoid sexual activity
- Low blood pressure
- Lost vision due to damage to the optic nerve
- Uncontrolled blood pressure
- Severe liver problem
- Disease of the penis
- Deformed penis
- Issues with one of the valves in your heart
- Cardiomyopathy
- Arrythmia
- Heart surgery
- Erection that lasted longer than 4 hours
- Sickle cell anaemia
- Leukaemia
- Multiple myeloma
- Stomach ulcer
- Bleeding disorder
- Any liver or kidney problems
Viagra Connect could cause more harm than good if you take it whilst suffering with any of the above conditions, which is why it’s important to seek medical advice first. However, if you haven’t been diagnosed with any of the issues in the list, it should be safe for you to buy Viagra Connect.
As mentioned before, Viagra Connect also has the potential to interact with some medicines, so it’s also important to check what you’re already taking and if it’s on this list. If you aren’t sure, you can always ask your local pharmacist to check whether there are any potentially dangerous interactions between one of your regular medicines and Viagra Connect. You should seek medical advice before buying Viagra Connect if you take any of the following:
- Nitrate medicines for angina
- Poppers- a recreational legal high
- Any other erectile dysfunction treatments
- Alpha-blockers
- Protease inhibitors
- Cimetidine
- Itraconazole
- Ketoconazole
- Erythromycin
As long as you aren’t taking any of the above medicines, and don’t suffer from any of the conditions listed in this section, Viagra Connect should be a safe option to treat your erectile dysfunction.
Viagra Connect Side Effects
Although Viagra Connect is a pharmacy medicine, it doesn’t mean that it won’t cause side effects. If you’ve taken Viagra or generic sildenafil before, you should have an idea of what you can expect. Many men find that the benefits of Viagra Connect outweigh the side effects, but there are some that can’t tolerate them and need to seek alternative medicines. Some of the most common symptoms associated with Viagra Connect are:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Indigestion
- Stuffy nose
- Dizziness
- Facial flushing
- Hot flush
- Colour tinge to vision
- Other visual disturbances
- Vomiting
- Upper abdominal pain
- Heartburn / acid reflux
- Skin rash
- Pain in arms and legs
- Nosebleeds
- Feeling hot
- Fatigue
- Pounding/rapid heartbeat
- High blood pressure
- Low blood pressure
- Muscle pains
- Vertigo
- Tinnitus
- Dry mouth
Most of the above are often tolerable, but if you feel uncomfortable or particularly unwell whilst using Viagra Connect, you should stop taking it and consult your own doctor. It’s also important to know that your erection shouldn’t last longer than 4 hours. If you find that it has, you should get medical help immediately as this can be dangerous.
How long does Viagra Connect take to work?
The time it takes to work will vary slightly for each man, but general guidelines say to take the pill around 30-60 minutes before you plan to have sex. You must be sexually aroused or stimulated for the drug to work, so don’t worry about getting an erection if you don’t want one anymore. If you begin foreplay around the time you take the pill, you should know yourself when Viagra Connect starts to work, but it’s important to wait until your erection is hard enough for penetrative sex.
Viagra Connect cost
Viagra Connect costs less than standard Viagra, but more than generic Sildenafil, so if you don’t want to get a prescription for the generic version, Viagra Connect is your only option. The Viagra Connect cost is around £20 for 4, which works out at £5 per tablet. If the price of Viagra Connect puts you off, you can always look at the generic version on prescription, which is available to order online at Doctor4U.
Buy Viagra Connect
There are several options for you if you want to buy Viagra Connect. The most popular way of getting it is to visit your local chemist and talk to the pharmacist about whether it’s the right medicine for you, but this isn’t suitable for everyone. Erectile dysfunction can often be an embarrassing topic to talk about, especially when other questions about your health need to be asked as well, so talking to someone face to face can be off-putting for some men. Luckily, you can also buy Viagra Connect online through reputable pharmacies. Whilst it might take a little longer through the post, it can help many men that don’t want to talk to a doctor or pharmacist about the condition, especially when some services offer online consultations.
At Doctor4U, we offer a completely digital consultation, so you’ll never have to speak with a doctor or pharmacist face to face. All information is kept confidential, and any medicines that you order are shipped in plain and discreet packaging, so nobody will be able to tell what you’ve ordered (not even the postman). We also have a range of delivery options available to suit you, and the added bonus of buying Viagra Connect online – you don’t have to rush to the pharmacy before it closes. By using Doctor4U to buy Viagra Connect, you have the freedom to order it whenever suits you.
How is my order shipped to me?
When an order is ready for shipping, it is collected and delivered by either the Royal Mail or DPD depending on your preference (or possibly your location or the item you ordered). Each order is assigned a tracking number, which will be emailed to you at the time of dispatch. Your medicine will be sent in plain and discreet packaging that’s eco-friendly. We do not include any branding on our packaging nor any labels which inform readers what type of product is contained within.
Advice on Addiction and Medication Restrictions
If you are at all worried or concerned about an addiction to any type of medication, we urge you to speak to a professional for help and advice. Below are links to organisations that can help.
Talk To Frank
NHS Help & Advice On Drug Addiction
