Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that affects many men, making it difficult to achieve and maintain an erection.
Fortunately, there are effective treatments available. Viagra and Viagra Connect are two of the most popular erectile dysfunction treatment options.
In this article, we’ll compare Viagra Connect Vs. Viagra to help you decide the best erectile dysfunction medication for you.
Understanding Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Erectile Dysfunction is an ongoing issue with achieving or maintaining an erection that's firm enough for sex. It may happen every time you try to have sex, or just sometimes.
Various factors are involved, both physical and mental.
What Causes ED?
Physical conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or hormone imbalances can cause erectile dysfunction. These causes will need medical treatment other than erectile dysfunction medication.
Psychological factors like stress, anxiety, and depression cause 10-20% of erectile dysfunction. They're even more common in younger men. Often, this is a repeating cycle. Men feel bad about not getting an erection, which makes it harder to get one.
Despite the stigma, ED is a common condition, affecting millions of men worldwide.
How Do You Treat ED?
If it happens occasionally, it’s nothing much to worry about. But if you keep having issues with ED, make sure to see your GP.
They may recommend lifestyle changes, like losing weight, stopping smoking, improving your diet, daily exercise, and trying to reduce stress and anxiety. If they’re worried about a physical cause, they may organise some more tests.
Maybe the problem is psychological? If so, they can refer you for therapy, or you can find a private sex therapist to help.
Erectile dysfunction medication can be used to manage your symptoms.
The Importance of Seeking Treatment
Seeking treatment for ED is important for several reasons.
First, it can significantly improve your quality of life. Sexual satisfaction is important to many men and their partners. ED can really affect your sex life.
Second, ED can be a warning of underlying health conditions, like issues with your circulation or diabetes. Getting treatment will stop any further damage being done.
Finally, seeking treatment can help deal with the psychological impact of ED. Erectile dysfunction can really affect men’s well-being and relationships.
Luckily, there's an ED treatment that works in 2 out of 3 men: Viagra.
ED Medications
Viagra
How Does Viagra Work?
Viagra is a branded version of the medication sildenafil citrate that's more well-known than other ED treatments.
It works by increasing blood flow to the penis, which helps you get and maintain an erection.
When a man is sexually aroused, Viagra helps relax the blood vessels in the penis. More blood can flow through the blood vessels into the penis, allowing it to enlarge.
How Do You Take Viagra?
Viagra is taken 30 mins to 4 hours before sexual activity, on an empty stomach for best results. The results usually last at least 4 hours. During this time, you'll need to get sexually aroused, but Viagra will help you achieve and maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
Available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg doses, this ED medication is a small diamond-shaped blue pill. In the UK, Viagra is only available on prescription.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Generally, Viagra is fairly safe to take after you've consulted with a doctor. Some men will experience side effects such as headaches, flushing, muscle aches, dizziness, rashes, and stomach issues.
More serious side effects include fainting, chest pain, hearing loss, vision changes, and an erection lasting more than 4 hours. Make sure to seek emergency professional medical advice if you experience any of these side effects.
Viagra Connect
Viagra Connect is a variation of Viagra that's available without a prescription. In fact, it's the first ED treatment available over the counter.
Designed to be more accessible for men seeking ED treatment, Viagra Connect is available directly from a pharmacist after a brief consultation.
It contains the same active ingredients, sildenafil citrate, but is sold in a lower dose of 50mg. You can try the drug up to 4 times to see if it works for you, as long as you don't experience any side effects.
Generic Sildenafil
Sildenafil is an unbranded version of Viagra, which means it can be produced by lots of different companies. This generic medication can be given in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg tablets, so you need a prescription from a GP or online doctor.
Regular Viagra also contains some extra ingredients that help your body break the drug down. The generic version of Viagra, sildenafil, doesn't have this.
_How Does Sildenafil Work?_
Sildenafil citrate works to relax the muscles in the arteries. This helps them fill with blood better. As well as being used in ED treatments, it's also used to treat pulmonary hypertension – high blood pressure in the lungs.
As sildenafil is the active ingredient in other ED medications like Viagra, they also work in the same way.
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Viagra Connect Vs. Viagra
Similarities between Viagra and Viagra Connect
Comparing Viagra Vs. Viagra Connect, both have several similarities:
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Manufactured by Pfizer Both Viagra Connect and Viagra are produced by the same company, Pfizer. This means you get the same quality and consistency every time.
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Active Ingredient The active ingredient in Viagra and Viagra Connect is the same: sildenafil citrate.
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Mechanism of Action As both contain the same active ingredient sildenafil citrate, Viagra and Viagra Connect work in the exact same way. They allow increased blood flow to the penis, improving erectile function.
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Require Sexual Arousal With both Viagra Connect and Viagra, sexual arousal is needed for them to work. They don't automatically give you an erection. As erectile dysfunction treatments, they enhance the body's natural response to sexual stimulation.
The Difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect
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Availability and Purchase Is Viagra Connect legal to buy without a valid prescription? Yes! This is the main difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect. Normal Viagra tablets aren't available over the counter from your local pharmacy, they're a prescription-only medication. This is because they come in different doses.
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Dosage Availability As we mentioned, Viagra Connect is only available in one dose: 50mg. Viagra is available in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. As 50mg is the most common dose, this is fine for most men. If you have other health conditions or experience side effects, Viagra Connect might not be suitable. Make sure to discuss this with your doctor.
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Visual Differences Both Viagra and Viagra Connect tablets are diamond-shaped blue pills. A Viagra Connect tablet displays "V50", whilst Viagra displays "VGR" followed by the dose (either 25, 50, or 100). The packaging is quite different between the two.
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Price Viagra starts at £29.95 for four 25mg tablets, whilst Viagra Connect costs £19.99 for four 50mg tablets.
Choosing between Viagra Connect, Viagra, and Sildenafil
Viagra, Viagra Connect, and Sildenafil contain the same active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, but that doesn't mean they're the same medication.
Sildenafil is the cheaper, generic version of branded Viagra. It also needs a prescription, either from a GP or an online pharmacy. Whilst it might not be as well known, generic sildenafil works in the same way as a Viagra tablet and is often cheaper.
When comparing Viagra Connect Vs. Viagra, it's important to remember Viagra Connect is a pharmacy medicine. Viagra Connect is available without a prescription, which can make it much easier to get hold of. Price-wise, it may also be cheaper.
Consider speaking to us before you buy Viagra Connect, especially if you have a health problem.
Viagra is only available on prescription from an online doctor or GP. If you're not seeing results at a lower dose, taking other medications, or have a health condition, you'll need to consult your doctor anyway. As Viagra is available in different doses, it's likely to be a better option for you.
If you need help choosing, we at Quick Meds can help.
Availability at QuickMeds
Viagra, Viagra Connect, and the generic medicine sildenafil can all be purchased online at QuickMeds. We'll help treat your ED symptoms with discreet delivery of your chosen medication.
Select your product, fill in the medical questionnaire, consult our online doctor (for Viagra or Sildenafil), and your ED medication will be on its way.
Please note, it's very important to fill in the questionnaire properly. We use this to check if your selected ED treatment is safe for you to take.