What is Viagra Connect and what is it used for?

Viagra Connect is an erection treatment for male adults who suffer from erectile dysfunction, a condition also known as impotence. Taken before sexual activity, Viagra Connect allows a man to achieve and maintain an erection during sex, by enabling greater blood flow to the penis. Viagra Connect is the first erectile dysfunction medication available without needing a prescription – it is classified as a pharmacy medicine meaning that you can buy it without a prescription from pharmacies only. This makes Viagra Connect a convenient option for treating erectile dysfunction.

How does Viagra Connect work?

Viagra Connect contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate which belongs to a class of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5). PDE5 inhibitors relax the blood vessels in the penis, increasing the blood flow to the organ and enabling an erection upon arousal in most men. The treatment is only effective when coupled with sexual stimulation – Viagra Connect and other PDE5 inhibitors do not create sexual arousal or increase libido, they simply enable blood to flow normally to the penis in order for an erection to occur when you get aroused. Viagra Connect helps to temporarily treat both the physical causes of ED and the psychological causes of ED.

What is a standard dose of Viagra Connect?

Viagra Connect, suitable for men between 18-64 years old, comes in a 50mg strength tablet. 50mg is the standard dose of treatment for sildenafil-based erectile dysfunction medication, including Viagra Connect, Viagra (the prescription sildenafil treatment from Pfizer) and generic Sildenafil. The lower 25mg strength of Sildenafil is often prescribed for men over the age of 65. If an individual’s tolerance to the standard dose is high, the dose can be increased on prescription to the 100mg tablets of Sildenafil.

How do I take Viagra Connect?

One Viagra Connect tablet should be swallowed whole with water approximately one hour before intended sexual activity.

Do not take more than one tablet in 24 hours.

How long does Viagra Connect take to work?

Once you have taken a tablet, it can take between 30 and 60 minutes for the effects to become active in the body. It is important to note that sexual stimulation is required for the treatment to be effective.

Viagra Connect can be taken with or without food, but food can delay the onset of activity so it may take a little longer to work.

For most men, Viagra Connect will work the first time, but it may take two or three attempts of taking the treatment to work if you haven’t had an erection in a while. These attempts should be done on different days – you must leave 24 hours between doses.

How long does Viagra Connect remain active in the body?

Viagra Connect stays in the body for up to 4 hours. This does not mean that patients will have an erection for 4 hours continuously but the medication remains active in the body and so there is the potential, with sexual stimulation, to achieve and maintain an erection for sexual intercourse.

Are Viagra Connect tablets safe?

Viagra Connect is a licensed and registered medication in the UK. The active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, has been on the market for as many years as the well-known erection treatment Viagra, first manufactured by Pfizer (patented the medication in 1996) and is proven to be both safe and effective.

Do I need a prescription to take Viagra Connect?

You do not need a prescription to buy Viagra Connect in the UK. Even though it is an over-the-counter product, you will need to speak to a pharmacist before taking the treatment to ensure it is suitable for you. When ordering, we’ll ask you a few questions to check if Viagra Connect is right for you.

Viagra Connect is available at online pharmacies at much better prices than you can generally find on the high street. Just make sure your online pharmacy is legitimate, licensed and fully regulated like Pharmica.

How is Viagra Connect different from Sildenafil?

Sildenafil citrate is the active ingredient in Viagra Connect, as well as in Viagra and in its generic version Sildenafil, and so all are medically equivalent. As Sildenafil is the unbranded version of the medicine, it is available on the market at a significantly lower price, despite working in the same way and being just as effective.

All generic medications have to demonstrate that they are medically equivalent to their branded versions to be approved for the market. This means that they have been proven to have the same active ingredient, effectiveness, strength, stability, quality and safety as their branded counterparts.

As Viagra Connect is available without a prescription, it is only sold in the standard 50mg strength. This is the recommended starting dose, and the one that is suitable for most men in helping achieve an erection when required. Some men may wish to take a stronger dose if they have tried the standard 50mg strength and found it is not treating their erectile dysfunction effectively, or take a lower dose if they experience side effects. Both Viagra and generic Sildenafil are available at 25mg and 100mg strengths with a prescription.

Does Viagra Connect help you last longer in bed?

Viagra Connect (sildenafil) may have some positive effects on managing premature ejaculation. Some studies have found a link, such as a 2007 study which found that after 6 months of Viagra use, PE (premature ejaculation) was reduced and was more effective than the squeeze technique.

With that said, there isn’t enough conclusive evidence as to whether Viagra could help prevent premature ejaculation or not, and therefore you cannot get a Viagra prescription for the treatment of PE. Specific premature ejaculation treatments are available that are far more suitable and effective, such as Priligy, an oral tablet treatment that extends the time before ejaculation, enhancing your sexual experience for both you and your partner.

Can I take Viagra Connect with alcohol?

Drinking alcohol can temporarily affect the ability to achieve a strong erection, and indeed chronic alcohol use is a cause of longer-term erectile dysfunction. While Viagra Connect is safe to take when drinking alcohol in moderation, heavy consumption of alcohol may decrease your likelihood of being able to get an erection. In order to get the full effect of the medication, avoid drinking large quantities of alcohol before intended sexual activity.

When is the best time to take Viagra Connect?

To get the maximum benefit from Viagra Connect, you should take it approximately 30 to 60 minutes before planned sexual activity. A heavy or high-fat meal can slow down the effect of the medication so for faster onset of activity, you should take the medicine on an empty stomach. Interestingly, the absorption of some other PDE5 inhibitors such as Tadalafil (Cialis) is not affected by food consumption.

Are there any alternatives to Viagra Connect?

In the UK, Viagra Connect is the only erectile dysfunction medication available over-the-counter, but many others can be bought with a prescription. Viagra and generic Sildenafil are other forms of the medication consisting of sildenafil citrate, also available in higher and lower doses than Viagra Connect. For those that do not find Viagra Connect effective or their lifestyle demands different action times, some alternatives include Cialis (Tadalafil), Spedra (Avanafil), and Levitra (Vardenafil). These are also PDE5 inhibitors that work in a similar way to Viagra Connect, but with advantages such as being better suited for diabetics or taking effect quicker, and are also available online in tablet form. For an alternative method of achieving an erection without medication, try our VaxAid Deluxe hydrotherapy system. Read our guide to choosing the right ED medication for more information about how the different options compare.

Will Viagra Connect improve my fertility?

There have been a few different studies looking into the effect of Viagra on male fertility, with largely promising, yet inconclusive, results. A 2017 Chinese meta-analysis found that PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra) could “modestly” increase sperm motility (how well they swim) and morphology (their shape) in infertile men, whilst healthy men were unaffected. Early research aside, men struggling with erectile dysfunction can positively affect their fertility through taking Viagra since it helps to achieve and maintain an erection, increasing the chance of reaching ejaculation.

Misconceptions about Viagra Connect

There are many erectile dysfunction myths and misconceptions surrounding Viagra Connect and alternative medications. Here are a few key things you should know about ED and associated treatment. ED affects adult men of all ages, even in younger men, but is most common with age. Viagra Connect does not work immediately, it takes 30 to 60 minutes to take effect in the body. Whilst it helps to gain and maintain an erection, sexual stimulation is also needed. It does not increase sex drive, and it does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, so contraception like condoms are recommended. If Viagra Connect is found to be unsuitable for you, it is not the only option. There are several other ED treatments which you may find to be more effective than others.