Erectile dysfunction is a growing problem among men around the world. Although it’s not a widely discussed topic, at least 150 million men are experiencing difficulties in getting and maintaining an erection, 18 million of which are from the United States (1).
As the symptoms become more consistent, these men also feel the psychological effects of erectile dysfunction, especially in their self-esteem and their relationships.
Over the years, several studies have been conducted on how to treat erectile dysfunction. In 1998, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer introduced Viagra, the first FDA-approved medication for treating erectile dysfunction in the United States.
Its main active ingredient, Sildenafil, has been proven as a competitive cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, which allows for increased blood flow to the penis for a patient to achieve and maintain an erection (2).
Because of its success in the market, a lot of other similar drugs have been released in other parts of the world, one of which is Viagra Connect that was released in the United Kingdom. But what’s the difference with Viagra vs. Viagra Connect?
Viagra Is a Prescription Drug While Viagra Connect Is an OTC Drug
Viagra became an instant hit because of its efficiency in treating men who have erectile dysfunction. In its first six years in the market, Viagra was reported to have treated more than 20 million men (3).
Although other PDE-5 inhibitors like Vardenafil, Tadalafil, and Avanafil have been released in the market over the next few years, Viagra remained as the drug of choice for a lot of doctors for patients who have erectile dysfunction.
Viagra and Viagra Connect are both manufactured by Pfizer, and they also contain the same active ingredient Sildenafil, which has worked wonders for Viagra since it was launched in 1998.
Viagra Connect was introduced in the United Kingdom in April 2018 to help fight the growing number of fake and illegal products being sold online.
Due to the popularity of the little blue pill, a lot of people have gone to great lengths in replicating Viagra to be sold on the black market.
In fact, it is said that almost 77% of all Viagra online sales are believed to be counterfeits, and an astounding 90% of all medications sold as Viagra are fakes. Yet, a lot of people still patronize these counterfeits because the real Viagra proves to be too costly for the regular customer, even if it means putting themselves at risk for side effects and potential complications (4).
Some men are also too embarrassed to consult their problem with a doctor and ask for a prescription, which is why they settle for fake products sold online.
To address the problem, Pfizer decided to launch Viagra Connect, the first erectile dysfunction medication to be bought over-the-counter in the United Kingdom. Unlike Viagra, which is a prescription-only medication, Viagra Connect can be purchased in pharmacies and online stores without a prescription.
You just need to talk to a pharmacist who will ask you a few questions about your general health to make sure that it’s safe for you to take the medication. So the first real difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect is that Viagra is a prescription drug while Viagra connect can be purchased over-the-counter.
Viagra Has Two Doses While Viagra Connect Only Has One
Another vast difference between Viagra and Viagra Connect is their dosage. Depending on the severity of the condition, Viagra can be prescribed in 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg dosages where 50mg is the recommended starting dose, and most men are later titrated to 100mg for improved efficacy (5).
Viagra Connect, on the other hand, is only available as a 50mg tablet. For most men, this dose is just right, but men who only experience mild symptoms of erectile dysfunction may find this a little difficult to tolerate. The 50mg daily dosage, however, can be increased to 100mg to make it more efficient.
These differences in dosage can be seen on the tablets itself. Viagra is printed VGR on one side of the tablet together with the corresponding dosage of that tablet. Viagra Connect, on the other hand, is just printed V50, as it’s only available in one dosage.
The Takeaway
In a time when there’s a lot of activity going on in the black market for highly in-demand medications like Viagra, the availability of more accessible variants like Viagra Connect is definitely a great step towards protecting consumers from falling trap to the deals offered by online shops selling counterfeit products.
Viagra vs. Viagra Connect, these two products may almost be the same, but they also serve their own purpose in the market. Viagra continues to be the popular choice of treatment for erectile dysfunction in the United States and other parts of the world (6). At the same time, Viagra Connect is now a choice for people in the United Kingdom who are too shy to get a prescription from the doctor for their erectile dysfunction problems.
At the end of the day, it’s all about choosing the right product according to your needs. Whether you’re ready to get a prescription for Viagra or you want to test the waters first with Viagra Connect, you just need to make sure that you’re buying from the right pharmacy or online store to avoid any complications from using fake products.
