Non-Prescription Drug – the Future of Viagra?

In most countries, to start using Generic Viagra, patients need to consult a doctor first. That is, this drug is a prescription (RX) product.

However, Viagra is very likely to become over-the-counter all over the world!

The UK is to become one of the first countries where the drug can be purchased over the counter (now OTC Viagra is available in New Zealand and in some other countries).

Viagra Over the Counter – the Background

Viagra was developed in the 1990s by the American company Pfizer. By the way, the discovery of the main active agent of the drug took place in the UK (more precisely, in Kent). In 1998, this drug appeared in the pharmaceutical market. Pharmaceutical regulators of different countries, such as the US FDA, decided that this drug should be a prescription one.

However, representatives of Pfizer reported that from the very beginning of Viagra sales, they were thinking of how to make the drug over-the-counter to increase its availability.

The main features of the drug are as follows:

• its main component is sildenafil citrate;
• it should be taken 30-60 min before the planned sex;
• it has high safety profile;
• it is active up to 6 hours (in some men up to 12 hours, according to studies);
• it has a variety of generics in various forms, such as capsules, effervescent tablets, jelly, etc.;
• it cannot be combined with nitrates and other PDE5 inhibitors, such as Canadian Cialis and Levitra.

2007 OTC Viagra Experiment in the UK

In 2007, in the UK, authorities allowed some brick-and-mortar drug stores to sell Viagra without a prescription for some time to find out if it was safe. Buyers had to provide a pharmacist with their medical history (anamnesis), including information about the blood pressure level and glucose level. In exchange, the pharmacist sold them 4 tablets. If these customers needed more pills, they needed to contact the doctor. British men were very pleased.

However, the experiment was prematurely stopped after the intervention of a European regulatory body called the European Medicines Authority (EMEA). Public officials of this body reported that if the med was sold without a prescription, there would be no appropriate medical supervision, which would delay the timely diagnosis of a disease that could coexist along with ED.

Public officials were especially worried about asymptomatic cardiovascular diseases, since ED may be an early predictor of these health disorders. Related Article about Viagra and Heart Diseases.

OTC Drug – Viagra’s Future

The UK is to become the country where “the blue tablet” can be purchased without an RX, the UK medicines regulatory body has announced. At the end of 2017, the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) made a decision to grant Great Britain the status of the first country in the world whose pharmacies could sell Viagra over the counter. A new over-the-counter med will be called Viagra Connect.

The representatives of branded Viagra’s manufacturer, Pfizer, expressed their hope that Viagra Connect would become available without an RX in drug stores in spring 2018, and the customers would be able to purchase either a 4-tablet pack or an 8-tablet one. Male persons wishing to buy the medication will need to consult a pharmacist, who will find out whether it is suitable for a particular patient, tell about possible adverse events and suggest consulting a GP if necessary.

The manufacturer has outlined a category of men who are not recommended to buy & use Viagra. This category includes male persons suffering from liver failure*, having severe cardiac disorders or being at cardiovascular risk, as well as those who are administered certain types of interacting meds.

• *What Causes Liver Failure?

These men need to have a consultation with their doctors to develop appropriate treatment plan. According to Pfizer’s recommendation, all men who have started taking Viagra should be under their general practitioners’ care for at least 6 months.

Dr. D. Edwards, a general practitioner specializing in sexual dysfunction and a former leader of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, told media that in his medical experience a patient’s ability to get & maintain a penile erection was of vital importance to him. He added that when a man experienced erection difficulties, his emotional & physical closeness to his partner could decrease, making a man feel isolated and non-confident in daily life. The doctor welcomed a new initiative enabling males to visit a canadian pharmacy to receive help over-the-counter for coping with their erection problems.

Perhaps, Britain’s experience will be followed by other countries and famous anti-ED medication will be available without a prescription around the world.

Causes of the Change of Viagra Status

We believe that the fact of the transformation of Viagra into an OTC drug in Britain is partly associated with the withdrawal of this country from the European Union. As you probably know, during the referendum in 2016, 51.9% of the British voted for UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. The process of Britain’s exit from the EU is known as Brexit (a combination of the words Britain & Exit). Now Britain is holding talks and must pass a 2-year transition period before the final exit. Hence, the country is no longer interested in the requirements and recommendations of European medical regulators. As we have indicated above, these regulators previously did not permit selling sildenafil-containing meds without a prescription.

Why did Pfizer decide to change Viagra’s status? The original Viagra (Brand Viagra) has faced a huge competition with generics. In Europe, Canada, India, and other countries, the generic versions of Viagra are very popular. The world famous one is Canadian Viagra offered at very low prices. That urges Pfizer to take measures to make the original drug more accessible to people.

Read Comparison chart of Generic Viagra versions by link: click.

The Bottom Line on Non-Prescription Viagra

On the one hand, getting Viagra without a prescription is good. One should not visit a doctor and spend much time to get a prescription. This is especially important if a man needs a drug urgently, and does not have time to visit a doctor. On the other hand, before starting taking the drug, it is still recommended to consult a qualified health care practitioner, especially if a patient has a severe heart disease that requires medical intervention.

So, if you have ED, it is advisable to check your heart for preventive purposes.