Viagra Connect® 50mg: Uses, Side Effects and More
If you’re affected by erectile dysfunction (ED), you may have looked into treatments to improve your erections and sexual function.
Viagra Connect® is an over-the-counter medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It comes in a 50mg dosage and is available as a “pharmacy medicine,” meaning you can legally purchase it without needing to see your doctor and get a prescription.
Each Viagra Connect tablet contains 50mg of sildenafil, an ingredient that works by increasing blood flow to your penis in response to sexual stimulation.
Used before sex, Viagra Connect can improve your erections and sexual function. However, as with all medicines, it can cause adverse effects and drug interactions that you should be aware of before using it as an ED treatment.
Below, we’ve explained what Viagra Connect 50mg is, as well as why it’s so commonly used as an erectile dysfunction treatment.
We’ve also covered the potential side effects and drug interaction effects of Viagra Connect that you should know before adding this over-the-counter medication to your ED prevention toolkit.
Finally, we’ve shared several alternative treatment options, including other medications, that you may want to consider if you’re one of the millions of UK-based men affected by ED.
What is Viagra Connect 50mg Used For?
Viagra Connect is an over-the-counter medication for erectile dysfunction. Unlike other forms of sildenafil citrate, such as Revatio®, Viagra Connect is used solely for ED and doesn’t have any other approved uses.
Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra Connect, works by increasing the diameter of the blood vessels that supply your penis.1
This makes it easier for blood to flow into your penis whenever you feel sexually aroused, such as before and during sexual activity.
As blood pressure builds inside your erectile tissue, your penis becomes firmer, allowing you to get an erection that can last throughout sexual intercourse.2
The action of sildenafil is solely limited to blood flow, meaning it won’t make you feel aroused if you’re not in the mood for sex. It also doesn’t have any significant impact on your sex drive or cause random erections unrelated to sexual arousal.
However, by making it easier to get and stay hard, the sildenafil in Viagra Connect can have a significant positive impact on your sexual experience and self-confidence in bed.
So, why does Viagra Connect only come in a 50mg dosage? Normal Viagra®, which can only be purchased with a prescription, comes in three dosages — as a 25mg tablet, a 50mg tablet, and as a 100mg tablet.3
Likewise, generic sildenafil — which also requires a clinician’s visit and prescription — can also be purchased in several dosages.
Even though these medications contain the same active ingredient as Viagra Connect, they’re different legally. Viagra Connect is classified as a “pharmacy medicine.” That means it can legally be sold over the counter, while Viagra® and sildenafil are both prescription medicines.4
It’s not clear precisely why the 50mg dosage of sildenafil was selected for the over-the-counter medication Viagra Connect. However, it may be because 50mg is the suggested starting dose for treating erectile dysfunction.5
Research shows that this dosage of sildenafil produces improvements for the majority of men with ED, making it a great starting option if you’ve never used erectile dysfunction medication before.
Viagra Connect® makes it possible... from your home!
How to Use Viagra Connect 50mg
Taking Viagra Connect is easy. If you have erectile dysfunction, take one Viagra Connect tablet 30 to 60 minutes before you plan to have sex. Viagra Connect takes approximately one hour to start working and has a typical duration of action of around four hours.6
This means that if you take your Viagra Connect tablet at around 7 p.m., you should find it easier to get and maintain an erection until 11p.m, respectively.
Viagra Connect is affected by food, and it might take longer to start working if you take it with a heavy meal.7 While it’s okay to eat after taking Viagra Connect, it’s best to avoid high-fat meals to ensure this medication works effectively.
Viagra Connect and other medications that contain sildenafil should not be taken more than one time per day.8
Our full guide to what you should expect from ED medication goes into more detail about how Viagra Connect can affect your sexual experience.
Side Effects of Viagra Connect
For most men with ED, Viagra Connect is a safe and effective medication for producing stronger erections and improving sexual performance.
However, like all medications, Viagra Connect can cause adverse effects. There are also some situations in which it might not be safe for you to use Viagra Connect, such as if you take other medications that could trigger interactions.
One advantage of Viagra Connect 50mg is that it’s slightly less likely to produce adverse effects than the 100mg dosage of Viagra that’s used to treat moderate to severe ED.9
Common side effects of Viagra Connect include:
Headaches
Facial flushing
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Vision issues (blurred vision and/or changes in colour vision)
Myalgia (muscle pain)
Nasal congestion
Dizziness
Back pain
Rash10
In rare cases, Viagra Connect and generic versions of sildenafil may cause more severe adverse effects. These include:
Chest pain
Sudden loss of vision
Abrupt decrease in hearing
A ringing sound in your ears
Feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness
Itching or burning while urinating
Shortness of breath
Fainting11
PDE5 inhibitors such as the sildenafil used in Viagra Connect 50mg may also increase your risk of priapism — a painful, rigid erection that lasts for several hours.12
It’s important to seek medical advice if you notice severe or bothersome side effects after using Viagra Connect. If you develop a painful, persistent erection, seek medical attention as soon as you can.
Viagra Connect and other medications that contain sildenafil can interact with some substances and other medications.
For example, Viagra Connect, prescription Viagra or generic forms of the little “blue pill” should not be used with nitrates, alpha-blockers or other medication used to treat high blood pressure, as well as substances that act as vasodilators.13
It’s also important not to use Viagra Connect or any dose of sildenafil at the same time as amyl nitrate amyl nitrite or butyl nitrate “poppers”.
These medications and substances can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure that may cause fainting, injury or serious cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke.
Our guide to the side effects of Viagra goes into more detail about the side effects and safety of Viagra Connect 50mg, including potential drug interactions.
Viagra Connect® makes it possible... from your home!
Other Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
Because it’s available over the counter, Viagra Connect 50mg is a convenient option for treating erectile dysfunction, improving your frequency of erections and feeling more confident in bed.
However, there are other options for treating erectile dysfunction available, including a range of generic drugs that have a more affordable per-pill cost than Viagra Connect.
For example, we offer generic sildenafil pills online, following a consultation with a clinician who will determine if a prescription is appropriate.
As a generic medication, sildenafil treatment offers all of the same benefits as Viagra Connect at a more affordable price. It’s also available in a 100mg dosage, meaning it may be more helpful if you have moderate or severe ED.
We also offer tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis®). This longer-lasting ED medication works for up to 36 hours per dose, making it a great option if you want to be able to have sex with your partner spontaneously without having to worry about taking your medication beforehand.14
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Traditional Pill
SildenafilGeneric Viagra®
From £2.36/use
The most commonly prescribed ED treatment, contains the same active ingredient as Viagra® but is 80% more affordable than the brand name.
Traditional Pill
Daily TadalafilDaily Generic Cialis®
From £21/month
A clinically proven treatment for erectile dysfunction that helps men achieve and maintain erections more easily. It gives you the freedom to enjoy spontaneous sex without needing to plan ahead.
Traditional Pill
As-Needed TadalafilGeneric Cialis®
From £2.36/use
The unbranded, more affordable generic form of Cialis® taken as needed. It is clinically proven to help men get and keep harder erections for up to 36 hours.
Traditional Pill
Viagra Connect®
From £5.83/use
The over-the-counter branded version of sildenafil. Viagra Connect® improves blood flow to the penis, helping you achieve and maintain strong and satisfying erections.
Important safety information for Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Tadalafil Daily or Viagra Connect.
The Bottom Line on Viagra Connect 50mg
Viagra Connect is a convenient option for treating erectile dysfunction, especially because it can be purchased over the counter as a pharmacy medicine.
The 50mg of fixed-dose sildenafil in Viagra Connect is enough to produce improved erections in most men with ED, making it possible to enjoy pleasurable, satisfying sex with your partner and gain a greater sense of confidence in the bedroom.
We offer Viagra Connect as part of our range of treatments for erectile dysfunction, allowing you to easily add this ED treatment to your sexual performance toolkit.
You can get started by taking part in an erectile dysfunction consultation or find out more about how you can get the best results from Viagra Connect in our guide to taking erectile dysfunction medication effectively.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.