Viagra Connect contains sildenafil which belongs to a group of medications called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.

PDE5 inhibitors are the first-line treatment recommended for erectile dysfunction. They work by relaxing the smooth muscles in the penis and widening the blood vessels, which increases blood flow, making it easier to get and keep an erection.

Viagra Connect does not work on its own, you will need to be aroused in order to get an erection.

How long does Viagra Connect last?

Viagra Connect can last for up to 4 hours after you have taken it. After this time, the active ingredient is broken down in the liver and removed from the body.

How long does Viagra Connect take to work?

The amount of time it takes for Viagra Connect to work can vary between people, but it usually takes 30 to 60 minutes to take effect. You can take Viagra Connect up to 4 hours before you intend to have sex, although we recommend you take it 1 hour beforehand.

Eating before you take Viagra Connect can increase the time it takes for your body to absorb the medication. For the quickest results, take Viagra Connect on an empty stomach.

How effective is Viagra Connect?

Viagra Connect is effective for treating erectile dysfunction. Clinical trials have shown that 50mg of sildenafil can cause an erection with at least 60% rigidity (hardness) in an average time of 25 minutes.

In a 2007 study, over 94% of participants were satisfied with the effect of sildenafil on their erectile function and claimed it had improved their ability to have sex. Further trials have shown that a 50mg dose of sildenafil is effective in 74% of men who try it.

To use Viagra Connect:

• take 1 tablet around 1 hour before you have sex
• swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water
• do not take more than 1 tablet per day

You will need to be aroused for Viagra Connect to have an effect. It may help to do foreplay before sex, just as you might do if you were not taking erectile dysfunction medication.

Avoid grapefruit juice or alcohol since both can make side effects more likely and alcohol can make erections harder to get and keep.

When to take Viagra Connect

Viagra Connect starts to work within 30 to 60 minutes after you take it, so it is recommended you take the pill about an hour before you plan to have sex. You can take it once a day, any time of day, with or without food. Just remember that taking it after a meal will delay how fast it gets to work.

How often to take Viagra Connect

You must only take one Viagra Connect tablet daily. Taking more than the recommended dose can cause severe side effects, including long-term damage to your penis. You can take Viagra Connect every day if needed.

How long do you need to use Viagra Connect for?

Viagra Connect does not cure erectile dysfunction. As long as you are experiencing erectile dysfunction it may be helpful to continue to take Viagra Connect before sex. If your erectile dysfunction improves due to lifestyle changes or other factors then you may find you no longer need to take medication.

Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra Connect, is safe for long-term use. One study analysed the safety and effectiveness of sildenafil over 4 years and reported few adverse events that resulted in a change in dose or stopping treatment.

Viagra Connect is the first erectile dysfunction treatment to be available without a prescription, making it easily obtainable. You can get it directly from pharmacies or by ordering online.

Can I buy Viagra Connect online?

Yes, you can buy Viagra Connect online from trusted online doctor services such as Superdrug Online Doctor. Although you do not need a prescription, you will need to answer a few health-related questions, this is so a doctor can see if it is right for you.

To order Viagra Connect from Superdrug Onlne Doctor:

1. Fill out a short medical questionnaire about your health.
2. Request and pay for treatment.
3. One of our doctors will review your answers to the questionnaire and will approve your treatment if they think it is suitable for you.
4. Your order will be delivered to your address or can be collected from a Superdrug Pharmacy.
5. If your order is not approved, your payment will be refunded and you will receive a message from one of our doctors in your account.

Can I buy Viagra Connect over-the-counter?

Viagra Connect is available over-the-counter in most UK pharmacies, including any Superdrug Pharmacy.

If you choose to buy Viagra Connect over-the-counter, the pharmacist will ask you a few health-related questions to make sure Viagra Connect is safe for you. If it is, you will be able to buy it right away.

Can I get Viagra Connect on the NHS?

Because you do not need a prescription for Viagra Connect, it is not available on the NHS. Branded erectile dysfunction treatments such as Viagra are not available on the NHS except in certain circumstances. Instead, you can be given an NHS prescription for generic medications, such as sildenafil.

Like all medications, Viagra Connect can cause side effects but not everyone will get them.

Very common side effects include:

• headaches

Common side effects include:

• feeling sick
• indigestion
• dizziness
• stuffy nose
• facial flushing
• blurred vision

Uncommon side effects include:

• being sick
• acid reflux
• stomach pain
• bloodshot eyes
• light sensitivity
• watery eyes
• skin rashes
• nosebleeds
• tiredness
• feeling hot
• rapid heartbeat
• low blood pressure
• muscle pain
• dry mouth
• runny nose
• sneezing

Rare side effects include:

• fainting
• irritability
• loss of hearing
• stroke
• heart attack
• bleeding at the back of the eye
• bleeding from the penis

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, you should go to A&E or call 999:

• chest pains
• an erection that is painful or lasts more than 4 hours
• vision loss
• allergic reaction
• serious skin reaction
• seizures

How long do Viagra Connect side effects last?

Most of the side effects listed are mild and will only last a few hours to a day. Headaches caused by Viagra can last up to a week. If you experience side effects from Viagra that don’t go away over time, get in touch with a doctor.

What to do if you get Viagra Connect side effects

If you get side effects while taking Viagra Connect, you should let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may be able to offer advice or recommend a different erectile dysfunction treatment.

You can also report side effects through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme, including those not listed in the patient information leaflet.

Viagra Connect may not be suitable for everyone. Before taking Viagra Connect, tell your doctor if you:

• are under 18
• were assigned female at birth
• are allergic to any of the ingredients in Viagra Connect
• do not have an erection problem
• take amyl nitrate (poppers) as a recreational drug
• have been advised by your doctor not to have sex because of a heart or blood vessel issue
• have a severe heart problem including a recent heart attack or stroke, unstable angina or severe heart failure
• have a liver problem
• have low blood pressure
• have a deformed penis
• have ever had vision loss caused by nerve damage in the eyes

If any of the above apply to you, you may not be able to take Viagra Connect and your doctor can help you find an alternative, safe treatment.

Medications that interact with Viagra Connect

Some medications can interact with Viagra Connect and make it unsafe or less effective.

You cannot take Viagra Connect if you take the following medicines:

• any nitrate medicines for chest pain or heart failure
• riociguat for treating high blood pressure in the lungs
• ritonavir for HIV

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any prescription, over-the-counter, or herbal medicines before taking Viagra Connect.

There are several Viagra Connect alternatives available.

If you are looking for over-the-counter options, you could try:

• Superdrug sildenafil: a generic, over-the-counter alternative to Viagra Connect available at Superdrug Pharmacies.
• Penis pumps: effective medical devices that draw blood into the penis and can be used with or without erectile dysfunction medications. At Superdrug Online Doctor, we offer the Vaxaid V30 vacuum pump.
• Penis rings: help slow down blood leaving the penis to help erections last. They work well when used together with penis pumps.
• Cialis Together: an over-the-counter alternative to Cialis, Cialis Together is a long-lasting erectile dysfunction treatment.

There are other non-medical treatments available for erectile dysfunction, but there is very little evidence that these work, including:

• acupuncture
• herbal pills (horny goat weed, arginine, maca, DHEA, melatonin, zinc)

If you feel that Viagra Connect isn’t working for you, there are several other prescription-only erectile dysfunction medications available, including:

• Spedra: the fastest-working tablet that can start working in just 15 minutes. It contains the active ingredient avanafil.
• Cialis: the longest-lasting erectile dysfunction medicine, lasting up to 36 hours. It contains the active ingredient tadalafil.
• Cialis Daily: a daily version of Cialis that is always working, so you’re ready for sex whenever.
• Viagra: if you find the effects of Viagra Connect are too strong for you or you experienced side effects, you may need a lower dose. Alternatively, if the effects aren’t strong enough, you may need a higher dose. Viagra is available in 3 doses; 25mg, 50mg or 100mg, giving more flexibility than the over-the-counter version.
• Vitaros: Vitaros is a cream applied directly to the penis that starts working in 5 to 30 minutes. It increases blood flow and helps you get a hard enough erection for sex. It contains the active ingredient alprostadil.

Does Viagra Connect make you last longer?

Viagra Connect helps you get and keep an erection, so it can help you last longer if you are not having sex due to erectile dysfunction. Viagra Connect is not a treatment for premature ejaculation though, so it will not make you last longer if you orgasm faster than you’d like to, unless your premature ejaculation is connected to erectile dysfunction.

Can you drink alcohol when taking Viagra Connect?

To get the full benefit of Viagra Connect, avoid drinking alcohol before sex. Alcohol can temporarily reduce your ability to get an erection, so it may delay the effectiveness of Viagra Connect. It can also increase your risk of experiencing some Viagra side effects.

Can women take Viagra Connect?

No, women cannot take Viagra Connect. It is only licensed in the UK to be used by men. You could potentially experience serious side effects if you take Viagra and you are a woman. Therefore, we do not recommend that women take Viagra Connect.