On this page
- Alternatives
- Prices
- How and where to buy it online
- Is there a generic Viagra available?
- Can you buy Viagra over the counter?
- Do you need a prescription for Viagra?
- How many Viagra pills will a doctor prescribe?
- How long does it take for Generic Viagra to work?
- Which one is better, Viagra or Cialis?
- What happens if you take too much sildenafil?
- Is Revatio cheaper than Viagra?
Generic Viagra is more widely known as Sildenafil or Sildenafil Citrate. Its active ingredient is sildenafil citrate. This medicine is used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). In other words, Viagra is a branded name for sildenafil. While Viagra is produced by Pfizer, generic Viagra is being produced by several companies. Pfizer’s US patent protection ran out in December 2017, and that gave other companies a chance to produce generic versions. Nevertheless, only Pfizer can use the name Viagra.
The drug pumps blood to the penis for sustained erection since it is the flow of blood that sustains an erection. One common reason why it does not work for people is if their ED is caused by an underlying condition like low libido. In that situation, you have to take care of the underlying condition first. It is necessary to bear in mind that the drug is not an aphrodisiac. It cannot boost your sex drive.
Brand Viagra vs generic sildenafil — price of one 100 mg tablet
Both tablets contain the same 100 mg of sildenafil citrate. Figures are typical US prices from Drugs.com and move with the pharmacy and the pack size.
Alternatives
Alternatives to generic Viagra are:
- Tadalafil (Cialis)
- Vardenafil (Levitra and Staxyn)
- Avanafil ( Stendra)
Prices
A pack of generic Viagra starts at around $35, which works out at a couple of dollars a tablet. The price depends on the following factors.
- The dosage. The higher the dosage, the higher the price. 100mg is the most expensive, while 25mg is the least expensive.
- The number of pills in the pack. The higher the number of pills in a pack, the more expensive the pack will be.
- Volume discounts also count. For example, a pack of 60 pills of the same drug is more expensive than a pack of 30 pills but less expensive than two packs of 30 pills.
To see a typical pricing pattern of generic Viagra, see the current price list at the partner pharmacy.
How and where to buy it online
There are three categories of online pharmacies that sell the drug.
- Some pharmacies require your doctor’s prescription to sell the drug to you.
- Some pharmacies require a prescription and will provide one for you if you don’t have. You only need to fill a form.
- Some pharmacies will sell the drug to you without any prescription.
Here is the pharmacy whose price list we check against.
Answer the questionnaire
A short medical history: heart conditions, nitrates, other prescriptions. This is the part people rush, and it is the part that keeps the drug safe.
A clinician reviews it
At a pharmacy that issues prescriptions, a licensed clinician reads the answers and either writes the prescription or refuses it. A site that skips this step is not doing you a favour.
The order ships
Plain packaging, a tracking number a few days later, 5–7 business days by courier or 2–4 weeks by registered airmail.
Where people buy it
Compare what a month of sildenafil actually costs
The pharmacy we link to lists generic sildenafil by strength and pack size, so you can see the per-tablet price before you commit to anything. Read its prescription terms — they are not the same everywhere.
Check pharmacy pricesAffiliate link. We may earn a commission from this pharmacy; it does not change what we write. Check any online pharmacy against FDA BeSafeRx before you buy.
Is there a generic Viagra available?
Yes. Generic sildenafil has been on the US market since December 2017 and is dispensed by ordinary pharmacies as well as by the online ones described above.
Can you buy Viagra over the counter?
Not in a US pharmacy. Neither branded Viagra nor generic sildenafil is sold from the shelf here — both are prescription-only. What people usually mean by “over the counter” is the online route: some pharmacies run a short medical questionnaire, have a clinician issue the prescription, and ship the tablets, so you never sit in a waiting room. Others simply ship without any prescription at all, which is a different thing and carries its own risk. Remember that not everyone is medically eligible to take the drug, so it is better to involve a doctor either way.
Do you need a prescription for Viagra?
Yes, you need a prescription for Viagra because it is not a drug you can buy over the counter.
How many Viagra pills will a doctor prescribe?
It depends on the required dosage and what is available. The drug comes in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets. Most people are okay with the 50mg dosage. If your doctor prescribes a dosage of 50mg for you and what you have is 25mg, you may have to take two 25mg pills. In the same way, if your doctor prescribes 100mg, you can take one 100mg pill, two 50mg pills, or four 25mg pills. You should never exceed 100mg in a day. It is an overdose to take more than 100mg of generic or branded Viagra in a day.
The starting point if you are over 65, on other medicines, or the 50 mg dose gave you side effects you could not live with.
The standard first dose. Most men are prescribed this and most stay on it.
The highest licensed dose — and the ceiling. Never more than one tablet in 24 hours, whatever happens.
How long does it take for Generic Viagra to work?
It takes about 30 minutes to 60 minutes for Viagra to start working. It usually works for about four to six hours in the body before its effect begins to fade away gradually. Nevertheless, wait until after 24 hours before you take another pill if you intend to have sexual intercourse the following day.
Which one is better, Viagra or Cialis?
As a matter of fact, you can’t really say one is better than the other in all terms, even though Cialis has more advantages over Viagra. Here is a quick comparison for you to decide which one is better for you.
- In the manufacturers’ own trials both drugs improved erections in roughly eight out of ten men, so on raw success rate there is very little between them.
- You can take Cialis with or without food, but Viagra works best when taken on an empty stomach.
- Fat reduces the efficacy of Viagra more than it does to the efficacy of Cialis.
- Cialis begins to work after about 30 minutes to two hours, Viagra after about 30 to 60 minutes — in practice neither is instant.
- Here is a major decider. Viagra works for about 4 to 6 hours, while Cialis works for about 18 to 36 hours.
| Drug | Starts working | Lasts | Food | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sildenafil (Viagra) | 30–60 min | 4–6 hours | Works best on an empty stomach | 25, 50, 100 mg |
| Tadalafil (Cialis) | 30 min – 2 h | 18–36 hours | Food makes no difference | 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg |
| Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) | 30–60 min | 4–5 hours | Fat slows absorption | 5, 10, 20 mg |
| Avanafil (Stendra) | 15–30 min | about 6 hours | Least affected by food | 50, 100, 200 mg |
Sildenafil must never be combined with nitrate medicines — nitroglycerin, isosorbide, amyl nitrite “poppers” — because together they can drop blood pressure to a fatal level. It is also the wrong drug if you have had a recent heart attack or stroke, or if your blood pressure is poorly controlled. This is the single reason it stays prescription-only, and no online questionnaire can check it if you answer it dishonestly.
What happens if you take too much sildenafil?
Taking too much of sildenafil will increase the chances of its side effects occurring. Some of the side effects of the medication are:
- The inability to differentiate colors blue from green.
- Diarrhea
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Rash
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Nasal Congestion
- Stomach Pain
- Headache
- Facial Flushing
More serious side effects of sildenafil
- Prolonged erection: When your erection lasts longer than four straight hours, you need to seek medical attention quickly. It could damage your penis permanently. The condition is called Priapism, and it usually includes pains around the penis.
- Sudden loss of vision: When you suddenly lose vision in one of your eyes or both of them after taking the drug, you need help. If the affected eyes are not treated immediately, it could lead to permanent blindness.
- Sudden loss of hearing: This is the rarest side effect of sildenafil, but it has been reported several times.
Is Revatio cheaper than Viagra?
No, the reverse is the case. Revatio is more expensive than generic Viagra. According to www.drugs.com, a reputable site that reviews drugs, 10mg of Revatio costs $18.25, while 20mg of Sildenafil costs $3.45. You can check the full comparison on the following link to a webpage on Drugs.com – https://www.drugs.com/compare/revatio-vs-sildenafil
Read next
- Viagra Dosage GuideWhich strength to start with and when to change it.
- How Much Does It Cost for One Viagra Pill?Brand against generic, dollar for dollar.