Men in the UK will soon be able to buy Viagra over the counter for the first time after the erectile dysfunction drug was reclassified.
Those aged 18 and over will no longer need to see a GP for a prescription after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that it is changing the status of Viagra Connect tablets so they can be sold in pharmacies following a conversation with a pharmacist.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer said it is working on plans to launch the non-prescription version of the medicine in the UK in the spring of 2018. A four-pack of the sildenafil tablets will cost around £19.99 and an eight-pack £34.99. Men who buy it will be advised that they can take a 50 mg tablet an hour before having sex, but should not use more than one pill a day. Sildenafil is already available on NHS prescription free of charge.
The decision to reclassify the drug follows a public consultation, the MHRA said. Pharmacists will be able to determine whether treatment is appropriate for the patient and can give advice on erectile dysfunction, usage of the medicine, potential side effects and assess if further consultation with a general practitioner is required.
“The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.”
Mick Foy, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
But some men, including those with severe heart problems, those at high risk of heart problems, liver failure, kidney failure or those taking certain “interacting medicines”, will still need to be prescribed the drug under the supervision of a doctor.
It is hoped that making the drug more widely available will mean than men who may have not previously sought help will be more likely to do so. Health officials also hope the move will also help steer people away from buying drugs websites operating illegally.
The MHRA said that erectile dysfunction medicines are a “popular target” for criminals selling unlicensed and counterfeit medicines, over the past five years the Agency has seized more than £50m of unlicensed and counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines.
“This decision is good news for men’s health,” said Mick Foy, MHRA’s group manager in vigilance and risk management of medicines. “The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.
“Erectile dysfunction can be a debilitating condition, so it’s important men feel they have fast access to quality and legitimate care, and do not feel they need to turn to counterfeit online supplies which could have potentially serious side effects.”
Dr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director at Pfizer, said: “The availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies from next year will offer men who are eligible for the product a new and convenient way to access sildenafil, a commonly prescribed treatment for erectile dysfunction.
“We understand some men may avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, so we believe giving them the option to talk to a pharmacist and buy Viagra Connect could be a real step forward in encouraging more men into the healthcare system.
“As erectile dysfunction may be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, there could also be a wider benefit to public health in the long term. We hope that this forthcoming new opportunity to purchase a genuine treatment via pharmacy will also reduce the likelihood of men turning to potentially ineffective and dangerous counterfeits from illicit sources.”
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Dr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director at Pfizer, said: "The availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies from next year will also reduce the likelihood of men turning to potentially ineffective and dangerous counterfeits from illicit sources. We are experiencing a and are committed to evaluating men’s safety and the importance of getting their medicines from places that look good. We are taking steps tois hoped to improve public health.
Popular targetThe MHRA has made it easier for men to access effective and non-prescription erectile dysfunction medicines through the availability of a pharmacy pharmacy licence number, called PPH4, in order for the move to work better.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please be aware, prior to sale, you are advised to have a short phone call consultation with our Pharmacist. Automatic purchase consents the Pharmacist to give you a quick call.
Viagra Connect is available without a Prescription but requires a brief consultation with the Pharmacist. It is available in a 4 pack or an 8 pack. Viagra Connect contains Sildenafil 50mg which works by relaxing the penis blood vessels, allowing blood to flow when you get aroused causing erections and potency. Viagra Connect will only help men become erect if you are aroused. Only for adult use, men 18 years plus.
How to be taken:
VIAGRA CONNECT is not to be taken if:
Please read instructions carefully provided.
Viagra Connect is a fast acting drug for erectile dysfunction which can last up to 4 hours and takes effect within 30 minutes after administration.
Sildenafil Citrate 50 mg Tablets: This tablet is specifically formulated to treat the symptoms of erectile disfunction and is highly effective in treating it, the most common sexual disorder affecting men over the age of 40 years. Provides a solution to erectile dysfunction in men who suffer from impotence due to conditions such as heart disease or diabetes, or who have problems with their physical or mental health.
Viagra Connect ensures fast and effective results that last as long as 36 hours and come without side effects. It works by relaxing the blood vessels in the penis, allowing blood to flow into the phallus when you get sexually excited and causing the desired stiffness.
Side effects are rare and may include stomachache, headache, flushing, nasal congestion, indigestion, visual disturbances (such as a slight blue tinge to vision), chest pain, sickle cell disease, severe heart failure, and priapism. If you notice any other side effects are listed in the product information on this website, please sub[] them.Please read the patient information information information provided with the product carefully.
Side effects: There are a number of side effects that may occur which may not be explained away by the condition, but which can be minimized.The above information provides only general information regarding this medication. It does not serve to guidance your doctor or subsequent deported medications. This website does not supply medical advice nor medical advice for any condition or individual caught in the stands supply phase of the Patented Cream Act 1990.
All trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
PatenteeWASHINGTON -- The U. S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating whether a drug that treats erectile dysfunction could also be responsible for causing sexual dysfunction in men who were first prescribed it.
The agency's drug information, which was released in January, shows that a man who was prescribed Viagra (sildenafil), a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction, developed a reaction to his erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra, on Oct. 31, and received the same warning, the FDA said Wednesday.
Viagra, or sildenafil citrate, is the brand name for the drug Viagra. The agency said it was unable to determine if the drug affected the man's sexual function because of an interaction with sildenafil.
Viagra's label is similar to that of its competitor Cialis, which is known as Tadalafil, and is used to treat erectile dysfunction.
"The safety and efficacy of Viagra remain our utmost priority, and we will continue to work closely with regulatory agencies to determine whether the safety and efficacy of Viagra and other similar prescription drugs will be acceptable," said John Lechleiter, the FDA's chairman.
Viagra is used to treat erectile dysfunction in men. It works by increasing blood flow to the penis. It is taken orally or injected once a day.
Sildenafil was approved in 2003 and has been used for several years to treat erectile dysfunction, Lechleiter said.
The FDA said it was not aware of any studies or clinical trials that have investigated the drug's potential to cause sexual dysfunction in men. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Viagra is also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs, which is when blood vessels in the lungs constrict. The drug is also used to treat erectile dysfunction in men.
A spokeswoman for Pfizer Inc. said in a statement, "We are pleased to have received the FDA's notification that Viagra has been approved to treat erectile dysfunction in the United States."
The agency has not responded to requests for comment on Wednesday.
Viagra is not a controlled substance under the Food and Drug Act.
An FDA warning on the label of Cialis, which works by increasing blood flow to the penis, was added to its prescription drug guides in 2003.
In June, the drug was the subject of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration, which also said it had no clinical data to suggest that the drug might cause sexual dysfunction.
The drug's label is identical to that of the Cialis brand. The FDA said that the drug should not be prescribed to anyone who is not taking nitrates, prescribed for angina.
Sexual dysfunction is defined as "a failure or inability to achieve or maintain a sexual erection adequate for satisfactory sexual intercourse."
The FDA has also not received a response from the company to the request for comment on Wednesday. The agency will continue to work with the regulatory agencies to determine whether the safety and efficacy of sildenafil and other similar prescription drugs are acceptable.
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Originally Published: October 7, 2017 at 8:28 PM EDTFood and Drug Administration is investigating whether a drug that treats erectile dysfunction could also cause sexual dysfunction in men who were first prescribed it. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed, file photo)The FDA said it was unable to determine if the drug affected the man's sexual function because of an interaction with sildenafil.
Pfizer has launched its first generic version of a new drug to treat erectile dysfunction and the treatment of cancer. It is the first generic of Pfizer’s Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i) which is available in 100mg and 100mg strengths.
Pfizer is launching the drug at the end of October and will begin marketing it next month.
The drug is available in the doses of 100mg, 50mg, and 25mg and will be available in 50mg, 25mg, and 10mg strengths in the year 2025.
“The drug is a breakthrough for the treatment of erectile dysfunction and has revolutionized the treatment for this condition, providing more men with more options. We have been delighted to launch the drug at the end of the month. Our company, Pfizer, has been the first to make a significant step in this direction,” said Dr. Yoko Ono, Pfizer president, CEO and CEO. “We are thrilled to have launched this new product and look forward to launching it at the end of the month.”
Pfizer said it is proud to launch its generic drug, which treats erectile dysfunction and cancer, in November.
It will be available in 100mg and 100mg strengths, priced at Pfizer’s global headquarters in the UK.
The generic version of the drug has been approved by the European Medicines Agency and is available in 100mg and 100mg strengths in the EU. It is available in the same strength as the brand-name drug Viagra, as well as in the strength of 10mg.
Pfizer said the approval and availability of the drug in the UK will enable the company to sell the generic version in other countries where it is already available.
The drug, which is made by Pfizer’s subsidiary, Pharmacia, is expected to be launched next year.
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