In the UK, Viagra Connect is a 50 mg tablet available at pharmacies [2, 4, 5] Viagra and generic sildenafil are functionally the same medication.
Many telehealth services charge a fee for a consultation with a healthcare professional, and the price of the medication will depend on which pharmacy or telehealth service a person uses. Many pharmacies will also charge a dispensing fee if someone decides to buy privately rather than going through the NHS. If a person uses a pharmacy that offers home delivery, they may need to pay for postage. Generally, U.K. insurance companies will not cover the cost of branded Viagra but may include generic Viagra or sildenafil in their policies.
Many telehealth services do not accept insurance, which means people will need to pay the full cost of any consultation fees. People will need to contact their insurance company to discuss whether it will cover the cost of Viagra or sildenafil. The NHS will only prescribe sildenafil if a person has erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension. In most cases, the NHS will only prescribe the generic version of Viagra, sildenafil. Sildenafil is the main ingredient in Viagra and works in the same way. Both contain the active ingredient sildenafil citrate and work in the same way to treat erectile dysfunction.
| Product | Dosage | Quantity + Bonus | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viagra Generic | 50mg | 20 Pills | 40.52€ 38.59€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100mg | 30 + 5 Sachets | 136.20€ 129.71€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 100mg | 20 Pills | 45.58€ 43.41€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 150mg | 120 + 8 Pills | 177.58€ 169.12€ | |
| Kamagra | 100mg | 12 Pills | 55.64€ 52.99€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 60 + 4 Pills | 125.19€ 119.23€ | |
| Viagra Generic | 200mg | 270 + 10 Pills | 379.76€ 361.68€ | |
| Kamagra Soft Tabs | 100mg | 12 Pills | 57.55€ 54.81€ | |
| Kamagra Oral Jelly | 100mg | 63 + 7 Sachets | 224.18€ 213.50€ | |
| Kamagra | 100mg | 360 + 6 Pills | 839.95€ 799.95€ |
However, there are some practical differences worth understanding. The biggest difference between Sildenafil and Viagra is branding. Viagra is a branded drug made by Pfizer (a well-known pharmaceutical company).
After Pfizer’s patent expired, other pharmaceutical companies began producing generic versions of sildenafil. These are made by different manufacturers (sometimes called generic manufacturers), which include Teva, Sandoz, Accord/Actavis, Mylan, Dr Reddy's, Bristol Labs, Zentiva, etc.That is why you see "Sildenafil" listed as the generic name for Viagra, along with other generic names such as Aronix, Liberize, and Nipatra. You may also see the phrase “generic Viagra” used to describe sildenafil products made by other companies. Another difference between Sildenafil and Viagra is how oral sildenafil the tablets look. Branded Viagra tablets are often recognised as the “blue pill” (their classic blue, diamond-like shape is distinctive). With generic drugs, appearance can vary because each generic manufacturer can use different shapes, colours, and markings. This doesn’t mean one is stronger or weaker; it’s mostly about branding and manufacturer choices.
That’s why many people ask, “Is sildenafil as good as Viagra?” For most patients, the answer is yes: when the dose is the same, the effect is expected to be the same. Both Sildenafil tablets and Viagra tablets are available in three dosages: 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg. These dose options help you identify the lowest effective dose with the fewest side effects.A common question is: Is 100mg of sildenafil the same as 100mg of Viagra? Yes, 100 mg is the same dosage, whether it comes from branded Viagra or a generic version. Dosage forms: For erectile dysfunction, sildenafil is commonly supplied as an oral film-coated tablet in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg strengths. The key Viagra ingredients that matter most are the active ingredient and the dose. When patients compare Viagra vs sildenafil, cost is often the deciding factor. In general, branded Viagra is usually more expensive than generic sildenafil.
| Year | Average Cost per 50mg Tablet (£) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | £2.20 | Slight increase due to supply chain issues |
| 2024 | £2.00 | Prices stabilizing, generic options becoming cheaper |
| 2024 | Average Price for 30 Tablets | £60 |
| 2024 | Best Deal Found | £1.50 per tablet in bulk packs |
That’s because you’re paying for the brand and the original development costs, while generic medicine is priced more affordably once multiple generic manufacturers enter the market.
Generic drugs are less expensive than branded versions, so it is more cost-effective for the NHS to only offer generic medication. However, GPs or other healthcare professionals who operate within the NHS will prescribe Viagra in exceptional circumstances. Prescriptions are free for residents of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Most people in England will need to pay for their NHS prescription for Viagra or sildenafil. The current fee is £9.65 per prescription item.
The NHS offers a Prescription Prepayment Certificate (PPC) that reduces the cost of medications sildenafil syrup if a person has several prescriptions. A PPC costs £31.25 for 3 months or £111.60 for 12 months. According to the NHS Business Services Authority, the following people will not have to pay for medication: children under the age of 16, or children ages 16–18 years in full-time education people in receipt of income-based benefits or Pension Credit families with an annual income of less than £15,276 and who receive Child Tax Credits either alone or alongside Working Tax Credits people who have a medical exemption certificate people who qualify for an HC2 certificate people who receive War Pension Scheme or Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments Viagra is generally safe so long as a person uses the drug in the way a healthcare professional prescribes. People should not take more than one tablet per day, with a maximum dosage of Some common side effects a person may experience include: People who are taking nitrates cannot also take Viagra as it can cause life threatening low blood pressure. People with other conditions, such as high blood pressure from other causes, heart conditions such as pulmonary veno-occlusion, ischemic optic neuropathy, and inherited degenerative eye conditions, cannot use Viagra. So if you’re searching “sildenafil vs Viagra price” or wondering “Why is Viagra more expensive than sildenafil?” it usually comes down to branding, how it’s supplied, and pharmacy pricing.
Availability is another key point in the Viagra vs sildenafil debate. In the UK, Viagra Connect is an over-the-counter version of sildenafil 50 mg that can be supplied after a pharmacist's assessment. Because Viagra Connect is designed for pharmacy supply, it may appeal to men who want a branded option without seeing a GP. However, the 25 mg and 100 mg strengths are supplied on prescription only, and most patients obtain generic sildenafil either directly or through a regulated online service following an assessment.
Yes, people do not need a prescription to buy Viagra in the United Kingdom. However, in some cases, a pharmacist will not be able to dispense Viagra until a person has had a consultation with a healthcare professional. For example, if a person has medications that could interact with Viagra, they will need to receive a prescription from a healthcare professional. Yes, some people can get Viagra for free. People in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland do not have to pay for their prescriptions.
While the NHS requires most people to pay £9.65 per prescription item in England, some individuals will be exempt. People who are of certain ages, in receipt of certain benefits or tax credits, on a low income, or enrolled in certain schemes may be eligible for free prescriptions. People can check their eligibility on the NHS Business Services Authority website. Yes, it is safe to buy Viagra online so long as a person uses a reputable pharmacy. are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council are registered with the Care Quality Commission employ healthcare professionals registered with the General Medical Council Viagra is a medication that can help people have and maintain erections. Depending on your required Viagra dosage and the treatment format chosen, the available options may vary slightly between providers and dispensing channels. Because both products contain sildenafil, their side effects are similar, but interactions and suitability remain important. Because Viagra and the generic sildenafil contain the same active formula, typical side effects can include nausea, flushing, indigestion (dyspepsia), and dizziness.
Viagra is the original brand name Viagra, and sildenafil (under various names) is the generic bioequivalent. Both belong to a group of pharmacological agents called PDE5 inhibitors. Mechanistically, sildenafil promotes the relaxation of smooth muscle and dilates blood vessels, which increases blood flow to the corpus cavernosum during sexual stimulation. Consequently, Sildenafil and Viagra can help you achieve and sustain an erection only in the presence of sexual arousal. Clinical trials show Sildenafil and Viagra work in exactly the same way because they contain the same active molecule, sildenafil citrate. Some patients also experience nasal congestion or headaches.
In the United Kingdom, people can either receive a prescription and medication through the NHS, buy Viagra OTC from pharmacies, or receive a private prescription. While buying sildenafil softgel capsule OTC medications or using private services may be quicker than using NHS services, it will likely be more expensive. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common, and it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. In simple terms, erectile dysfunction is when a man finds it difficult to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. The good news is that there are several erectile dysfunction treatment options available, and many men respond well to them.
Two of the best-known options are Viagra and Sildenafil (generic Viagra). Because they’re closely related, people often compare Viagra vs sildenafil when choosing an ED medication. So, what are the differences between Sildenafil and Viagra treatment? And when you are weighing up Viagra vs Sildenafil, which works better, acts faster, or feels different? Whilst there is only one Viagra - the original brand-name medication developed by Pfizer - there are now numerous sildenafil products available on the market, including generic versions manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies and other dosage forms such as sildenafil film strips and orodispersible tablets, all containing the same active ingredient (sildenafil citrate) and working identically to treat erectile dysfunction Both Viagra and sildenafil contain the same active ingredient: sildenafil citrate. Talk to your GP or Pharmacist about whether a lower dose could still treat erectile dysfunction effectively, or whether a different ED treatment might be better.