Viagra Connect®: What is it and How Does it Work?
Available over the counter, Viagra Connect is a medication that makes it easier to get and maintain a firm enough erection for sex, helping you to enjoy a satisfying sex life even if you’re prone to ED.
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a common issue that can prevent you from being able to get and maintain an erection that’s firm enough for sexual activity. If you have ED, you may find it difficult to maintain an erection or even get an erection at all.1
ED occurs in men of all ages and backgrounds. In fact, an estimated 150 million men worldwide are thought to be affected by some degree of erectile dysfunction.2
Enter Viagra Connect®. Available over the counter, Viagra Connect is a medication that makes it easier to get and maintain a firm enough erection for sex, helping you to enjoy a satisfying sex life even if you’re prone to ED.
Viagra Connect isn’t the only option available for treating ED, and while it offers several benefits, it also has a few disadvantages.
Below, we’ve covered what Viagra Connect is, as well as how it works as an erectile dysfunction medication.
We’ve also discussed the other effective treatments that are available if you’re prone to ED and want to maintain stronger erections and enjoy better, longer-lasting sex.
What is Viagra Connect?
Viagra Connect is an over-the-counter pharmacy medicine version of Viagra.3 Unlike traditional Viagra, which requires a prescription, Viagra Connect is sold as an over-the-counter medication online and from many licensed pharmacies.
Like the regular version of Viagra, Viagra Connect contains the active ingredient sildenafil. As a PDE5 inhibitor, sildenafil works by expanding the blood vessels that supply your penis, allowing for improved blood flow when you experience sexual stimulation.4
Because erectile dysfunction is often caused by poor blood flow, the increase in blood flow that is provided by sildenafil can make getting an erection firm enough for sex easier.
It’s worth noting that sildenafil’s effects are purely physical, meaning Viagra Connect won’t have any impact on your sexual desire or level of arousal.
However, because of its effects on your erections, you may experience a confidence boost while you’re using this medication, at least when it comes to sexual function.
Each tablet of Viagra Connect contains 50mg of sildenafil.5 It takes around 30 to 60 minutes for this medication to start working, meaning you can take it before sex for improved erections and sexual performance.6
Does Viagra Connect Work?
Simply put, yes, and often very well. Sildenafil — the active ingredient in Viagra Connect — is one of the most well-studied erectile dysfunction treatments available, with lots of large-scale studies showing real improvements in erections and sexual function among men who use it.
When Viagra was first approved in the United States back in the 1990s, it went through a series of large-scale clinical trials as part of the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) testing and approval process.
In one of these clinical trials, which featured more than 1,400 men with ED, men who took 50mg of sildenafil (the same dosage of sildenafil that’s in Viagra Connect) showed real improvements in their ability to get and maintain an erection.7
In fact, 74 percent of men who took sildenafil at this dosage reported improvements in erections, compared to just 24 percent of men who took a non-therapeutic placebo.8
Interestingly, the 50mg dose of sildenafil that’s used in Viagra Connect appears to be the “sweet spot” for many men with ED. At 100mg, 82 percent of men reported improvements in their ability to get an erection — just a small amount more, despite the significantly increased dose.9
Other scientific research has produced similar results. For example, one review published in the journal Clinical Interventions in Aging concluded that sildenafil is “highly effective” as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, with a “good safety and tolerability profile”.10
The same review article also stated that “sildenafil significantly improves satisfaction and quality of life for both patients and partners.”11
In other words, sildenafil produced better erections, as well as better sexual satisfaction for men affected by ED and their sexual partners.
Viagra Connect® makes it possible... from your home!
Can Viagra Connect Cause Side Effects?
Viagra Connect and sildenafil, its generic version, can cause adverse effects. Most side effects of Viagra Connect are mild and only occur while the medication is active in your body, although some may be more severe and/or bothersome.
Common side effects of Viagra Connect and generic sildenafil include:
Headaches
Flushing
Dyspepsia (indigestion)
Nasal congestion
Myalgia (muscle pain)
Vision changes
Skin reactions
Back pain
Dizziness
Nausea12
In rare cases, Viagra Connect and generic sildenafil may cause more severe side effects and/or allergic reactions. It’s important to inform your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following side effects after taking Viagra Connect or sildenafil:
Sudden, significant changes in your vision, such as loss of vision
Ringing in your ears or other changes in your hearing abilities
Feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness and/or fainting
Chest pain or shortness of breath
Itching, burning or pain while urinating13
Some forms of erectile dysfunction medicine may increase your risk of developing priapism — a long-lasting, painful erection that may damage the tissue inside your penis.14
Make sure to seek medical help as soon as you can if you develop an erection that feels painful, doesn’t go away normally after sex or lasts for several hours.
Although Viagra Connect is available over the counter, it’s important not to use it if you have an existing heart-related health condition, or if you take medications such as nitrates to treat chest pain or high blood pressure.15
It’s also important not to use Viagra Connect or generic sildenafil with recreational drugs, such as amyl nitrate, amyl nitrite or butyl nitrate “poppers” used for sexual enhancement.
These medications may interact with the sildenafil in Viagra Connect and cause a rapid drop in blood pressure that could cause fainting, heart attack or stroke.16
To keep yourself safe, make sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you have any medical conditions and would like to use Viagra Connect or similar medication to treat ED.
How to Use Viagra Connect Effectively
Viagra Connect is an easy medication to use — just take one tablet around one hour before you plan to have sex. However, there are a few things that you can do to enjoy optimal results from this medication:
Avoid high-fat meals while using Viagra connect. Both Viagra Connect and generic sildenafil may take longer to begin working when taken with a high-fat meal, such as a burger and chips or other junk food.17 While it’s okay to take Viagra Connect with a meal, try to limit your fat intake while you use this medication for optimal results.
Don’t drink alcohol with Viagra Connect. Alcohol can affect your erections and sexual function, making it harder to perform in bed. Drinking may also increase your risk of side effects from Viagra Connect or similar treatments for erectile dysfunction. In general, it’s best to avoid drinking while using Viagra. If you’re a frequent drinker, try to follow the NHS’s tips for reducing alcohol intake to drink less, improve your overall health and enjoy better sexual function.18
Don’t panic if Viagra Connect doesn’t work the first time. ED can occur for a variety of reasons, includingpsychological issues related to erectile dysfunction such as anxiety about your sexual performance.19
If you try Viagra Connect and don’t notice any improvements, don’t give up just yet. Give the medication another try the next time you plan to have sex, and if you don’t notice any benefits over the long term, consider talking to your healthcare provider.
Other Options for Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Viagra Connect is a convenient option for treating erectile dysfunction symptoms, especially as it’s available over the counter.
However, it’s not the only treatment for erection problems that’s available, nor is it the best form of ED treatment for everyone.
Other options for treating erectile dysfunction include tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis®) and generic sildenafil.
Tadalafil is a longer-lasting medication than Viagra Connect. Instead of providing relief from ED for around four hours per dose, a typical dose of tadalafil can make getting and maintaining an erection easier for up to 36 hours.20
This makes tadalafil a good option if you’re looking for a long-lasting “weekend” ED pill that you can take as needed for lasting relief, not just one hour before sex.
Generic sildenafil, on the other hand, is exactly the same as Viagra Connect, but costs less per pill. This can make it a better option if you’re looking for the most cost-effective way to treat ED and enjoy better sexual performance.
We offer tadalafil and sildenafil online following an online consultation with a clinician, allowing you to access the most effective and appropriate ED treatment for your needs.
The Bottom Line on Viagra Connect
As the over-the-counter version of sildenafil, Viagra Connect is a convenient option if you want to treat ED without having to talk to your local healthcare provider about erectile dysfunction.
Viagra Connect is safe and effective for most men. However, it’s still important to carefully read the patient information leaflet for this medication before using it to treat erectile dysfunction.
If you have any type of medical condition, or if you use nitrates or similar medicines to promote optimal heart health or treat high blood pressure, it’s also important to talk to your healthcare provider before using Viagra Connect.
We offer Viagra Connect online as part of our full range of erectile dysfunction treatments, with discreet and convenient home delivery.
Interested in learning more before you get started? Our detailed guide to the most common ED treatments and drugs goes into more detail about your options for improving blood flow, getting stronger erections and enjoying more satisfying sex.
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.