What's the difference between Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil?

In Spring 2018, the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra became available to buy over the counter in pharmacies for the first time. Marketed under the brand name Viagra Connect, this medication is available without a prescription; to obtain it you will simply need to have a short conversation with the pharmacist. This is good news for many men who are affected by ED, as it enables quicker, easier access to the medication they need.

If you’re already using Viagra or another ED tablet, you may be curious about Viagra Connect and how it compares to other treatments. To make the association between various ED tablets clearer, we’ve put together a guide to the differences and similarities between Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil.

What is the active ingredient in Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil?

Viagra Connect, Viagra and Sildenafil all contain the same active ingredient: sildenafil citrate. Sildenafil citrate is a chemical that temporarily increases blood flow to the penis, enabling an erection when sexually aroused.

Because all three treatments contain sildenafil citrate as their active ingredient, they all work in exactly the same way.

How do these treatments work?

How does Viagra Connect work?

The active ingredient in Viagra Connect (sildenafil citrate) works by increasing the blood supply to the penis. This can give you a firmer, more long-lasting erection, when you’re sexually aroused. 

How does Viagra work?

As Viagra contains the same active ingredient as Viagra Connect, it works in exactly the same way. 

How does Sildenafil work?

Sildenafil is the generic version of Viagra, containing the same active ingredient as Viagra and Viagra Connect. Because all three treatments contain sildenafil citrate as their active ingredient, they all work in exactly the same way.

Taking ED medication

Who can take it?

To take any of these three tablets you must be a man who is experiencing erectile dysfunction, and you must be able to take sildenafil citrate safely. Men with a history of certain conditions such as liver failure, or those who are taking certain medications such as nitrates will not be able to take sildenafil citrate.

Viagra Connect will only be sold over the counter to men over the age of 18.

How do you take it?

Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil should all be taken in exactly the same way. To take your medication correctly you should:

• Take one tablet one hour before you plan to have sex
• Avoid eating a heavy meal or drinking alcohol before or after taking your tablet
• Avoid drinking grapefruit juice as this can interact negatively with the medicine
• Become sexually aroused (if you are not aroused you will not achieve an erection)

The effects of Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil typically last for at least four hours. During this time you should be able to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for sex whenever you become sexually aroused.

What's the dosage?

The dosage of a medicine determines how much of the active ingredient it contains. In other words, the higher the dosage, the stronger its effects. Viagra and Sildenafil are available in three dosages: 

• 25mg
• 50mg 
• 100mg. 

Viagra Connect will only be available in one dosage: 

• 50mg. 

The good news is that 50mg is the most popular dosage for Viagra, and most men who use this dosage find it to be very effective. If you are currently taking a higher or lower dosage of Viagra or Sildenafil, you should talk to your doctor before switching over to the Viagra Connect.

What's the Viagra Connect pack size?

Viagra Connect will be available in pack sizes of 4 to 16 tablets.

What does the Viagra Connect tablet look like?

Viagra and Viagra Connect look the same. The tablets are blue and diamond-shaped; on one side they say PFIZER and on the other side they will display either V50 if using Viagra connect 50mg or VGR followed by either 25/50/100 if using Viagra 25mg/50mg/100mg.

Sildenafil tablets will look different depending upon which manufacturers they have been made by. They are often blue and will usually indicate the dosage on one side.

Who is the manufacturer?

Pfizer is the manufacturer of Viagra and Viagra Connect. This company first developed sildenafil citrate as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, branding the medicine as Viagra.

When the patent expired on Viagra, other manufacturers were able to develop their version of Viagra; these medicines are referred to as generic Viagra and are usually labelled as Sildenafil. To be considered a legitimate generic version of Viagra, a medicine must contain exactly the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) in the same dosage.

Various types of Sildenafil are available from different manufacturers.

What are the side effects?

Because Viagra, Viagra Connect and Sildenafil all contain the same active ingredient, they are all associated with the same side effects. These side effects are typically mild and can include nausea, vomiting, facial flushing, pounding headache, nasal congestion, indigestion and blurred vision.

Higher dosages of sildenafil citrate may cause stronger side effects, so if you are experiencing any issues, you may want to talk to your GP about switching to a different dosage.

How does this treatment compare to other ED tablets?

Though Viagra Connect will make it easier for men to get ED treatment, it won’t necessarily be the best treatment for all men. Along with different dosages of Viagra, other ED tablets to consider are Cialis, and Levitra. 

Cialis is notable for its long window of effectiveness. After taking one tablet you can expect the effects to last up to 36 hours. This means that during this period you should be able to get an erection whenever you become sexually aroused.

Levitra is the tablet most commonly recommended for diabetic men. 

Which ED treatment is the best?

There is no easy answer as to which ED treatment is best. This is because some men might find one treatment works for them, some men might find that another treatment is a better option.

How much do ED treatments cost?

The price of ED treatments varies depending on if it’s a generic or branded treatment (such as Sildenafil or Viagra), pack size and the type of treatment you’re requesting. 

How can I choose the right ED treatment for myself?

If you’re not sure which ED treatment is right for you, you might benefit from taking our free online consultation. The answers you give our clinicians in this consultation will help them prescribe the most appropriate treatment, if needed. 

References

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/viagra-epar-product-information_en.pdf
https://www.viagraconnect.ie/what-is-viagra-connect