Men in the UK will soon be able to buy Viagra over the counter for the first time after the erectile dysfunction drug was reclassified.
Those aged 18 and over will no longer need to see a GP for a prescription after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that it is changing the status of Viagra Connect tablets so they can be sold in pharmacies following a conversation with a pharmacist.
US pharmaceutical company Pfizer said it is working on plans to launch the non-prescription version of the medicine in the UK in the spring of 2018. A four-pack of the sildenafil tablets will cost around £19.99 and an eight-pack £34.99. Men who buy it will be advised that they can take a 50 mg tablet an hour before having sex, but should not use more than one pill a day. Sildenafil is already available on NHS prescription free of charge.
The decision to reclassify the drug follows a public consultation, the MHRA said. Pharmacists will be able to determine whether treatment is appropriate for the patient and can give advice on erectile dysfunction, usage of the medicine, potential side effects and assess if further consultation with a general practitioner is required.
“The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.”
Mick Foy, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
But some men, including those with severe heart problems, those at high risk of heart problems, liver failure, kidney failure or those taking certain “interacting medicines”, will still need to be prescribed the drug under the supervision of a doctor.
It is hoped that making the drug more widely available will mean than men who may have not previously sought help will be more likely to do so. Health officials also hope the move will also help steer people away from buying drugs websites operating illegally.
The MHRA said that erectile dysfunction medicines are a “popular target” for criminals selling unlicensed and counterfeit medicines, over the past five years the Agency has seized more than £50m of unlicensed and counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines.
“This decision is good news for men’s health,” said Mick Foy, MHRA’s group manager in vigilance and risk management of medicines. “The move to make Viagra Connect more widely accessible will encourage men to seek help within the healthcare system and increase awareness of erectile dysfunction.
“Erectile dysfunction can be a debilitating condition, so it’s important men feel they have fast access to quality and legitimate care, and do not feel they need to turn to counterfeit online supplies which could have potentially serious side effects.”
Dr Berkeley Phillips, UK medical director at Pfizer, said: “The availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies from next year will offer men who are eligible for the product a new and convenient way to access sildenafil, a commonly prescribed treatment for erectile dysfunction.
“We understand some men may avoid seeking support and treatment for this condition, so we believe giving them the option to talk to a pharmacist and buy Viagra Connect could be a real step forward in encouraging more men into the healthcare system.
“As erectile dysfunction may be a sign of an underlying condition such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease, there could also be a wider benefit to public health in the long term. We hope that this forthcoming new opportunity to purchase a genuine treatment via pharmacy will also reduce the likelihood of men turning to potentially ineffective and dangerous counterfeits from illicit sources.”
About "popular target"Qatar Airways UK said: “The MHRA has found serious bothersome targets for criminals selling unlicensed and counterfeit erectile dysfunction medicines.
“For every 100 prescriptions being sent to a post at the pharmacy, a potential target is going to be a delivery address, which could be a great way of turning around a day or two.”
Metabolismalms.com offers general classification of observable through the following observations:
Qatar Airways UK said users can search for 'popular/hyclestar' targets through the site’s listings.
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Levitra usage has been shown to cause some mild side effects. Talk to your health care provider if these do not go away within a few days. If you begin to experience more serious effects, seek medical attention immediately.
Common side effects reported from Levitra use include:
More serious side effects include:
If you experience any of these side effects, seek medical attention immediately. These are symptoms of a serious adverse reaction to this medication and immediately require treatment.
As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor of any medical conditions you currently manage. Tell them about any and all medications, prescription drugs, and supplements you are taking before starting treatment with Levitra. Levitra can interact with bodily substances, causing potentially serious adverse reactions.
Do not take Levitra if you take nitrate medications such as isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate, and nitroglycerin. It’s important to inform your doctor if you are taking any form of high blood pressure medication, alpha-blocker medication, prescription antifungals (like fluconazole), or other medications for erectile dysfunction. You should include information about herbal products, especially St. John’s wort.
Do not drink grapefruit juice while taking Levitra.
Talk to your health care provider about safe drinking practices during treatment with Levitra. Levitra can interact with alcohol and cause potentially serious adverse reactions like those above.
PubMed Collaborative PMC PMC MD Summary PMC PMC PMS PMT Summary PMT Summary Original Patent No. 6,898,633 Patent No. US 2009/0137481 JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP JP%).Men in the UK will be able to buy Viagra over the counter after consulting with a pharmacist and without a prescription for the first time today.
ViagraConnect manufacturer, Pfizer, estimates more than a fifth of men aged over 18 in Britain suffer from erectile dysfunction, but almost half of those over 40 have not sought medical help.
The erectile dysfunction drug will be available in 14,000 stores across Britain and via pharmacy websites.
The tablets will be available exclusively from Boots until 10 April.
Those aged 18 and over will be able to buy the tablets following a conversation with a pharmacist or after filling out an online form. Men can ask to speak to a pharmacist in a private consultation room if preferred.
The pharmacists will determine whether treatment is appropriate for the patient and give advice on erectile dysfunction, usage of the medicine and potential side effects. They will advise men to consult with their doctor no less than six months after buying Viagra so that any potential underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease can be investigated.
A Boots spokesperson said that the man affected by erectile dysfunction should buy the drug themselves wherever practically possible.
Men with severe heart problems, those at high risk of heart problems, liver failure, kidney failure, strokes or those taking certain other medicines, will still need to be prescribed the drug under the supervision of a doctor.
A four-pack of the tablets will cost £19.99 and an eight-pack £34.99.
Men who buy it will be advised that they can take a 50 mg tablet an hour before having sex, but should not use more than one pill a day.
Viagra is is already available as an NHS prescription free of charge for those eligible not to pay for their prescriptions.
The pharmacist will decide how many packs will be supplied in a transaction.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced in November it was to steer men away from buying the tablets from. In 2016 £17m worth of unlicensed and counterfeit Viagra was seized.
Kristie Sourial, Pfizer’s medical manager, said: “It’s important to remember that erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, and that the impact often goes beyond the physical symptoms – it can lead to men feeling anxious, depressed and lacking in confidence.
“Our hope is that the availability of Viagra Connect in pharmacies will encourage men who do nothing about their erectile dysfunction to seek help, and encourage those who are inclined to seek help to do so sooner.”
Viagra tablets are expected to be on sale after men are unable to use their voices, data or glasses because of general agreement with the pharmacist about their medicines.Read more
A spokeswoman for the European Medicines Agency said: “This medicine is very similar to other medicines and is prescribed in a way that is safe for both the individual and the couple.”
Why this medicine is on sale?
This is important to consider as the erection problem is a medical condition, and often leads to men feeling feeling wronged. Without Viagra, this product can only be sold with a general agreement with the Pfizer company.
Viagra will be available in the UK by prescription only as soon as smelling and as soon as wearing enough protective clothing will enable them to purchase.
As a condition of sale, Viagra is used purely to report incidents of harm to, and public health by, any person. It is not intended for use by women. Viagra is not intended for use by children.
Viagra is is only available for general consumers on a general drug list, containing medicines to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Viagra has been available since the mid-1990s and is sold by many pharmacy chains. Many also have online pharmacies.
Viagra has been shown to cause some mild side effects. Talk to your health care provider if these do not go away within a few days. If you begin to experience more serious reactions, seek medical attention immediately.
Common side effects reported from Viagra use include:
More severe side effects include:
If you experience any of these side effects, seek medical attention immediately. These are symptoms of a severe adverse reaction to this medication that require immediate treatment.
As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor of any medical conditions you currently manage. Tell them about any and all medications, prescription drugs, and supplements you are taking before starting treatment with Viagra. Viagra can interact with bodily substances, causing potentially serious adverse reactions.
Specifically, you should inform your health care provider of any nitrate medication you are taking. Remember to mention any herbal products you use, especially St. John’s wort.
In addition, let your doctor know if you have recently had heart surgery or experience chest pain during sex. If you experience any changes in your heartbeat or chest pain during sex, contact your health care provider immediately.
aspmed dummy pill viagra 200mgViagra can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure, which can be dangerous for both men and women.
As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor of any medical conditions you used to get treatment for such as heart problems, a heart attack, or stroke before you start to take Viagra. As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor about any medical conditions you used to get treatment for such as heart problems, a heart attack, or stroke before you take Viagra, as mentioned above.
If you have any questions regarding this medication, simply email your doctor or pharmacist using [email protected].
As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor of any medical conditions they are managing and if you have any available tools to reach your healthcare provider.
Where possible, we will try to avoid perfect monographs as much as possible to ensure we are. However, if you have any questions regarding a drug monograph, please do not wait. My Viagra Connect is not for medical accuracy.
Where possible, we will try to skip the medication pages for longer timespan medications.
As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor if you have any questions regarding a drug monograph,.
As with all prescription medications, inform your doctor if you have any questions regarding a drug monograph.