How To Buy Viagra Over The Counter Without Prescription in the UK

Table of Contents

• What is Over The Counter Viagra?
• Why Should I Be Careful Where I Buy Viagra?
• Over The Counter Viagra: What Is It Used For?
• Can You Buy Over The Counter Viagra Without a Prescription
• Reasons To Change Your ED Treatment
• Over The Counter Viagra Alternatives
• Over the counter Viagra: How Much Should I Take?

What is Over The Counter Viagra?

Over-the-counter Viagra is when you purchase Viagra from a pharmacy without the need for a prescription from your doctor (GP). 

Historically, Viagra was a prescription medication which required you to visit your doctor, but a recent change in UK law means that your local pharmacy can sell it to you without a prescription.

The aim of this is to help address an ongoing concern that many men have, in a way which is convenient and discrete.

As Viagra is still a medication, it's essential to purchase it from a registered chemist with qualified pharmacists.

Why Should I Be Careful Where I Buy Viagra?

When you purchase Viagra online, it's essential to check that you are buying from a registered and regulated source. You can do this by looking for:

The chemist registration logo with a seven-digit registration number. You can check the number matches the business name and that they are registered by visiting the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Whether the website looks professional and clearly provides information about the pharmacy, including their registered name and address. You can ask to speak to the pharmacist and verify their credentials too. All pharmacies, whether online or brick and mortar, are required to display the details of the responsible pharmacist on duty.

By purchasing Viagra from a registered pharmacy, you can be sure that you will be receiving a legitimate product from a trusted source. The pharmacist who makes the sale will also check that it is safe for you to take, by assessing your medical history, including checking for interactions with any other mediations you are taking.

For instance, you will need to consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking Viagra if you have:

• Stomach ulcers
• Deformation of the penis
• Bleeding disorders
• Heart problems
• You experience or have experienced an erection lasting longer than 4 hours
• Multiple myeloma
• Leukaemia

You should not use Viagra Connect if you are currently on any of the following medications:

• Nitrates – used to treat angina
• Riociguat – used to treat high blood pressure in the lungs
• HIV medication – such as ritonavir

Your pharmacist can also help to answer other questions you have surrounding the use of Viagra. 

Over The Counter Viagra: What Is It Used For?

Viagra is a treatment for erectile dysfunction which works by increasing blood flow to the penis upon sexual stimulation. This allows men to achieve and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual activity. 

Viagra contains the active ingredient sildenafil citrate and belongs to the class of medication known as PDE5 inhibitors.

It is important to note that Viagra will only work for those who have ED. You need to be sexually aroused in order for the medication to be effective. Viagra will not make your erection bigger or help you to last longer if you are suffering from premature ejaculation.

If you are taking Viagra for the first time or thinking about trying it, you can ask the pharmacist to address any questions you have. You should take one tablet around 1 hour before sexual activity. The effects usually last up to 4 hours.  

Can You Buy Over The Counter Viagra Without a Prescription

The change in UK law means that Viagra is available over the counter from a pharmacy. The change in law is why you are likely to see multiple advertisements on TV, online and on the radio.  

OTC Viagra is available from most pharmacies. If you would prefer a face-to-face consultation, you can get Viagra over the counter at Boots, Sainsbury's, and other physical chemists including Tesco’s and Asda. 

Although millions of men experience erectile dysfunction, it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming to visit your local supermarket or chemist to buy Viagra over the counter, especially if you bump into a familiar face, or get asked questions at the counter. By using a registered online pharmacy to purchase Viagra, you can access all the information and advice you need and receive the package through the post in plain and discrete packaging.

Reasons To Change Your ED Treatment

There are several compelling reasons why you might consider altering your current approach to managing erectile dysfunction (ED). These include: 

• Advanced planning for sexual activity causes anxiety
• You need a treatment that works quicker (Viagra should be taken 1 hour before sex whereas alternatives such as Cialis are taken daily and can offer a continuous effect)
• You would prefer treatment which is effective for longer
• Your current treatment isn’t working
• The cost of Viagra is too high

By considering these factors, you can make a more informed decision about potentially changing your ED treatment to better suit your lifestyle, financial situation, and treatment goals. The good news is that there are alternative options available.

Over The Counter Viagra Alternatives

Viagra alternatives include other medication belonging to the same class of drug, PDE-5 inhibitors. They are oral pills like Viagra over the counter, and help you to achieve and maintain an erection. They include sildenafil (the generic version of Viagra), tadalafil (also known as Cialis), vardenafil (also known as Levitra) and avanafil (also known as Spedra). Unfortunately, you cannot buy these treatments without a prescription. 

Sildenafil ("Generic Viagra")

Sildenafil is the active ingredient in Viagra. It is available as a non-branded version, often referred to as ‘generic Viagra’. There is no difference between sildenafil and Viagra as the cheaper alternative contains the same active ingredient.

Sildenafil also works by relaxing the smooth muscles within the penis when you are sexually stimulated. By relaxing the smooth muscle, blood can enter the penis easily, resulting in an erection.

Sildenafil is often preferred by many men, as an alternative to Viagra. This is because there is no difference in effectiveness, but the price of sildenafil is usually much cheaper than Viagra.

If Viagra or sildenafil is not working well for you, don’t give up, as there are alternative ED medications available.

Vardenafil

Vardenafil is very similar to Viagra as it is a PDE5 inhibitor. This means it works by relaxing the smooth muscles like sildenafil in Viagra. It is also available as a branded version, Levitra. You should take it 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity, and it is effective for up to six hours. Often recommended for those with diabetes, you might find this medication is affected by food and high-fat meals.

Tadalafil (Cialis)

Tadalafil is another alternative to Viagra and is more commonly known as Cialis (branded version).

Tadalafil is often referred to as ‘the weekend pill’, as its effects can last up to 36 hours, as you can take it on a Friday evening, and the effects can last till Sunday.  

It can be taken around 30 minutes before sexual activity, with or without food.

It is also available in lower dosage strengths of 2.5mg and 5mg. These are known as tadalafil daily. As the name suggest, you can take one tablet daily, which has a continuous effect. This avoids the need to schedule sexual activity and allows users to have a spontaneous sex life.

The debate between tadalafil vs sildenafil suggests that tadalafil is a better option overall, however, medication affects individuals in different ways and experiences amongst men with ED do vary. You can visit our tadalafil reviews and sildenafil reviews page, to gain an insight how users find each treatment.

Spedra (Avanafil)

Avanafil is more commonly known as Spedra, and can work in as little as 15 minutes.

You should avoid heavy meals beforehand, to increase the speed at which it becomes effective. Spedra can last for up to 4 hours.

If you’re still finding it difficult to decide which treatment is best for you, you can discuss it in confidence with a pharmacist. Ultimately, it may come down to trial and error.

Over the counter Viagra: How Much Should I Take?

The licensed dose for OTC Viagra (non-prescription) is ‘one tablet to be taken around 60 minutes before sexual activity’. If you are experiencing side effects of Viagra, you may wish to discuss this with your doctor or pharmacist, who may advise reducing the dose. If you find treatment to be ineffective, you may wish to speak to your doctor or pharmacist about increasing the dose of sildenafil. However, before doing so, you should try taking Viagra on 8 separate occasions, before deciding whether or not treatment is effective. It may take a while to get used to the idea of taking a tablet before sex. You should not take more than one tablet in 24 hours, and the maximum dose of sildenafil is 100mg daily.

If you are interested in learning more about over the counter treatments to improve erectile function, you can start a free online consultation with Chemist Click.

Whilst all of our content is written and reviewed by healthcare professionals, it is not intended to be substituted for or used as medical advice. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please speak to your doctor.